My Neighbor's Little Pug Dog Is Outside in the Cold Backyard .

Updated on February 09, 2011
M.S. asks from Spokane, WA
14 answers

It's 29 degrees outside and he looks so cold. He's been out there for at least the last hour and a half that I've noticed. He's not normally an outside dog and I feel horrible for him and want to help him but I'm trying hard to be on good terms with these neighbors because we share a fence at the back of our yards. I don't know what to do! I've called our rental managers in the past to complain when their large dogs have jumped the fence out of their yards and wandered the neighborhood (they are mean looking and bark at people a lot, even small children). Right now it is just the small pug that is out there. What would you do, honestly?

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So What Happened?

Thank you all for you advice. I did call the managers and just made them aware and asked if they could call them and see if they are home etc since they should have their number. It would take loading my baby up in the truck and actually driving around the block to their front door to go over and talk to them so if the manager can't get it resolved in a timely fashion then I will try to just go get him and leave a note-assuming they are not home. Thanks again, I hate these sticky situations but my goodness, poor guy!

Featured Answers

C.F.

answers from Boston on

Are they home? I would Knock on the door and see if they remember its So Cold out and he's So little. If they are NOT home, I would go and bring him in my house till they get back! POOR PUG :-( NOT COOL

7 moms found this helpful

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H.L.

answers from New York on

If he's not normally an outside dog, I'd go knock. You could say "I know Rover isn't usually outside and I noticed he seems so cold." And if they're not home, leave a note and bring him in. Poor dog!!

5 moms found this helpful

V.E.

answers from Houston on

I am a big dog lover.. Call the local animal rescue anonymously.

4 moms found this helpful

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

Go knock on the door ... I would never let my dog out for long periods of time in this frigid of temp. I have a large dog with short hair and a small dog with long hair and they LOVE to be out in the snow but their limit is 30min out and 2hrs in so they do not get too cold. I understand you do not want problems but think of the guilt/problems you could have if you stand idly by.

3 moms found this helpful
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L.L.

answers from Orlando on

totally agree with XINE - go knock and if no one answers bring him in your house. poor little doggie!

3 moms found this helpful
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P.F.

answers from Dallas on

Hi,

First see if they are home and know that their pug is outside. If they are and don't bring him in or if they are not home try calling a local pug rescue in your area. You can look them up on line. Just google Pug Rescue. Not sure if they have the right to go into someone's yard and take the dog, but they will be able to tell you. That is just horrible to do to any animal!

Good luck!

3 moms found this helpful
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R.M.

answers from Chicago on

Yes, knock on the door to see if they forgot! I have a little dog and honestly sometimes I forget for a minute if she's out there! Scares me because she could die in the cold.... or heat. It's so cold for the little fella. I would definitely knock on their door, and if I didn't get an answer, I'd go get the dog and bring it inside my home. They can't fault you for trying to be helpful! Well, if they're jerks I'm sure they can, but who cares!?

3 moms found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

If they're home, I would knock on their door and ask if they knew the pug was out back shivering. Phrase it like you think he probably snuck out. If they don't seem to care, go ahead and say, "I was just concerned because little dogs like that without heavy coats can get hypothermia and die pretty quickly in cold weather."

If they're not home you can do one of two things -continue to watch it shiver and place a note on their door saying, "I saw the pug in the backyard freezing, but you weren't home, so I wanted to let you know he was out there," or (if you can get to the dog) you can put it in your house or garage until they get home and let them know you were really afraid after watching it for a few hours that the dog was going to freeze to death. Personally, I wouldn't care if such lax dog owners liked me or not -fence or not.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.V.

answers from New York on

I guess if I were you I would call the rental manager again, and see if he can at least make a phone call to the neighbors to see what's going on. To me, leaving a dog outside in such cold temps for an extended period of time is cruel. Sounds like they are negligent dog owners and need to look after all their dogs better. I can understand that you might be hesitant to actually go over there and knock on their door, though. Guess it depends on how much longer it goes on.

2 moms found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Norfolk on

How good of an actress are you? You could go over, knock on the door (concerned look on your face.) When someone answers the door, ask if everything is OK. When they say yes, just say, "I was worried when I saw your pug outside in this cold. I know she's not normally an outside dog."

2 moms found this helpful

J.P.

answers from Chicago on

I'd call my neighbor , but that's because I know their numbers and I know both neighbors would appreciate it. Maybe they just forgot.... or is he barking? If you don't know the number, I'd put my coat on and knock at their door and inquire about it and just let them know that you're concerned.

At school they have my kids go outside to play at recess when it's only around 15 degrees or higher but that's with all the snow gear on and for only 20 minutes.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

For now, drop an old blanket over the fence for him. Short snout dogs have difficulty breathing in the cold.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

I am coming at this late in the game, but if it happens again, I would call the neighbor or knock on their door if you feel comfortable doing so...otherwise, if you don't feel comfortable, or there is no answer, I would call your local animal control. I had to do this twice on our neighbors (anonymously) because they left their Jack Russel Terrier (another small dog with a short coat) outside for over an hour on a bitterly cold and windy winter day, tied up in the backyard, no shelter, nothing. Dogs can freeze to death in this kind of weather without appropriate shelter (as in, an insulated 4-sided dog house with a flap to cover the opening and straw for bedding because it can't get wet and freeze). And many kinds of dogs are not acclimated to be out in this kind of weather for very long.

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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

You have gotten some great advice and I would do the same as many here.
I would go over and knock, then leave a note and get the dog.

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