got in trouble
 

Okay so my neighbors have a pit that is always chained up in their back yard. I'ver never seen anybody play with it or anything he is chained up out there 24/7 with no shelter and he is pretty skinny. Anyway I felt really bad for him cause he is always crying and whining whenever I take Maximus out to go potty to I finally caved and threw him some treats over the fence...I know you're not supposed to fefed other peoples dogs but he just looked so pitiful. Anyway my boyfried caught me and gave me the whole you can't do that kind of thing lecture http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/nono.gif. I just can't see how it is wrong to feed a hungry dog, I know he isn't mine but still....

Is the dog skinny or malnurished? There is a big difference. Most people don't know what a healthy dog should look like.

malnorished he isn't deathly thin but you can tell he isn't healthy

If your neighbor catches you throwing food to their dog, they might not realize it's actually treats but something dangerous. What if they do the same to your dog, and throw him something poisonous or something? :/

If you have a true concern you can ask them if you can give him some treats you "made". Are they approachable neighbors? I would be pissed if I saw my neighbor throwing food over to the dogs.

not really everytime I try to ask the lady about her dog she just shakes her head and hurries inside

oh bummer, my sister lives in HI and most of the pit bull owners don't even like you to LOOk at their dogs. I had one lady tell me to quit staring at her dog (chained literally 75ft away) because I was scaring her....http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.png If you feel the dog is really and truly in harms way and not being fed, watered, or sheltered at all (I would watch daily) then call AC. You must be sure though.......

I would ask the neighbor if they mind if you give him some treats when you go outside. Maybe do it in a "I love your dog and he is always "asking" me to come over to see him, would you mind if I took him some treats sometimes when I go out back so I can love on him? I just love this breed and his coloring is beautiful and I'd love to get to know him." Make sure you ask his name and let them know that you actually love dogs and this breed (or whatever breed he is) and that you don't mean any harm, but he just wiggles so when you go outside and you would really just like to make friends with him. If you have homemade treats, be sure to tell them what is in them, or if you have store bought treats, take the bag/box over and show them what brand they are and let them check out the ingredients if they like.

Just make sure you don't come off to them as "your dog is starving and since it's so obvious that you aren't taking care of him or spending any time with him" kind of thing. The last thing you want them to think is that you are looking down on their care of him. Just let them know that you love dogs and would like to befriend him, but want to make sure it's ok with them first. I would definitely ask them first before you give him anything, so you can A) let them know you aren't poisoning him, and B) make sure that it's ok with them and C) let them check out the ingredients, just in case the dog has any kind of allergies or see if they feed grain free or whatever.... chances are, they won't care and probably don't feed grain free, but better to double check and be safe, than be sorry and have them forbid you to even look at their dog.

I always check before I have ever given any of my neighbors dogs any treats... just to make sure it's ok.

Let us know what happens and if they let you give him some treats, and probably much wanted, attention. http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

I would ask the neighbors permission before giving the dog treats. That being said I am one of those owners who wants to know exactly what my dog is ingesting so if someone came up and just starting giving my dog food and treats I'd be super upset.

I know you are trying to help but the best thing you can do is ask for permisson. And go from there.

I would talk to your neighbor and try to be friendly as others have said. I would be angry if someone tried to feed my dog, so I agree you shouldn't have done that. Maybe if you can befriend the lady, you can find out what's wrong. If she really can't take care of the dog, then see if there is something you can do to help.

Stop giving the dog treats. It's rude and it's not your dog. You NEED to ask FIRST.

I was pissed when our neighbor decided to give our dogs treats... ya know why? Our female is allergic to corn and corn is in all shitty, cheap treats. If our neighbor was paying for the high quality, hypoallergenic treats.... I doubt she would have shared.

This is good advice here.

This. NO ONE is allowed to give my dogs anything, because my male has such a wide array of allergies. People at Petco and whatnot always look offended when I say no - why is it socially acceptable to feed other people's animals?!

I would definitely take the advice given by Mollie's Nana http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

if the dog is chained 24/7 with no shelter, you should call animal control. That's not right.

Our illegal in most places to not provide shelter to an outside dog...

Hell, here it's illegal to HAVE an outside dog http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.png

I missed the part about the dog not having shelter... that definitely warrants a call to AC!

^ Are you being serious?. Or do most people just not approve of outside dogs?.

In some places its illegal to have a dog outside longer than a given period of Tim...

This. I don't want people giving food to a dog I'm working with and people always get so offended. I don't know you from a hole in the wall, the dog could have special food needs or you could be some sick dog poisoning bastard for all I know


But to the OP: Always ask. Even if you feel you're doing something helpful, the owner might not see it that way. But like McRose said, I'd probably call AC if that was the case. I'm not aware of any place where it is lawful to have an outdoor dog with no shelter available to it