Toughing It Out
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I thought I'd respond to yesterday's comments with a new entry today. I do enjoy interacting with everyone when they post comments.
That was an interesting idea, Dyna...getting in cahoots with some of the lowlifes in my neighborhood. It has its pros and cons. Sometimes I've had to forge alliances with disreputable people when I was in difficult circumstances...at times it worked and at times it got me in trouble. I do have an alliance now with the racist neighbor to the southeast of my property...mainly for self defense reasons. He's well armed, we seem to be able to trust each other, and he's also concerned about having druggies setting up shop on our street. But still, it troubles me to be associating with him.
Darla, the meth people have started being more careful. I figured out that the dank smoke I get in the morning here when the wind drift is northeasterly is a smudge fire. That's a fire that's designed to make a lot of smoke. They use those here to repel mosquitoes, warm orange groves during cold snaps...and cover up fumes from meth labs. I'm getting my meth-lab facts from law enforcement web sites. Last night the smoke from the northeast had a sweet, sulphury odor mixed with it. This could very well explain all the headaches I've been getting at night lately.
I don't think it's a coincidence that they started using a smudge fire a short time after I called in a tip about them to Crimestoppers. That makes me even more uneasy about living down the street from all this...seems to me there may be someone in the Sheriff's Dept. who let the meth heads know that I'm a problem. Frankly, that doesn't surprise me. Drug use is everywhere here, including within law enforcement. It did bother me that they asked for my address on that "anonymous" tip line.
A lot of people have warned me to be careful about this Sheriff's Department here, that they are involved in the drug trade. I just never thought they would be involved in something as vicious as meth. It's usually only really bad people who get into dealing that stuff. It might be time to dip into my emergency reserves to purchase some security hardware...and a handgun.
Lucy came by today, Darla. She has some horrific-looking wounds on her back, most likely from burrowing under fences. I noticed them a couple of weeks ago. There is no indication that anyone has tried to sew her up, the wounds are just hanging open with the dermis exposed. It's too late now to stitch the wounds, but the possibility for infection is obviously very high. There should be some kind of salve on there, but I'm not seeing that. The largest is about 3x7 cm. I hear loud yelling from her home at times...I don't think things are going well for her. She seemed very distressed when I talked with her. She belongs back in the country where she was picked up, that dog is not a city dog by nature...nor am I, come to think of it.
I really don't know what to do for her at this point. I no longer call "Suzie's" number when I see Lucy on my property, I don't think those are nice people there. Maybe someone who sees her wandering around loose will snip off her collar and give her to someone who would appreciate a high-spirited dog like her. You can't coop a dog who's been trained for hunting and regular runs and never take them out for exercise. It makes them crazy to get out. Dogs are not play toys, they're sentient beings.
I certainly couldn't handle her either, my ability to walk is limited and running is definitely out. She's probably used to running with a pack of dogs following humans on ATV's. That's the way they hunt game here. I can read animals, and she's saying to me loud and clear..."Come on, let's go!" She wants to go on a hunt. That's definitely not for me.
I thought I'd respond to yesterday's comments with a new entry today. I do enjoy interacting with everyone when they post comments.
That was an interesting idea, Dyna...getting in cahoots with some of the lowlifes in my neighborhood. It has its pros and cons. Sometimes I've had to forge alliances with disreputable people when I was in difficult circumstances...at times it worked and at times it got me in trouble. I do have an alliance now with the racist neighbor to the southeast of my property...mainly for self defense reasons. He's well armed, we seem to be able to trust each other, and he's also concerned about having druggies setting up shop on our street. But still, it troubles me to be associating with him.
Darla, the meth people have started being more careful. I figured out that the dank smoke I get in the morning here when the wind drift is northeasterly is a smudge fire. That's a fire that's designed to make a lot of smoke. They use those here to repel mosquitoes, warm orange groves during cold snaps...and cover up fumes from meth labs. I'm getting my meth-lab facts from law enforcement web sites. Last night the smoke from the northeast had a sweet, sulphury odor mixed with it. This could very well explain all the headaches I've been getting at night lately.
I don't think it's a coincidence that they started using a smudge fire a short time after I called in a tip about them to Crimestoppers. That makes me even more uneasy about living down the street from all this...seems to me there may be someone in the Sheriff's Dept. who let the meth heads know that I'm a problem. Frankly, that doesn't surprise me. Drug use is everywhere here, including within law enforcement. It did bother me that they asked for my address on that "anonymous" tip line.
A lot of people have warned me to be careful about this Sheriff's Department here, that they are involved in the drug trade. I just never thought they would be involved in something as vicious as meth. It's usually only really bad people who get into dealing that stuff. It might be time to dip into my emergency reserves to purchase some security hardware...and a handgun.
Lucy came by today, Darla. She has some horrific-looking wounds on her back, most likely from burrowing under fences. I noticed them a couple of weeks ago. There is no indication that anyone has tried to sew her up, the wounds are just hanging open with the dermis exposed. It's too late now to stitch the wounds, but the possibility for infection is obviously very high. There should be some kind of salve on there, but I'm not seeing that. The largest is about 3x7 cm. I hear loud yelling from her home at times...I don't think things are going well for her. She seemed very distressed when I talked with her. She belongs back in the country where she was picked up, that dog is not a city dog by nature...nor am I, come to think of it.
I really don't know what to do for her at this point. I no longer call "Suzie's" number when I see Lucy on my property, I don't think those are nice people there. Maybe someone who sees her wandering around loose will snip off her collar and give her to someone who would appreciate a high-spirited dog like her. You can't coop a dog who's been trained for hunting and regular runs and never take them out for exercise. It makes them crazy to get out. Dogs are not play toys, they're sentient beings.
I certainly couldn't handle her either, my ability to walk is limited and running is definitely out. She's probably used to running with a pack of dogs following humans on ATV's. That's the way they hunt game here. I can read animals, and she's saying to me loud and clear..."Come on, let's go!" She wants to go on a hunt. That's definitely not for me.
Replies
I have been targeted for my being foolish enough to be seen riding my mobility scooter out in my gardens after the death of my husband. I just never thought coping alone with severe disability would make me a target and was out in my gardens just as much as was possible -- I loved being there just as much as today my hating the people who have targeted me preventing me the freedom of enjoying my once cherished gardens. They are dying any longer and everything is drying out. Once I am no longer targeted I will slowly and CAREFULLY
Well, something popped and there it went -- not complete.
One day I will hopefully be allowed access once again to my gardens and with knowledge be able to then protect myself form this nightmare I have been exposed to since the death of my husband.
((hugs)) shared.
Makes me sick to hear about Lucy, Richie! I know it upsets you as well. Surely she is in a bad home. If those wounds become infected there will e real trouble for this dog. I hope she isn\'t suffering....although I don\'t see how that\'s possible. I guess you\'ve gone through all the proper channels to get help. I don\'t suppose there\'s an organization that can pick up an abused, running loose dog from your property?? Just thinking outloud here!!
Glad you got your laundry done. One of my least favorite tasks! ox
So sad, Patricia, that you can no longer enjoy your garden. It\'s been like that for me as well. When I do get out there now, it\'s a race to get as much done as I can before something drives me indoors again. It used to be relaxing, but now it\'s all about dodging air pollution.
Proper channels, Darla...that means they\'ll pick Lucy up, maybe charge the owners a token fine for mistreating her, and send her right back to them...or do nothing at all. All Lucy\'s owners have to do is say that her wounds are self-inflicted because she\'s a bad dog who tries to run away. Then it will just turn into a frightening trip halfway across the county in the back of a county truck, a trip that accomplishes nothing except traumatizing her more.
Been rethinking that security pact with the neighbor...don\'t think I want to call him if there\'s trouble. I don\'t like racists. I\'ll take care of my own security needs...don\'t want help from people like that.
I hope he loses my phone number.
MAybe you could contact these peopel abotu Lucy and see if they have any ideas. This rescue takes in animals after abuse etc. I amnot saying they will take Luck. I am sure they won\'t but perhaps they might suggest someone to contact. Letting Lucy walk aroudn with infections is not okay. There is also a national animal abuse hotline. Yo can look it up on google if interested. If the dog is in bad shape please try to contact someone.
http://www.noahs-arks.net/
No one will accept the statement that Lucy\'s wounds are okay since they are \" self inflcted.\" There are good people in this world probably somewhere in your area who care about animals. To not odo anything about an animal with wounds is not okay IMO. I hope you don\'t get offended by what I wrote but honestly if everyone justs turns their head to animal abuse it only degrades all of us as a society. It only takes one person to do the right thing. You don\'t ahve to get involved. Just find people in animal rescue who have dealt with this kind of situation before adn tell them about Lucy.
Then it will just turn into a frightening trip halfway across the county in the back of a county truck, a trip that accomplishes nothing except traumatizing her more.
There are happy scenerios that occur. The one you wrote is not the only outcome. Lucy may be happy to get out of there.
I haven\'t given up trying to help Lucy. Right now I\'m searching for options. In our part of the US the laws are usually not on the side of the animals. I\'ve seen many stories on local news where spokespersons for Animal Control voiced their frustration about trying to help mistreated animals or confiscate dangerous dogs and being blocked by state laws.
You can\'t just take someone\'s dog away because they have wounds, or you think they attacked other dogs, you can be arrested for that. You have to have proof that the owners deliberately hurt the dog or the dog wounded someone\'s dog or cat before that can happen...in this case they could say it was not their fault that she burrowed under the fence and got hurt.
There has to be proof of deliberate abuse or neglect before anyone can do anything. Here the law is on the side of the property owner, that\'s the way it is all across the South in all aspects of law. Dogs are considered property under state law. Even if there is abuse, there have to be signed witness statements before charges can be filed. And it has to be deliberate abuse or neglect. If it can be proven, they will send people to jail for it.
Complicating all this is the fact that Animal Control usually will not respond to calls from my neighborhood. They have told me that they don\'t consider it safe here. Under county law, private shelters have no authority to interfere in the custody of animals or investigate abuse. They did at one time, but that was changed under county ordinance about twenty five years ago. They can only accept animals brought to them by their owners.
There was no sign of infection when Lucy came by recently. It\'s the potential for infection that worries me. I have no way of knowing what if any veterinarian care that dog is getting.
As I\'ve said many times, I want my friends to feel free to voice their opinions freely on my journal page. If you tell me I\'m all wrong, I\'ll consider that possibility and I will NOT be offended. If I\'m off on some wrong track, I want to know about it.
The people who have Lucy\'s custody got her from a shelter of some kind. I think they got a completely inappropriate dog for their circumstances. She\'s not acclimating to her new home and her enforced inactivity in my opinion, and all these problems come from that dog/owner mismatch.
She was raised in a particular environment, and now she can\'t accept losing all the things she loves most. She\'s not some lap dog, she\'s an athletic breed that loves to hunt. You can\'t fit a round peg in a square hole, it\'s as simple as that.
She\'s out again...just saw her go through the yard. I do what I can, but I can\'t control everything that happens in this neighborhood.
Glad you are still looking out for her.