First, if this is in the wrong section I apologize. I really need to get this out, and as nobody else would really understand I'm posting it here. So read on, or don't, I'm sort of just talking to talk.

My brother got a husky last year, something that I've always wanted but have never had the means. I suspect he got a husky just because he knew I wanted one...we do that, you see, being 10 months apart. Always trying to one up the other. Well, he got this beautiful husky from the pound and acted all proud to have her. Got good food for her, walked her, played with her. I didn't mind, really. I was jealous, yes, but whatever. I did bond with the dog, and being a huge dog person we bonded strongly.

Well, after about a month he sort of stopped caring about her. Slowly the walkings slowed to once a week, every other week...once a month, and now it's been about six months since he's walked her. The food turned from the good stuff, to the cheapest food you can find. The constant attention turned to none, nothing, at all. He moved into an apartment with a backyard something like 15x20 feet. She's rarely allowed inside anymore...

About two month ago I walked in house and saw her there, laying on the cold concrete patio and the sight of her shocked me. Her fur was falling out, she was skinny, and it broke my heart. I told my brother 'I'm taking your dog for a walk' and he looked at me like I was crazy. That day and every single day since then I've taken her for a walk. Most days we visit the dog part, first day she cowered under my chair the entire time..today she ran nonstop successfully jumped OVER a great dane...because she could. She liked to jump...

Since that day I buy her food, and it's the good stuff. I took her to the vet, she had worms and was underweight and learned she was allergic to pretty much cheap dog food. She no longer has worms, her fur is growing back, and she's gained weight. Most importantly, she's happier. I know it, I can feel it. I asked my brother if I could have her, he said "Thanks for helping take care of her, but she's still my dog"

So I offered $700...for a pound puppy. He told me no, it's his first dog and he loves her. Why doesn't he feed her, or walk her, or just fucking play with her once in a while? But I resolved to continue doing what I'd been doing, to try to make sure she is as happy as I can help her be. But after tonight, I can't...

It's been raining like crazy her lately, and as such the backyard is soaked. Nikki is deathly afraid of anything and everything wet. So she won't go out onto the dirt in the backyard, so she's been living on the few feet of patio these last few days. 50 pound husky, few feet of patio...yeah, covered in urine and feces that my brother doesn't clean up. When I got to his house, I let her inside without even asking, because that was despicable. Took her upstairs to my brothers room, gave her food and water and went back downstairs.

Brothers girlfriend freaked out because the 'wet dog' was in their room, and a minute later Nikki is back downstairs and my brother is yelling at her to get outside. Nikki is flipping out, not wanting to go back outside for obvious reasons, and jumps up on the couch and tried to hide in my lap. My brother grabs her by the harness and pulls her to the back door, and tries to throw her outside. When she tried to flip around to get back inside he kicked her the rest of the way outside.

I almost flipped out, I simply had to leave. I got up, and left. What can I do, I thought on my way home. There really is only one thing I can do, because I can't leave her there like that anymore. I'm going to offer to buy her one more time, and kindly inform him if he doesn't sell her to me or start taking care of her I'm going to report him. He's not allowed to have pets at his place, and I'm sure there's some animal cruelty charges somewhere.

So there you have it...I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place aren't I? Do I choose my brother, or the dog I love? Because I'm sure my relationship with one of the two is going to suffer from this...

The way I see it, your brother isn't the one being neglected. Do the right thing and do anything you need to do to see that the dog is properly cared for. Your bro will get over his indignance in time, and when he matures a bit, he'll probably thank you and admit he was took on too much to handle.

As you know, huskies are incredibly high energy breeds and they get neurotic/depressed/destructive when they're not allowed to run/pull all day, every day. I wager pretty soon she'll start causing a ruckus in the house because she's bored and then your brother might put her back in the shelter instead of working with her. Augh, there's just a lot of things that can go wrong with a frustrated large working breed. :( This is a kind of upsetting story, I hope you can help the husky.

You are in a rough spot here. What you have been doing for her is great. A lot of shelter dogs sadly end up this way though. (not that she should have to) If he did make the choice to adopt her just to beat you to it, it was no reason to bring her home. Any animal you adopt, pick up, or buy should be done after some well throught out decisions first. It doesn't matter the state. No owner is allowed to make their dog stay outside with no shelter, water, and food. It's even more illegal to make their dog lay in their own feces and urine. If your sure you want to help the dog find a new home or maybe come home with you, you have two choices I guess. Either keep offering to buy her, which will over time make him quit letting you come over, or report him to the animal control or police dept. in your town. But if you go the AC option just know that you may not get a chance to get her from him before she goes to another shelter to be adopted. It sounds like she does need some help by someone. "I" would ask myself this. "would she be in better condition and happier in a shelter, with someone else, or with me?" If I answered yes to at least two of the above I would intervine and help her. Weather under my control or someone else with more athority. If he's not allowed to have her anyway it won't be long before he forced to get rid of her. I hope this helps.

Do what you have to for the dog. Your brother sounds like he needs to grow up, and doesnt sound like he cares or is mature enough to have a dog. He will get over it and grow up, sure your relationship with him will be effected, probably for a while, but not forever and im sure you two will come to some agreement.

As for the dog, it needs you. it may end up dying there if nothing is done. If i were you, i dont think there is anything you can do but take the dog if you have to. it needs love, it needs you

I'm sorry to say that anyone that treats a dog that bad should either be reported to the RSPCA (or what ever it is there) or made to live the same way and see how they like it.

I think the first thing you should do is sit down with him and have a really serious talk about the situation and how you feel. I know, trust me; I know this is not easy for many siblings. I had a serious talk once with my sister about her dangerous boyfriend and she left cussing and slamming the door only to ignore/misconstrue everything I said. She didn’t speak to me until he tried to kill her a few months later in a murder/suicide attempt that thankfully, ultimately ended in him being the only one dead. I regret not pressing the issue further before it went that far.

You really need to do it though. For the sake of your brother, even if it drives you apart for a while. One of the things about love is sometimes you have to tell people the cold-hard truth, because you love them. Explain to him the big picture of the situation. What he is doing to this poor dog, and how it is affecting you. Think intervention, because this kind of abuse and neglect could spill over into his other relationships. Then you need to give him an ultimatum. Either he does the right thing and turns the dog over to you, or you will report him. Not because you want to, but because you have to.

Feel for you here, it's a horrible situation. Breaks my heart every time I see dogs treated that way. That's no way for her to live.

This post has been edited by guthwulf on Oct 15 2009, 01:40 PM

I would say screw your brother. If he wont take money from you for her, report him for animal abuse, neglect, and to his landlord for having a dog. If he loses his apartment, tough luck. See how he likes living like that. And tell him that too. Offer some money for her, and tell him that if he doesn't take your offer, you will report him for neglect/abuse and report him to his landlord. Also, tell him that if he gets rid of her before you can report him, that he will be dead to you or some such.

I say that because from the sound of this winner (no offense to you, but from what you say, I don't like your brother at all), that he would be the kind of person to take her to the country or pound and abandon her. I don't want that to happen to that girl.

Don't offer him one red cent!! You offered once and he turned it down. He obviously has personality and maturity issues and you're probably better off without him in your life until he resolves them.
He has two choices. He can give the dog to you or he can be reported to everyone we can think of including but not limited to his landlord, the police and the animal control people.
I say again, don't offer him one red cent! You've been buying food, taking care of her and furnishing vet visits. Keep your money and spend it on her. Your brother will only squander it in any event.
Hold firm on this. Stand your ground. Get that dog out of there!
LTD

Give your brother one more chance to do the right thing and surrender the dog voluntarily. I would say don't offer to pay for her again. Tell him, either he surrenders the dog to you or the human society or risk being reported.

If you have any receipts or credit card statements verifying your care of the dog, that could come in handy if push came to shove.

These things are never easy. Try your best to stay objective about it, as any personal emotional attachment from you will erode your position in the eyes of authority.

State the facts and let them speak for themselves.

It sounds like the dog is either being mistreated....or at least, neglected.

You don't want to cause a rift with your brother, but something DOES need to be done!! Perhaps the situation can be reported annonomously so some kind of actin is taken to protect the dog.

At least you have been able to give the dog some kindness...my hats off to you on that one.

Wheather things turn out that you are able to care for this dog in the future or not...in what ever form.....it sounds like this fine animal is in need.

Do not think about your own wants or needs....think about what this dog needs...trust your heart...and do what ever is neccessary.

screw him he doesn't deserve her. and judging by the everything im sure you could have contacted authorities and possibly even her new real owner. if that's how he treats her and how he thinks a fellow animal should be treated i would beat his ass a long time ago. hope you can help her out soon and get her in a better happier life :D

It was my day off today so I went over and 'stole' Nikki for the day to spend time with her until my brother got home from work. Went up to the foot hills and did some hiking. First time we'd been, we both enjoyed it. Got back around 2 p.m. and waited until my brother showed up. I tried to talk some sense into him. I asked him again to sell her to me, no deal. I told him he was mistreating his dog, and he replied 'how?'

I asked him why he insists on feeding her cheap food she is allergic too unless I buy the good stuff. He told me 'If it comes between feeding my baby or the dog, I'm feeding the baby' to which I replied 'You made $48k last year, you can afford good dog food. And look at this (I pick up a recite laying on the counter) $24 for Carl's Jr? So it's not feed the baby or feed the dog, it's one meal at carl's or feed the dog for weeks?' His response? 'She's just a dog'

I asked him why he keeps her locked up in that tiny backyard all the time, he told me 'I know she needs a bigger yard, I'm working on that. But we let her inside some nights' and I asked him if he would just let me care for her until he got a better place for her, and was rejected. 'Why did you keep her locked outside when it rained this week, where she was forced to live on a few feet of concrete and lay in filth?' He told me 'I didn't know she was shitting on the concrete, I would have cleaned that up' When I told him dogs need room to run and it's despicable for a dog to be unable to do so, he told me 'She's just a dog'

I asked him why he doesn't pet her, or show her any affection, he responded 'I have a kid to worry about, when I come home from work I don't have the time or energy to walk her or play with her' When I told him that dogs REQUIRE at least some attention to be happy, he told me 'She's just a dog'

Finally, getting sick and tired of hearing 'She's just a dog' I worked up the courage and told him 'You know, if animal control saw the conditions she's living in they would either take her from you or fine you and tell you to improve her living conditions'

His response?

'Well then they better come out then, because Nikki is fine'

And I called them, showed them pictures of the tiny yard full of feces and the pictures of Nikki when her fur was falling out and the recites I have for her food, and her vet bills -- all payed with MY debit card. They told me they would look into it, and I hope to god they do. Because my brother, who I love...like a brother, does not deserve to have a dog. At least not at this time.

Thanks everyone for your replies, you really helped me work up the courage to do something. <3 you all,

Octavian

Edit: Meet Nikki.

This post has been edited by Octavian85 on Oct 16 2009, 04:42 AM

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:clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: Good for you and hopefully good for everyone. Stay centered and stay focused. It is not over yet. I am sure you will do this, but remember to follow up.

Namaste

Five letters R S P C A

She's beautiful, Octavian. Far more than "just a dog," as your brother describes her. And she is very lucky to have a friend like you who cares so deeply for her, and her well-being. I certainly don't doubt your love for her, or your love for your brother. You are doing the right thing by standing your ground.

This post has been edited by guthwulf on Oct 16 2009, 05:19 AM