Moral Dilemma

[narcissist]

Needed some ethical help, ok about two months ago a puppie about I'd say 4-5 months old showed up at the ranch. Well it didn't have a coller so we took it into the vet to have it scanned for chip with no luck. So my wife and myself decided to adopt it, had the pup for around 2wks took care of it ect.

Then found a flyer with info about the dog so I did the right thing and contacted the owner. When the person showed up I could tell they we're a little off, smelt of alcohol around noon maybe 1-pm. Also had those type of sunglasses where you can't see their eyes (bloodshot) "guessing"? Anyway gave it to the rightful owner without compensation or any expectations at all.

Just the other day the same pup showed back up but with its buddy this time. Just so you know this wasn't a easy task for this pup, as the owner had explained how far they live which was around 5-6 miles as the crow flies.

Well the pup is now head shy but its buddie is even worse, I'm talking shaking while you get near it and of course very head shy. Both are extremely malnourished, see ribs ect. My wife wants to basically keeps both dogs due to the condition they are in.

Being both dog lovers and knowing we will give them the best home we possibly can.

My question to you all is what do you think?

[03Lightningrocks]

If they were in that kind of condition I would keep them. I love dogs and trust them more than most people. Seeing them in bad condition would really bother me. So yep, right or wrong, I would keep them. Maybe take some pictures of their condition in case that piece of garbage that mistreated them tries to get them back. Then you have evidence of their poor condition for the judge. If it comes to that. I'm betting he won't show up.

[wheelgun1958]

Since you are likely rural, I would contact the sheriff and/or game warden. Perhaps maybe if your county has a humane society, call them as well. Offer to legally adopt the animals.

[cirus]

Keep them and don't say a word and leave the law out of it.

[Boxerrider]

I wouldn't get law enforcement involved either. I would consider taking pictures of them to document their condition, and maybe going back to the vet for a once-over. That will provide you third party documentation of their condition when they showed up at your place.

[The Annoyed Man]

I wouldn't get law enforcement involved either. I would consider taking pictures of them to document their condition, and maybe going back to the vet for a once-over. That will provide you third party documentation of their condition when they showed up at your place.

This, and it doesn’t seem to me like that much of a moral dilemma. It seems obvious they’re being abused, and they didn’t start out this way. One could make the "whose property is it" argument and satisfy the law .... if one were so inclined .... or one could make the "do right by the dog, and it will do right by you" argument. Doing the next right thing isn’t always the next easy thing. It seems like the first dog knows you’re a safe haven, and rescued his buddy. That kind of loyalty should be rewarded. Be the pack leader he deserves.

[kayt00]

I think from a moral standpoint, those pups chose you and your misses for better or worse. I'm not a lawyer but perhaps there's a case to be made against thier previous owners based on the condition of the pups. Not sure but I'd wager that they're yours now.

[G.A. Heath]

Another option:
Contact your local LE agency and report the animal abuse and offer to take in the pups. Yes, there is a risk the dogs will be returned to the abusive owner but if you don't then some other dogs will simply take the place of those two and in the end you have only made other dogs suffer.

[eyedoc]

Keep them. They willingly picked you.

[TexasSully]

I'd keep them, I hate to see dogs abused.

[crazy2medic]

Keep them and give them the best life you can! Never know someday they may give you back more than you thought possible!

[WTR]

A pure bred high dollar dog dollar dog found me one day. I couldn't pick up a garden hose or a shovel for irrigation without her running off and screaming and looking back to see where I was. She obviously had been beaten. I never looked for an owner. Now, she is the sweetest most gentle 130 lb fluff ball you could meet, But even after 6 years of never being hit and given nothing but love, if I stumble and lurch toward her, she gets scared. I say keep the dog.

[RPBrown]

Another option:
Contact your local LE agency and report the animal abuse and offer to take in the pups. Yes, there is a risk the dogs will be returned to the abusive owner but if you don't then some other dogs will simply take the place of those two and in the end you have only made other dogs suffer.

In most cases I would say this should be the way to go. However, I have a little story about our latest addition. We received a call from the director of the local rescue (not going to mention the name for security of the rescue) wanting to know if we would be able to "foster" a 3 month old pit bull puppy. This poor puppy had been abused starting at about 6 weeks old all the way to when the courts took it at 3 months old. It had been documented by neighbors and video existed. The police were called and the dog was removed from the home and the owner arrested for cruelty. The dog was put into the care of the rescue until the court case was complete. As angry as the owner was when he was arrested, they were afraid he would try to come take the dog so we were asked to "foster" him until they could close the case and put him up for adoption and we agreed (she knew what she was doing asking us to foster).
To shorten this story up, the court took the puppy away from them, gave him a years probation, but did not take the other dogs from the home as there was no evidence of abuse to them (their words not mine). Nor did they prevent them from acquiring any other dogs. Now, we saw the videos and this guy was slapping, punching and kicking this puppy. When we got him, he was being treated for 2 broken ribs, a dislocated front shoulder and numerous bruises AT 6-12 WEEKS OLD. Therefore I don't have much faith in the courts to do the right thing to those that abuse defenseless animals.
Like I said, the director knew what she was doing calling us to foster because we ended up adopting him. This is him at 6 months, healed up, 60 lbs., and a momma's boy for sure. My wife can't get out of his site.

[narcissist]

If they were in that kind of condition I would keep them. I love dogs and trust them more than most people. Seeing them in bad condition would really bother me. So yep, right or wrong, I would keep them. Maybe take some pictures of their condition in case that piece of garbage that mistreated them tries to get them back. Then you have evidence of their poor condition for the judge. If it comes to that. I'm betting he won't show up.

10-4 on photos, think your right about him not showing up anyway.