This is ridiculous that this dog has had to live like this. Why can't the dog be taken away to somewhere safe? I agree with calling Bikers Against Animal Cruelty.

I had the same issue last year down the street. I went over and offered to walk the dog and they were happy to let me. But nothing changed. I had hoped that after seeing an angry dog turn so happy when I went over would raise some guilt. No luck. An investigation forced them to keep the dog locked inside in the basement. Finally it tried to escape and got hit by a car. I find it horrific that the city won't take animals till they are dead on the road. I'll stop by and see if they want to give it away to a good home. Other feel free to do the same.

This has nothing to do with the dog being a pit, but I'm just not sure if the dog is friendly. I'd rather not approach the dog on my own. Who knows if they used to fight the dog, or trained it to protect their property. I just emailed Bikers Against Animal Cruelty, and gave them the details and address. Thanks for the suggestion!

The animal shelter has not had any recent complaints about this location. The last complaint was during the summer when the dogs leash was too long and was able to bite the neighbor in his yard. The neighbor also complained that the dogs kennel was being built too close to his property. This dog is a very stocky strong dog that is not by any means starved.
We have not received any complaints about the dog now being on a short leash. What you have described is a nuisance complaint( barking dog) and violation of the anti tethering law(short leash). The animal remains in the care of his owner because during the last investigation no violations were found other than the dog not having proper shelter while it was outdoors. "A neighbor said the shed was filled with feces". We did not receive a complaint about those allegations.
Furthermore the Bikers group is a non profit group of volunteers that can not enforce the animal control laws. They cannot walk onto someones property and remove a dog without the owner voluntarily relinquishing their animal.

The owners do not fight the dog but I certainly do not recommend civilians to walk on the property without the owner present. I would not recommend anyone to walk on some elses' property without knowing the animal no matter if it is a Pitbull or a Chihuahua.

I check out this site infrequently as there is no internet access at the animal shelter. Animal control laws are not so cut and dry as you may think. Neglect and cruelty has to be proven. We cannot make people keep their animals indoors but we can make sure that they are healthy, have clean shelter,water and are in no danger of harming themselves while they are outdoors.

If you make a complaint to our agency make sure to leave a call back number so we can inform you of the outcome of the investigation. That way you will not assume nothing has been done.
I will personally check on the dog and it's conditions in the AM and report back to all of you regarding the findings.
Officer Stephani Johnson MACO
NHPD NHAS
81 Fournier Street
New Haven, CT 06511
(203)946-8110

Sorry, but you’re actually wrong. The animal shelter received a complaint from me last week. I called (203) 946-8111 and told the gentleman the situation as outlined in my post on seeclickfix.
I’m glad the dog is “a stocky strong dog that is not by any means starved”, but that’s not the point, and I never suggested the dog is being starved. Pay attention, I said sometimes the dog “has no water bowl, or the water bowl is empty”.
You say that Animal Control Laws “are not cut and dry, and that neglect and cruelty have to be proven.” According to you, Animal Control has ALREADY proven that the dog’s owners were in violation by not providing shelter. You go on to say that, “we can make sure that they are healthy, have clean shelter, water and are in no danger of harming themselves while they are outdoors.” But Animal control has NOT made sure that this dog has clean shelter and water.
So, it’s pretty safe to assume that your “investigation” this summer has done nothing to fix the situation since the dog is still without adequate shelter, and a consistent supply of water.
Here you go. I’ll help you out with your police work:
It’s crime to neglect or fail to provide proper care to an animal. In Connecticut, the penalty is a fine of up to $ 1,000, imprisonment of up to one year, or both.
(CGS § 53-247(a)
Individuals having custody of an animal may not act cruelly to it; fail to provide it with proper food, drink, or shelter.

Perhaps, you should request internet access at the shelter. Why is Animal Control set up with an email address to receive notifications from concerned citizens, if they can’t check the complaints?! Dial-Up is 7 bucks a month; Are you kidding me?!

Come on, enough is enough. Do your job. This dog is barking and crying incessantly, has no adequate shelter, no consistent water supply, and has bitten someone.

If you would like to call the shelter and speak with me directly you are welcome to do so.

I will check on the dog today as stated before.
-Officer Stephani Johnson

You said you would report back to all of us regarding your findings. Well, what were your findings?

"I will personally check on the dog and it's conditions in the AM and report back to all of you regarding the findings."
Officer Stephani Johnson MACO
NHPD NHAS

Dear KMS....you went into my property ? That says it all ? Thats why you got bite by my dog (According to you). I know who you are. Why are you mad ? Cause you couldn't get any money from my insurance company ? Randy has been with me since he was a baby. My kids, my wife love him and I love him. He don't love people like you. Why dont you get a life and start minding your own bussiness. What about when you were beating your wife 3 months ago ? I didn't called the cops on you. Why ? Because it was not any of my bussiness. Next time I will.

If I have a problem with a neighbor i go and knock their door and try to have a conversation with the person to fix the problem, I do not hide myself behing a computer to try to get him in trouble with the authorities. I invite you to come and ring my door bell. Let's talk. I know you won't...you can't even look at my face...you know my dog didn't do anything to you. You just tried to get money from my insurance and you didn't get any. Keep trying....or try with your next neightboor next time you move, cause by the way you are renting...I own. Just be careful next time you try to get into my property. My dog is in the backyard taking care of my property and making sure people like you to tresspas it.

Good luck !!!! your neighboor from 177 Lexington Ave. Yeah...i say who I am. Im not like you.

I was unable to check on the dog on the 13rth as I was subpoenaed to court to testify on another matter.It is quite obvious by the response by the dog's owner that I went to the property today. Although I do not know the poster of this complaint there is obviously trouble between neighbors that should be addressed in another forum.

NEGLECT CLAIM 177 LEXINGTON AVE:

KMS stated that the dog was being kept on a short chain.
False, the dog, when outside, is attached to a 20 ft runner line( the kind they sell in the pet store specifically for tie outs) not a chain.

KMS stated that sometimes there is no water bowl or the bowl is empty.

When I was on the property there were two BUCKETS of water. One would not know if they are empty unless they actually walked over to the bucket to inspect it. It is highly unlikely that "the neighbor" ever entered the yard to give the dog water because he is a VERY intimidating dog and VERY protective of his family and property.

KMS stated that during the colder months the dog is kept in a shed behind their house and a friend said it was filled with feces.

False, There wasn't a shed on the property when I went to the property in June and there is no shed now.

The dog does not live outdoors but enjoys his leisure time in his yard. When we arrived at the house the dog was in the yard but was quiet until we entered the yard or walked along the fence in the neighbors yard.

The dog is vaccinated and licensed with the city. The owners are cooperative and will bring the dog in if he starts to bark for long periods. There is no evidence proper care is not being provided.

-Officer Stephani Johnson

In conclusion, three things have been conformed by officer Johnson:

1. The dog was, “able to bite the neighbor in his yard.”

2. The dog is a “VERY intimidating dog.”

3. The owner is in violation because; “the dog did not have proper shelter while it was outdoors.”

Yet, Officer Johnson states, “There is no evidence proper care is not being provided.”

Officer Johnson wrote, “KMS stated that during the colder months the dog is kept in a shed behind their house and a friend said it was filled with feces. False, There wasn't a shed on the property when I went to the property in June and there is no shed now.”

Shed noun: a small building, usually made of wood, used for storing things
A large simple building used for a particular activity

It’s hard to believe that you didn’t see the shed. So I guess since you could not track down the illusive shed, you didn’t look inside to see if it was filled with feces. I’ve attached a photo of the shed for your reference. It’s a whopping 20-25 feet from the house.

“The dog does not live outdoors but enjoys his leisure time in his yard. When we arrived at the house the dog was in the yard but was quiet until we entered the yard or walked along the fence in the neighbors yard.”
That is hysterical. The dog is ALWAYS outside. Ask ANY neighbor and they will tell you that the dog sometimes barks, howls or cries for HOURS at a time! However, I’m sure you didn’t ask anyone but the owner.

Also, when a bowl or bucket of water is not in the yard, or when the bowl or bucket is knocked over, it’s pretty safe to assume there is no water.

Officer Johnson did get one thing right; the dog is no longer on a short chain. It is now back on a long line again. Officer Johnson referred to that long line when she stated, “The last complaint was during the summer when the dogs leash was too long and was able to bite the neighbor in his yard.”

In conclusion Officer Johnson confirmed that this VERY intimidating dog was able to bite the neighbor in his yard when the dogs leash was too long, and the dog did not have proper shelter while it was outdoors.
She was unable to confirm that the shed the dog is put in is filled with feces, because she couldn’t find the shed

Additionally, Officer Johnson now has the responsibility to refer the allegation of spousal abuse to the NHPD. I’m sure nothing will be done about that either.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=41.302633,-72.885932&spn=0.000612,0.00142&t=h&z=20&layer=t&lci=com.panoramio.all

I am reopening this issue because the Animal Control officer stated in her response that the neglected dog was

Dear KMS or MR Delaney or who ever you are....I'm not even gonna waste my time with you. Stop hiding behind a computer and come and talk to me in person. Let's have a conversation like civilize people do. By the way...I'm getting ready to do my morning show at the radio station where I work...you just gave me an idea for a good topic on my show today. "Ways of people ripping off insurance companies". I'm open to have a conversation with you as men do. By the way...most of our neighboors have pitbulls, they bark too, you can't just blame my dog. Sometimes those dogs get into my property. Do you know what I do ? I ring the owners door bell and let them know to tie their dog. I don't sit behind a computer to do what you are doing right now.

Good luck and I wish you the best !!! I gotta go to work. My listeners are waiting for me.

I know these people and they are very nice and polite. I always see the guy walking his dog every night. The dog looks very healthy and happy to me. This sounds like someone is trying to get them in trouble or just doesn't like them. Too bad this is happening in our neighboorhood when there are issues more important that people should be worring about. Like last weekend, they stold my neighboor's car right in front of his house. He went inside to get something and when he came out his car was gone. that means that we need to be careful cause there is someone stealing in our own neighborhood. I wish I had a Pit on my backyard too. lol ! By the way, this guy is right...many people have pits on their backyard too and there is one that gets into my backyard every day and is not the one from 177.

Thanks.

VPS

Pitbulls do 67% of the fatal attacks in the nation. These animals can be dangerous and shouldnt be given chance to attack again. I seen this dog loose before, a cople month ago. What if next time it bites a kid?

Wrong...you probably seen the one next door....they look alike. This one is never loose.

Dear VPS,

I don't think a stolen car is more important than someone being bitten. Even the cop said that this summer the dog bit someone. i think that once a dog bites someone, the dog needs to wear a muzzle when it is being walked.
I am sorry to hear about the stolen car though. I was also sad to hear that a woman was being beaten and nobody did anything about it. Hopefully the police will look into that. We have to do something about all the bad things happening on Lexington Ave.

Rosa R.

By the way, Dorothy (my mother) and I have been seeing more problems lately. It seems like thing are getting worst.

You're right...but nobody was there when the dog suppostly bit that person. The dog was tied. Did he unloose him self bit the guy and came back and tied him self ? I don't think so. That's why you can't judge a person in this case the dog if you were not there. The guy was bit by a pitbull and he was running and jumping all over the neighborhood the same day. Sorry, if you get bit by my pitbull or any other pitbull you are going straight to the hospital. 2 weeks later I get a letter from a lawyer that the guy has a lawsue against me. Its obvious what he was after.

As a neighbor with no subjective interest in this issue, here is what I know. I live in the condos right behind their house. The dog in question is NOT the pit that gets loose. The dogs do look alike though. As the officer said, this dog does not have proper shelter. Is something being done about that violation? There is a big shed right behind their house. I find it odd that the officer could not see it, you can’t miss it. I don’t know if it is filled with feces, but I do know the dog is closed in the shed sometimes for pretty long periods of time, but not lately. They only shut the dog in there in the winter. The dog usually has water, but not always. The dog does bark a lot, and it almost always outside, and is very loud. It’s true the barking can go on for long time and nobody comes out to get the dog, and its annoying. The dog did bite the neighbor, but the dog was tied up when it happened. The length of the line allowed the dog to cross over into the neighbors yard.

I haven't heard that dog barking and howling for days now! Finally, some peace!

You know why ? Because he died. Yes, the dog next door died about a week ago. That's the one that was always loose and not mine.

So are you saying that the dog that bit your neighbor was not your dog? Or that the dog that was barking was not your dog?

I'm not saying that my dog does nort bark....of course he does, every dog barks. But I know that he is not the only one that barks in the neighborhood. Right now there is a dog barking like crazy two houses away from mine and is not mine. Also, I can't tell you if my dog bit my neighboor or not, I was not home at the moment. Nodody knows if my dog really bit the guy, only he knows if he is saying the truth.

Good night Mike

Any progress on this?

You still after these people. I think that you have something against them. Why don't you just go talk to them in person and try to fix what ever problem you have with them. Honestly the dog that I hear barking all the time is the black pit from 171.I just think the dog from 177 is getting blamed for everything now. Almost everyone has dogs on lexington.

I agree with Margaret.

There have been no complaints made to the animal shelter since the initial report of neglect was investigated.