How To Rescue Chained Dogs and Practice Nonviolence At the Same Time

[magical thyme]

31. if that dog was the person's only companion, then they left their only companion to starve to death.

In that case, they didn't value that "companion" enough to even keep it alive, so I doubt they cared much when their "companion" went missing..

And if that person was hospitalized or otherwise unavailable, then why once they became available did they not search high and low for their dog?

When my neighbors stole my (very well fed and cared for) cat last year, I walked the streets calling for her. I asked neighbors if they'd seen her. I posted signs with pix on our street, at the post office, at the local vets office, and elsewhere. I called the shelter I had adopted her from so they could be on the lookout, and I called the shelter in the opposite direction so they could keep an eye out for her as well.

It took a year (the assholes who stole her moved away and dumped her) but I ultimately got her back and she is safe at home right now.

If the person who had that dog disappear from their yard cared, they could have gotten her back. It clearly states in the article, the rescuer was from the same neighborhood. If you read more of the article, you'll see that she normally works with owners to help them improve the dog's life. This situation was different because it was a different neighbor that was abusing or had abandoned the dog, and so she made a different decision.

I would make the decision to take an abused animal based on the local circumstances. I'm fortunate that I live in an area where animals and life are appreciated and respected, with low-zero tolerance for abuse. So here, I could call animal control and know that they, with police backup, would be all over that "owner," who would be charged with animal cruelty, and that one or another of the local, no kill shelters would be contracted to nurse it back to health if possible, before adopting it out.

Personally, if I was unexpectedly incapacitated and my companions left to starve as a result, I would be grateful to somebody anybody who rescued them from suffering and possible death.