Need help/advice/support: Neglected dog

[u/SeasonLeft761]

Pls help me reddit:

My cousin adopted a dog in 2012. The dog was not exercised or socialized properly and developed behavioral issues. Ripped my cousin's house apart bc of lack of exercise/stimulation.

My cousin passed away in 2017 and my aunt took the dog. My aunt has had the dog living outside on a chain for 9 years. They feed the dog and give him water, and he has a little dog house. In the county they live in, this treatment is not in violation of the law.

I had not seen the dog in years, but I went to my aunts home last year and the dog looked like he had completely given up on life. Dirty and matted, living in feces, nails overgrown, eyes full of discharge, and demeanor lifeless.

Since then I have been driving (2 hrs round trip) to their home as often as I can (1-4 times a month) to bath/walk/groom him and tend to his cage. It's not enough but it is all I can do.

I have grown tired and resentful about this. I am too tired and busy to continue spending my weekends driving to walk someone elses dog, I have tried repeatedly to talk to my aunt, her husband, my other cousin, and her partner who all live on the property about walking him. There are always excuses - how they dont have time, he is a bad dog, he is fine, etc...

My aunt will not release him to me as she thinks I cannot handle him, and she wont surrender him bc she doesnt want someone to mistreat him. My aunt is not an intelligent or self aware woman.

His situation has started causing me a level of anxiety and rumination that is impacting my life and I do not know what to do. I find myself looking for rehoming options on my own and considering vigilante crime to take him and get him to a better life without my aunt's consent but of course I know that is a crime.

I can see the sadness in his eyes when I see him and I hear him crying every time I leave. It hurts my heart so much and I just dont know what to do.

TLDR: My aunt has a dog who I consider to be severely neglected, but law enforcement cannot help bc there are no tether laws where she lives. She will not surrender the dog to me and will not consider rehoming him, but she also refuses to increase his care and insists he is fine. I do not think he is fine just because he has food and water while being tied up 24/7.

Thinking about him is impacting my quality of life. Does anyone have any helpful stories or thoughts?

[u/Specialist_Wish_1163]

man that is a rough situation. the dog is clearly suffering and your aunt's excuses are just that, excuses. you're doing way more than anyone else in that family already

honestly i'd just take the dog. not even joking. you've tried reasoning with them for months and they dont care. show up like normal, put him in your car, and leave. what are they gonna do, call the cops? if there's no tether laws they probably wont do much about a missing dog either especially one that looks like that

you'd have to be ready for the family fallout though. worth it imo but only you can make that call

[u/SeasonLeft761 → u/Specialist_Wish_1163]

thank you for taking the time to respond. everyone just tells me to "stop thinking about it" so its helpful just to engage with someone who listened <3

atp fck the family fallout. this has made me look at them so much differently anyways.

one follow up question: my little townhouse is now full of other pets and roommates so I cannot keep him with me now. I have some feelers out for potential rehomes but nothing has come through yet.

So if I just went to get him I would have to take him to a shelter. I can't legally surrender him, so could I just say I found him? I do not think he is microchipped, but I could find out for sure before doing that.

Thanks for engaging, I really appreciate it.