I don't care how many of the people on here who know what I've said and done in the past on here, right now this is about a dog who I adore dearly.

My girlfriend's family got Jade (a Staffy) when my girlfriend was about 9 so this would have been about 2000. Jade was rescued from a woman who rescued dogs at her home, it was all legal obviously but she wasn't a big rescue. Anyway, Jade had been with a man who was in the armed forces and as a result, couldn't really give her the time she needed and tried to give her to his mother, she was scared of her and told him she didn't want her, so she ended up with this woman. My girlfriend's family all went to get her and Jade bonded with my girlfriend's dad instantly, she didn't even bother with anyone else, she just went straight to him so since then, Jade's always been "daddy's girl" and she gets spoilt rotten by him!

This doesn't sound like a lot but she gets (and has done for a few yrs now) a bowl of kebab every Monday (Monday is their "kebab night" though my gf, her mum and I (when I'm there) have something different with chips) and she also gets loads of mayo and onion with it... my gf found out the other week that onion is bad for them and the reason why and told her family... they took no notice and it made us both annoyed that Jade STILL got onion with her bowl of kebab that night.

When they first got her she had little lumps on her back and around her tummy and they've never been checked out but obviously it can't be anything dangerous otherwise she'd be dead by now. She has a HUGE fatty lump on her chest from where she slipped in the garden on the slabs, that hasn't been checked out.

I'm really REALLY in love with that dog, she's beautiful and totally unlike ANY reports what Staffies are like. She wouldn't hurt a fly, nope! She's scared of them! She's brilliant with the little boy who lives across the road, she's very patient with him though he's got a love affair with her lol, he's amazed by her! She's only ever ONCE shown aggression and that was to my gf's dad when I think he was trying to do her nails and she hates her paws being touched anyway, but she either pulled while he cut or he cut through her vein, I'm not sure. But she's never shown any aggression apart from that.

Another thing, they have a garden, but theres no grass, its just slabs and overgrown with bushes and dog poo thats left for a few days. Jade rarely gets exercise other than running up and down the stairs a couple of times a day and out in the garden when she needs the loo. Other than that, she never gets walked, they did walk her to begin with but then that stopped for some reason, I don't know why. Actually they used to have a Chihuahua who was very aggressive towards other dogs and my gf's mum stopped taking him out because he "embarrassed her" which made my almost scream at her when she told me that because thats no excuse for not walking your dog.

Jade is now about 13 years old and yea she's old for a Staffy now, she's put on a little weight but she's not obese and theres no reason why they can't walk her. Well actually there is... she's never been jabbed for Parvo and their reason for not having her done when they got her was because they "didn't know if she'd had it or not before", which again made me almost lose it because it doesn't make a blind bit of difference. Other jabs I'm sure she had growing up before they got her. My gf's mum has said to me before when I've asked when they take Jade out and her mum said to me that they don't take her out because she gets upset! That she comes home and sleeps for hours (which she does anyway!!), or another one was because she was too old to go out!

My girlfriend is NOTHING like the rest of her family so anything you wanna say, say it about them, NOT my girlfriend as she isn't the owner, her parents are.

Lastly, my gf works in a vet clinic now and would like to take in Jade to have her jabbed so she could be taken for a walk knowing theres no risk of her catching anything, though how she survived this long, I don't know! But she's worried that if she took her in that they're going to take her away from them because of the lumps that haven't been looked at and also her teeth are in a bad shape and the fact she's never walked. Also, my gf's mum feeds her from a spoon... yet she's perfectly capable of eating out her bowl as I've seen her do it while I've been there...

I've spoken to my gf about it LOADS of times so telling me to tell my gf to tell her parents is just wasting your time. I'm scared also that they'll get another dog and this will start all over again and I really don't want that to happen. I don't get on with her family that well.. well actually, they get on with me, I just don't like them 100% of the time! I just would like some support with this from people who are genuine dog lovers who can possibly give me some tips on how to try and help my gf and Jadey. She really does deserve better and I know that my gf adores Jade and really wants to look after her properly but its just.. her dad is really childish, clueless and NEVER listens when its about the welfare of Jade and my gf's trying to give him advice, he just sees Jade as his "puppy", and her mum is just ignorant and selfish about all the animals they've got.

I'm really hoping I can get some GOOD advice from people because this dog isn't and hasn't been treated properly, the guy who had Jade beforehand would honestly be so gutted he gave her up the state she's in now and what she's missed out on as a dog.

So please anyone, its had me in tears at my gf's and here at mine. I can't cope with her families ignorance any longer, I know I've been babbling but I'm crying right now too and its all just blurted out and I probably shouldn't have said half of it because I know people will judge my gf and I and not her family but seriously, my gf would do all she could for Jade but her dad just won't let her! I know that if they took her to the vets she more than likely would be taken away from them and I don't want that to happen but advice anyone please!!! Thank you!!

Hi, what a really sad story. And I'm really sorry that you're obviously so upset. Jade's a lucky dog to have you looking out for her. I'll be honest. I don't have a dog, but have other pets and seen enough to be fairly sure that a vet wouldn't just take the dog away. It sounds like the family love the dog too in their own way, they are just incredibly ignorant and need some proper advice. There must be thousands of dogs that are treated this way and although its wrong and upsetting the dog sounds like its reasonably happy. Dogs are pack animals and if it could have the choice would probably want to stay with your girlfriend and her family. A vet would recognise this and want to help and advise them to give the dog the best life possible in her final years.

From what you've said the dog isn't actually in pain but she really really needs to see the vet. If your girlfriend is friendly with the staff could you see a possibility of one of the vets or nurses to pop round to the house to give her a check over at first?

I'm sure there's lots of other more experienced dog owners on here that can help you, I just wanted to offer a bit of support. Good luck.

ok i dont understand this at all . if the dog is being neglected then wouldnt you want her takin from them so she can get the care she needs?? i would personally be calling the rspca and reporting. the health of a dog comes way before wether or not the dog will be takin !!!
i really feel sorry for you and your gf and i can tell how upset you are but you need to put poor jade first and get her the help she needs . unless she is severly neglected i really dont think they will take her.
good luck with it all and i really hope poor jade gets the treatment she needs

__________________
me ,my kids ,bandit and ashton
my perfect lil family

You are telling all of this to the wrong people in all honesty.

What you have just written and the emotion you show about this dog need to be told directly to your girlfriend's parents, mainly her father. Some people may get upset and bad words may be thrown in but for what is at stake and it seems that everyone involves does love the dog a great deal then everyone needs to understand that it is the dog that is at risk and something needs to be done.

You don't need to go in a shout your head off. Just set some time aside when you know both parents will be there, go round and start with the opening line of "Hi, I'm here today to discuss Jade and how we can all work together to give her the quality of life she deserves." Then just explain how you treat your dog (is saw the pic in your signature), how people treat their dogs and what it means to a dog to be given the basic needs of being a dog i.e. exercise and the chance to explore it's surroundings. Explain that no matter how much you love your girlfriend and respect the way they live their lives, you can not sit back on this and see the dog in this state knowing it will only get worse. Explain how if Judy is taken to the vets that they will not immediately call any authorities but can advise what can be done to get the growths reduced and deal with any health issues they can. After that it is up to all involved to assist in making Judy's last years the best they can.

Getting out with a dog is not only good for the daog it is good for those that walk them. Good for your health, your mind and brilliant for bonding if you walk with someone else.

There are many benefits to owning a dog as we know but there is only one consequence of neglecting one.

I hope it works out and Judy gets the attention she needs.

Hi,

Reading your post was like having de-ja-vu for me. My fella's parents had a black lab that they treated by the sounds of it exactly the same was as your girlfriends parents are treating jade. Constant human food, no walks etc. Their lab ended up at 60kg when he should have been about 27kg according to their vet , their excuse was always "look at his paws, he's a big lab anyway". It go to the point where the dog could no longer go upstairs, and a 5 minute walk had him out of action for about 3 weeks after.

I know its hard when you have no control over the situation, but I'm very straight talking and even though I say it how it is my mother-in-law actually loves the bones of me . I constantly had a go and eventually they took him to the vets who told them off good and proper for the state he was in, but no he wasn't taken off them. Me and my other half when we went round (we had long moved out by this point) used to take him out for a walk which shamed them into doing more themselves.

Unfortunatly their dog died from cancer, so actually unrelated to his massive weight problem or all the crap he was eating (including chocolate ). When we were getting our second pup and their was still some of the litter available they talked about maybe getting on too. I told them in no uncertain terms would I let them have one, and that I would tell the breeder not to even entertain the idea of them if they even thought of approaching her. They now do not have a dog, and to be honest I think that is the kindest thing to the dog world.

We take our 2 round occassionally and I have now stopped taking them cuz they insist of feeding them crap even though me and my fella have had numerous arguments with them about it, you don't even want to know how much it kicked off when they fed my boy some quality street a couple of months ago

My only advise to you and your girlfriend is, if she can get her to the vets she works at that would be great, even if she did it behind her dads back? And when you are both there why don't you start taking Jade out for little walks yourself?

Unfortunately some people are so blind, but if you 2 can do a little for Jade maybe it will shame them into getting off their own arses and looking after her properly.

Good luck, I know how hard and frustrating this sort of situation is

Thanks for your reply, much appreciated!

You've hit on a really good idea, I never thought about it but my gf could possibly get one of the nurses round to check her because a couple of nurses live quite close by. I'll talk to her about it.

I don't want her to be taken from them, I want them to be able to take the right advice and I know this has been going on longer than I've known my gf but that shouldn't make a difference. I want Jade to be looked after right for the rest of her life and she may only have another yr left in her, but that doesn't mean to say it doesn't matter how they treat her.

I could never call the RSPCA about it because from what I know, they seriously would take her. She's not in pain, she's not being beaten or anything in that type of neglect.

She's still being neglected, get the poor dog the vet treatment that she needs or call the RSPCA.

At a grand age of 13 its difficult to understand her being neglected but it happens.

I reported a close member of the family to RSPCA that's all it took for someone to give some sound advice and the dog got the veterinarian care that it needed with a follow up visit from the RSPCA to makes sure things weren't slipping.

Sue

Definately report to the RSPCA

your mums family probably dont think they are doing him any harm.. they probably think well hes been fine for this long so why should it change?

The rspca wont take a dog off you unless it is physically in awful condition or you dont change the situation when before they revisit you...

they will want to give some advice, and then give them an opportunity to change things before they take further action.