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Just returned from Vegas, where we had an absolutely beautiful brunch to celebrate my grandmother's 80th birthday: 60+ people gathered in a lovely ballroom at a hotel near her home. It was just what the doctor ordered for her--being surrounded by people who love, respect and revere her (she is something of a celebrity in Vegas, having helped grow the local Holocaust survivors group tremendously and speaking at schools all over town). And, while she wasn't thrilled about attending in a wheelchair, she looked gorgeous and made a point to stand up at the mic to thank everyone for coming. It was glorious and I'm thrilled so many of our friends and family could make it.
Now I'm home and I'm completely distracted by the sad howling of a dog in the apartment next door. The little dog tends to bark quite a bit during the day, which I assumed he did because he missed his mommy while she was at work. Dogs are not cats--they don't revel in having the house to themselves all day.
Last week, I ran into another neighbor (one of those nosy-bodies who inexplicably seems to know everyone else's business). Michelle knows I live next door to the lonely dog and asked me if I'd been bothered by the his barking. She then informed me that the dog's owner was away for A MONTH and went on about what a crime it was to leave a dog alone like that. Of course, I agreed with her and my heart broke right then and there, on the stairwell, heaving in my chest like an anchor.
Michelle told me that another neighbor feeds and walks the dog once a day, putting to rest any notion of us calling Animal Care and Control to report animal cruelty. Despite what I believe (that no one who loves their pet would ever treat him so neglectfully and, face it, cruelly), the law would be on the neglectful dog owner's side so long as the animal is fed and looked after. In other words, there's no law against leaving your pet so lonely that he has now switched from barking incessantly to howling mournfully from loneliness.
I have wanted to intercept the neighbor who's taking care of the dog to see if I could maybe help ease the dog's loneliness, but I have yet to see him. Who knows how often he really comes? Is the poor dog forced to pee all over the tiny apartment? Meanwhile, I turn up my stereo when the poor dog howls because I find myself in tears if I pay too close attention. It's truly heart-wrenching for an animal lover to imagine even the slightest suffering of a furry creature, let alone one that must rely on humans for its every need (including companionship!).
I am told the girl will return next week and I'd like to leave her a note, but I'm torn. I would have to be fair and somehow restrain my bitchiness and blatant IRE at her for her neglect, yet keep in mind that her front door sits not 100 feet from mine and that I've never met nor seen her. In other words, I have to live with my words and I'm not sure how to go about expressing myself.
It's a tricky situation--diplomacy versus strong emotions. Any suggestions or advice would be welcome. I do plan to check with the staff at the SPCA shelter where I volunteer for any suggestions they may have about dealing with such a display of neglect.
Posted by ayelet at January 21, 2008 10:16 AM