DNYUZ
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Television
    • Theater
    • Gaming
    • Sports
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
DNYUZ
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Should I Report My Neighbor’s Animal Abuse?

August 30, 2025
in News
Should I Report My Neighbor’s Animal Abuse?
495
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

My neighbors’ treatment of their dogs — especially one mutt, “Z” — has been weighing on me. The household is a single mother with adult children, some living with her and some next door. They took Z in last summer; after he impregnated their two females, they confined him to the yard.

Last winter, when temperatures dropped below 30, I tried to help by giving Z a blanket and sweater, along with socks and chocolates for the family, as a “Christmas gift.” Nothing changed, and it seems they never used the gifts. When I raised the issue, the mother said Z was her daughter’s responsibility. I suggested free spay/neuter services, but she dismissed the idea. I considered arranging neutering myself but worried they wouldn’t provide post-op care.

Since then, I’ve seen the daughter frequently yell at Z and once kick him. The mother’s ex, who lives next door, often threatens to kill him for barking; Z is visibly afraid of him, and I suspect past abuse. I called animal services anonymously after the kicking incident, but they left after speaking with the mother.

Now in the Arizona summer heat, I’m more alarmed. The bowls of water I see are usually in full sun, most likely too hot to drink. He isn’t tied up, but no one seems to interact with him. My toddler and I sometimes give him treats and cold water because he’s so sweet and affectionate.

I can’t take him in; my own dog is elderly and won’t accept another. And while I believe Z is neglected, nothing I’ve seen clearly violates the law. I feel trapped: afraid of overstepping with unpredictable neighbors, afraid of doing nothing and regretting it if Z suffers or dies.

I know not everyone treats pets like family, but I wish they would meet the basics of care. What, ethically and practically, should I do to safeguard this dog’s well-being?

— Name Withheld

From the Ethicist:

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers clear guidance on recognizing and reporting cruelty, whether it’s neglect or deliberate abuse. From what you describe, Z may be enduring both. Its site can connect you to the National Link Coalition, which will point you to the right reporting channels in your state and county.

It is not your job to decide if the treatment you’ve seen crosses a legal line. The facts you’ve shared warrant action. Report each troubling incident, and when you speak to local authorities, give them the whole picture so they can see the pattern of harm.

If you fear retaliation, make your wish for anonymity explicit from the start and ask what steps they can take to protect you. You’ve already tried reporting once; the lack of improvement is a reason to follow up more persistently. You might also approach the daughter directly about neutering Z, which could allow him to be brought back inside and out of his carport purgatory. These conversations can be difficult, but a respectful overture can sometimes do more than we expect.

Z cannot choose safety. He cannot demand water, shelter or kindness. He cannot represent his interests. That task falls to the rest of us.



Readers Respond

The previous question was from a letter writer whose 90-year-old father forwards him many emails — cute animal pictures, bawdy jokes, YouTube clips, TikTok videos, but also political misinformation and A.I. fakes. He wrote:

“He usually can’t tell what’s real and what isn’t. When he sends me these things, I try to gently point out that they are not true or real and include links to verify this. I’ve told him about Snopes and similar fact-checking sites, but he does not seem to be able to discern when something is questionable enough to look up, and I’m not sure he really knows how to research this sort of thing. My father does not have dementia, but neither is he very media literate. I worry about him, as both he and my mother (who is somewhat cognitively impaired) have fallen prey to internet or phone scams in the past that cost them some real money and headaches. My question is: To what extent should I continue to inform him when he sends me things that are obviously phony? I feel protective, and I want to encourage him to be more vigilant; I also want to discourage him from perpetuating it. But I fear that he feels shamed by this and believes that I think he is stupid. And is it really my business to correct him if he hasn’t asked my opinion? — Name Withheld”

In his response, the Ethicist noted:

“Relations between parents and children inevitably shift over time, and it’s not easy for either to accept that, as parents age, they sometimes require the same sort of supervisory care they once provided. It’s no surprise that your 90-year-old father struggles to evaluate online content — after all, TikTok and YouTube didn’t exist when he (presumably) retired, and the landscape of digital misinformation can be confusing even for younger people. It’s remarkable that he’s trying to keep up with it at all. But yes, constantly correcting him is only going to reinforce the sense that you think he’s out of his depth, which, of course, you do. … Instead of firing off corrections or fact-checks every time, though, why not sit down with him during your next visit and actually walk through how you evaluate the stuff that arrives over the virtual transom?”

(Reread the full question and answer here.)

⬥

Among my contemporaries, I’m often the one people will forward things to with the query, Is this real?, and I will help them sort out scam emails and whatnot from real ones. It’s a valuable service, which involves no judgment or authority; I’m a second pair of eyes. Your correspondent might invite his father to do likewise in that same spirit, as part of coaching him on how to spot problems online — and provide such support unasked when the fakes veer into being personally dangerous. The continued sharing should be encouraged not only to help the father stay in touch but to keep open this avenue for helping. — Steve

⬥

I empathize, having gone through this exact thing with my own elderly father. I decided to focus on the most important thing — making sure that he forwarded me any email that asked for money or personal information, no matter who it was purportedly from. (His repeatedly ordering stuff from scammy websites that resulted in huge monthly charges was a separate, more difficult problem. One year we had to cancel his credit card six times). Assuring him that I often had a hard time discerning which emails were legitimate and which were fake made him feel better. And making it something we were tackling “together” made it less offensive to his ego. — Katherine

⬥

Especially since the father has been stung in the past by scams, I would tell him: “I am so glad you send me these items. I am happy to look them over and let you know if any of them might be suspicious.” — Sharon

⬥

I believe this is the most important aspect of this letter: His father has “fallen prey to internet or phone scams in the past” that cost him “some real money and headaches.” This is a more serious problem. I have a friend whose husband, now with late-stage Alzheimer’s, lost everything they owned. — Garrett

⬥

I wouldn’t respond with corrections or information. It’s simply too late in his life. He just wants to share things with his loved ones. It’s beyond the time to try to change his mind or give him accurate information. Respond to the funny videos and bawdy jokes; just ignore the rest. As far as his succumbing to online fraud and scams, that would be a topic to address with him in person in an organized discussion. Sometimes banks, credit unions, libraries and community centers in your area offer scam-awareness workshops for the elderly. He might listen to them. You’re fortunate to have a 90-year-old dad! — Marybeth


Kwame Anthony Appiah is The New York Times Magazine’s Ethicist columnist and teaches philosophy at N.Y.U. To submit a query, send an email to [email protected].

The post Should I Report My Neighbor’s Animal Abuse? appeared first on New York Times.

Share198Tweet124Share
Chicago mayor defies Trump’s immigration crackdown plan for the city
News

Chicago mayor defies Trump’s immigration crackdown plan for the city

by Associated Press
August 30, 2025

The mayor of Chicago pushed back Saturday against what he called the “out-of-control” Trump administration’s plan to into the nation’s ...

Read more
News

Jelena Ostapenko apologizes on social media for what she said to Taylor Townsend at the US Open

August 30, 2025
News

Mom’s car stolen in L.A. with 3 young kids inside, dad dragged by pursuit suspect

August 30, 2025
News

‘Nervous’ Katie Thurston breaks down in tears as she starts feeling sick amid stage 4 breast cancer battle

August 30, 2025
News

Tulane’s Jon Sumrall Sends Warning After Northwestern’s Pre-Game Disrespect

August 30, 2025
How a duct-taped banana exposed the death of beauty

How a duct-taped banana exposed the death of beauty

August 30, 2025
Michigan Wolverines QB Bryce Underwood Under Fire From Ex-Alabama Star

Michigan Wolverines QB Bryce Underwood Under Fire From Ex-Alabama Star

August 30, 2025
Germany: Ireland voices concern over Berlin police punch

Germany: Ireland voices concern over Berlin police violence

August 30, 2025

Copyright © 2025.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Sports
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel

Copyright © 2025.