Should I report my parents for animal neglect?

r/

Hello,
My parents got a dog, Chase, around August last year. Chase is a rescue and he is absolutely darling, he has the most beautiful eyes and such a friendly personality. He was originally a street dog, and was taken into a shelter and was there for about a year before we got him.

Chase is a husky, so has a very big personality, and a lot of needs, the only issue is my parents don’t match Chases needs. They promised me when they adopted chase that they would get him proper training, socialise him and take him on 3 walks a day. So far, they have never trained him, they do not play with him, the only socialisation he had was at the start of his time with them and that was only with my uncles dog, Molly, but last time Chase saw Molly was in January, and they do not walk Chase. My mother is disabled and can rarely even go outside to the end of the garden, and my father works 6/7 days a week from 1pm-midnight. I have offered to walk Chase if they get him a chain leash and a muzzle, but after months of begging they’ve still yet to buy either.

The reason I request those items is because, due to Chases lack of training or socialisation, he is very bad with his teeth, and still actively nips and borderline bites. He occasionally throws tantrums on walks, and this means he’s bitten through a few leashes before, and since I was the only one walking him I ended up refusing to continue since I am not fast enough to catch Chase, and the 2 times he bit through a leash on a walk I had to get neighbours help me catch him.

I feel absolutely terrible for Chase, his life is no life for a dog. Chase loves me, and I think it’s because I’m the only one who is soft and active with him. Both my parents yell at chase if he barks, gets hyper or dose practically anything, particularly my father is bad, and I think Chase has gained a genuine fear of my father. A lot of chases “bad behaviour,” is just him displaying Husky behaviour or is their fault for not training him. I do not yell at Chase, I cuddle him, play with him and used to take him on walks before he started his tantrums (I would happily still walk him if my parents got the aforementioned items) He always huddles into me and hides his face in me. I feel terrible, man. This wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, loving dog, locked in a singular room 90% of his life.

I will be moving out of my parents house before Christmas this year, and I feel such a pit of despair. I am Chases one escape, the only person who isn’t aggressive with him, and I do not want him staying in this house, it is a hoarders home with people who are clearly unfit for a dog. The only issue is I’m terrified of reporting them. I do love my parents, no matter how shitty they are, but I can’t stand by and let Chase be neglected, he can’t speak up for himself.

I’m debating asking one of my friends to do it, they’ve mentioned before that they don’t mind doing it, and that they don’t care if my parents hate them after, but I’m terrified. I’m also terrified what it’ll do to my mum. The only company she has is Chase. She can’t go out, she’s too anxious, paranoid and chronically ill/sore. The reason we have chase is because my mother was suicidal without company, and my father is awful mean to my mother as well. I don’t want my mother getting worse, she’s already on such a thin line, and it’s clear she dose love chase, but chase is being completely neglected.

I don’t know what to do, and I have been so confused about the right thing since January. Please, any advice is appreciated. I don’t want to choose the wrong answer and have my mother be suicidal again or have my parents disown me, but I don’t want Chase to be neglected all his life.

Comments

  1. Sensitive-Tone5279 Avatar

    You should contact a breed-specific rescue to see what options there are for re-homing him into a situation where he can thrive. Do not report for animal abuse. The bar for proving abuse is high. At least in the US, in most jurisdictions, a dog need only have access to a yard, water, shade, or a chain longer than 10′ to be considered well looked after.

  2. Ivetafox Avatar

    There’s a lot to break down here.

    For your mum, perhaps an animal that is easier to care for with lower needs would be better. You could take Chase with you when you leave and your mother could have a cat perhaps? Cats don’t mind being indoors as long as there’s plenty of toys, places to climb etc. You can also train rabbits as indoor pets too. There are lots of options for an ESA.

    It’s not on you to solve your parent’s problems. If your parents won’t let you take Chase, by all means report them but be prepared for that to be the end of your relationship with your parents.

    If possible, perhaps try and get to a therapist for yourself. It sounds like you have a lot to talk through.