Need some advice on landlord's dog...

Here is something I really need to vent, and maybe get some thoughts, about. It is a pretyt emotional issue for me, seeing as it involves a helpless animal and I have no choice but to be involved.
Our landlord has had this dog for several years (black lab mix.) Well, months ago the dog started developing a cyst, kind of like an open tumorlike thing, on his neck, and our moronic landlord hasn't done anything to get it removed. I guess that surgery to remove it would have been relatively inexpensive when it first started growing, but he was too much of a cheapskate to do it (and this is the same guy who talks about being able to get approved for a loan for a million bucks if he needed to... and I believe it.)
He is a pretty wealthy guy (at least by my standards) Owns close to 1000 acres of land and three rental properties including our place, earns over 100k a year. Well, he just won't take that dog to the vet. Refuses, and gets very irate and ignorant if you try to talk to him about it at all. His girlfriend confided in me that he grew very enraged and verbally violent when she confronted him about all this.
And my boyfriend and I.. you won't believe this, but our LL leaves his dog out at the farm with us. He didn't even ask if we would mind watching him; just left one night and the dog is still there, that was it. He was gone for nearly a month the first time; then he shows up, takes his girlfriend riding around on OUR four wheeler, lets her feed Our horses, and traipses back to the city without a thought. Not to mention, he is a big alcoholic as well.
It is horrible when people cone over; we have to explain the whole story and it is mortifying. We had a vet come out to look at our colt, and of course she was asking questions about the dog; we are friends with her but still it is just a horrible, shameful situation to see this dog running around with a huge (think, the size of a big man's fist) red open sore on its neck. Seriously I would love to just put the dog out of his misery, but our landlord says "oh, he isn't in pain; he is still eating" etc. And even a girl I talked to about this said, that if the dog is still eating and stuff, this is ok ??!!
I really need to know, what would you do? We are not yet in a position to set out and buy our own place yet, and we could never find a better bargain in rent costs and still keep our horses. How I hate life sometimes :(

do you have an aspca neer you? if so call them and tell them whats going on

That is SO WRONG!! First off, he has no right to be taking your stuff without asking.
Uh hello? I would be seriously looking for another place. This guy sounds very unbalanced, especially if he is violent and an alcoholic. It doesn't sound like such a great deal, if you have to deal with that type of person.

As for the dog, I agree with calling the ASPCA. If you have the extra money, I would call the vets and ask around to see if anyone will cut you a deal, and do it yourself. It is not fair to leave an animal in that condition. An open wound like that, is a constant source of infection. How old is the animal? If the animal is signnificantly old, then maybe just discuss having the animal humanely euthanized. There's just not too many options available. Best of luck on getting that animal some help!!

I would love to be able to do it, but I was told the surgery would be $800 and I just can't do that. If this were my animal, I would have done something about this long ago; it would def. be more humane to just put him down. I would not have any qualms about getting the SPCA involved, but I have heard horror stories about this. I've heard about a farm not too far away, where they had about 8 horses, and someone called about them. They sent an inspector out and they found an old mare that was basically thin and not an "easy keeper" but they said she was emaciated, and took ALL of their livestock even though they were not in any way being abused or neglected. I just shudder to think of them taking our horses, even though you can obviously tell they get awesome care.
I honestly think we are going to end up somehow humanely euthanizing this dog. I am looking into getting a shot or some sort of thing, if it is possible; we obviously can't just shoot him or our landlord will have a fit and kick us out, and quite honestly I wold rather be discreet and still have a roof over our heads, as well as the horses; if we had to move, there's no way we could afford boarding for them, and we sure can't afford to buy a place for another year or so until we pay off some credit cards. So if we moved, it would be sayonara horses, and not to get too dramatic, but I can't let go of them now when they have already been absically abandoned in the past by other people.
So how do you quickly, discreetly put an animal down?

I should add, this dog is pretty old (at least, over 8 yrs old; not a puppy by any means.) God, I can't wait until we can just buy our own place and tell this stupid landlord of ours to buck off.

have a friend take it to the aspca and say they found the dog.... and then you dont have to worry about them taking your horses...

I am trying to think of someone who could do that; anyone want to volunteer? (I am not being funny here.) The thing that enrages me most, is, if I were on the outside looking in and i saw myself as the person whose house this dog was in, I would lose so much respect for that person. I would think "why doesn't she DO something?" And here I am, in the situation, and I really don't know what to do. My boyfriend is pretty well fed up with the whole thing, he feels bad for the dog too and he is a very sensitive person about animals (even though he is a hunter, he kills all his deer with one shot, etc.) So even a simple day at home, mowing the lawn and doing various chores, is tinged with a huge undertone when this dog is walking around. And it isn't just like a rat or something that I could clunk in the head and be done with it.. AArgggh.. I am sorry to lay all this on you guys but it helps to vent and read yer responses.

it helps me to vent too :) hope you can figure out what to do... im sorry i cant help you i live in FL a good 16 hours or more from you..

When he dropped it off, did he leave food? If not, what has it been eating all this time? Give it back to the owner, or better yet, make it simply disappear. I don't know where you are at, but here in TX, there are plenty of coyotes, buzzards(sp) and other scavengers that would make a dog carcass disappear in a matter of days. Or you could even bury it. Next time the owner shows up and asks about it, you haven't seen it in a few weeks and thought he came and picked him up. Sounds kind of heartless, but from what you describe the dog would be better off dead.

He did leave food; he seems to think that if you put out a bowl of food and a bucket of water, that's fine and dandy. See, I think he's leaving the dog out here, because in the city people would see it and be apt to report it, etc. Whereas, our place isn't visible from the road readily.
Gr....

He comes there everyday to feed it, or does he just assume you will do it for him?

maybe this jerk really doesnt know what to do and is afraid if he takes him in... he might not get him back (like the dog is a goner). I know people who have cancer and do not seek treatment because its a harsh harsh reality.


You do what you want with this dog. He obviously considers you someone he can trust so if you want take that dog in and have what needs to be done to it. call him before hand and tell him that there is no way your going to care for the dog for him unless something medical done to treat it.

Stand your ground...maybe he needs a good slap in the face (and from what it sounds like...he needs it).

Take the dog TO the ASPCA. Explain out the entire story to the person in charge. Let them take it from there.
Your other choice is to take the dog to a vet far enough away that word can't get back, have them put the dog down. Tell the owner that the dog disappeared, so sorry.
Don't leave the keys to the four-0wheeler or any other vehicle in them or available, and put a lock on the feed. Appear to be terribly forgetful, and absent-minded if he asks.
Me personally, I have seen a lot of old dogs with that sort of thing, and they do not seem to suffer from them. Just keep it clean, and leave it be. Some dogs being that old can't be put under anesthesia anyway. Explain to anyone who asks that the "poor dog wouldn't survive the surgery, so you are allowing him to live out his life in comfort" so that the "terribly uncaring owner doesn't shoot the poor thing in the head."
Spin is everything.
Wolfy

You should really look into calling the ASPCA. I know that their is one in NY, (I know that by watching the Animal Planet.) I have 2 dogs and I know if something ever happened to them I would take them to a Vet. It seems that your landlord really does not want the dog or just does not care to much about it if he just left it at your farm. Like cornyballpython said have a friend or family member take it to a vet or ASPCA and just have them say they found it. Good Luck!!!

I have done rescue work with dogs all my life. At one time I had a similar situation. This was an animal that had been dumped on me, but not released to me. The medical was too expensive to cover. I took the dog to a vet in the next county and claimed it was my dog and had it humanely put down. Since I had never kenneled the animal when it was dumped the previous owner only asked if the dog was still around. I just responded that I had not seen the animal for a while. Which by then was true. Calling animal protective services in that particular case would have started an all out war with the previous owner and I felt the dog had suffered way too long.

I'd probably do exactly as Nancy has suggested. Take the dog to the next county over, claim it's a stray that wandered on to your farm and is obviously sick and old and request they humanely euthanize. Then tell that idiot landlord of yours that you haven't seen his dog in ages and thought he'd taken it back home with him the last time he staggered...errr....wandered through. Also I'd make sure that your ATV was disabled in some way..like a plug wire or whatever...so he can't use it but you can with a 2 second fix. Rotten bugger is breaking a ton of landlord/tenant rules I bet!

A disappearing dog is in order here. Next county, of your boyfriend having a hunting accident. It would be better then letting this dog go on as it is. And the LL will be none the wiser.

I can think of many other ways but none that would work in your case.

I know how destressing it is to see this go on for as long as it has. And the LL should be shot forallowing it to go on.

Also go get some cheap survailance cameras and have them posted on the areas of your vehicles and feed stores. Get the bugger on tape and turn him in to the cops. He is breaking the law in even going on the property with out notice. It should be in your rental agreement. You will be within your rights. Also he cant give cause if you do so to terminate your tenency.

Hope this helps,
Beauty the BP

Well, here's an update. The dog has vanished; not sure if LL took him home or not, but oh well.
He really wasn't breaking any laws technically; he has a small apartment upstairs that he stays in from time to time (he is a city slicker but sometimes wants to crash out in the country.) We knew about that before we moved in and that, we are all right with. I am not sure if I put it the wrong way, but we did allow him to ride the ATV; the issue I had with it, was the fact that he doesn't care about any kind of responsibility; he just comes out here and then goes home, while we do all the work! I really don't mind that though; the issue is pretty much OK now since the dog is gone.

I am glad that the dog is gone and if it does show back up then i would take it to a vet in a near by county and have it put down. I hope the best of luck for you.

Ginny, I'd get a lawyer...it sounds like the dog is just one of many issues.....even though he owns the property, there are still laws in place protecting the privacy of a tenant....that's just my :2cents:

Well, here's the conclusion of this whole thing. Mark had a long talk with the LL and I think he really gets it now; he was in denial of how bad the dog has gotten (I am not defending him in any way here, just saying what I guess was going on in his head.) and Mark made up a story of how someone threatened to call Animal Control (I know lying is bad, heh, but there was no way to get out of this otherwise.) So I think the LL understands now and asked Mark to put the dog down monday (he wants to say goodbye to the dog sunday.) He really is a lonely pathetic man (alcoholic to boot) but at least we made some progress. I was pretty ticked that we have to wait the few days, but at least this will be over soon. I was up for a few hours crying about this and I think that's what inspired Mark to have this talk; but it will be over soon.

Here is the final post about this. The poor dog is no longer suffering. We had him put down quickly and humanely. I only wish we could have done it sooner.

Gin, you and Mark did your level best. If not for your intervention that dog would likely still be suffering as his owner wasn't doing what he should for his dog. The dog's at peace now and I think you are Mark are great people for stepping up to the plate for the sake of a suffering creature. :grouphug:

Oops, double post..

Thanks. Mark said today that he was going to do it anyway, even if it meant we would get kicked out. Thanks for the :grouphug: