Late last summer/early autumn the bitch who lives behind us acquired a puppy. It was a quiet pup and made no noise at night so I assumed it was being properly taken care of. Recently I noticed the dog, who is almost fully grown now and appeared to be part German Shepherd and part Samoyed, poking it's head up over the porch railing when something attracted it's attention and playing with what sounded like a plastic bucket. I believe this is the same dog the bitch got last year. Over the past month I have noticed the dog NEVER leaves the approx. 8'X8' porch. It leaps at the filthy sliding glass door and whimpers and whines until the bitch comes out with a bowl of food. She just puts the bowl down and goes back in the house closing the door behind her. She doesn't talk to the dog. She doesn't touch the dog. Since the dog started playing with the plastic bucket I have realized it is outside all night, every night, even when the temps are freezing.

When the bitch's car disappeared for 5 days I called the SPCA. I was horrified to learn that so long as the dog has food, water and shelter, there is nothing they can do. I played up the fact that I hadn't seen the owner in at least 5 days and was told someone MIGHT go out to check on it. I was furious! Why did this bitch even have a dog? It obviously wasn't a pet and it couldn't possibly be her idea of a burglar deterrent as I have never, ever heard the dog bark. I suspect she had it's vocal cords cut.

I am so relieved and delighted to tell you that I haven't seen a trace of the dog since the day after my call to the SPCA. I'm hoping it hasn't suffered too much psychological damage and will end up in a loving, caring home.