My Dad Hurts Our Dog – Phoenix Scottsdale AZ Dog Training – Dog Trainer – Behaviorist
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Sam Basso
PHOENIX , AZ AREA: (602) 708-4531
OR, if you are out of this area, inquire about a telephone or e-Lesson
Email: [email protected]
What do you do when your dad hurts your dog on purpose? In other words, what do you do if your dad, or some other person, is abusing your dog?
Abuse means your dad is physically harming a dog by causing pain or injury.
This is a tough situation to be in. As a kid, you don’t have the power, money or authority to go up against an adult. Yet, sometimes you know that your mom or dad is doing something wrong, and you know you need to do something about it. It is wrong and cruel to hurt a dog. Everyone knows that, including your dad.
I was in a tough situation like this as a kid. My dad was physically abusive to everyone in the family. He would unfairly punish you if he was upset with you, and he’d hurt you. If you showed weakness, then he’d hit you even more. Eventually, when I turned 18 I had enough, I stood up to him and made it stop. I had to have a physical confrontation with him. I couldn’t have done that when I was 12, however. Nothing I said or did as a kid made him stop any of his abuse. If you spoke up, you got hit. If you didn’t speak up, you still got hit. So, you are in danger if you try to face down an abusive parent.
I can’t tell you what to do. My advice might cause you and your dog even more hurt. So, I think you should talk to a school guidance counselor first. Ask them for advice. If you think you would be hurt by your dad if you told someone, then you need to tell your school counselor what is going on before you do anything. They are required by law to help you. You should also contact a local child welfare agency before you do anything, such as the Department of Health and Human Services. Your dad needs help, and so do you, and so does your dog.
You may find that the counselor says the only way to stop this kind of thing is to call the police. Someone may have to catch him in the act, and they will need proof, such as witnesses or a recording on a cell phone or video camera. Yes, it sucks to get your dad in trouble with the law, but only they have the power and authority to back him down. The same is true if it is your mom, brother, uncle, grandfather, or an adult friend of the family. You need someone bigger and stronger than you are.
You are also going to get a lot of backlash if you call the police on a family member. There are going to be a lot of hurt feelings, a lot of anger, maybe more violence in the future, the dog is probably going to be given away to a new home (which is probably the best for everyone), the dog might get beaten even worse, your parents might get divorced (that won’t be your fault, however, the violence is a symptom of problems, not the cause. You are NOT RESPONSIBLE for what your parents do or don’t do), you might get punished, you might get hit, you will be embarrassed by all the attention in the neighborhood as the police show up and arrest your dad. You should also be prepared to suggest that your dad get counseling, go to church, stop using drugs or alcohol, and to be the dad that you need him to be. He might just turn out better because this stopped. He might turn out worse.
This isn’t your fault. You are caught up in a mess.
Sam Basso is a professional dog trainer and behaviorist, in the Phoenix/ Scottsdale metropolitan area. He’s known for being fun, kind, intelligent, and humane. Sam Basso has a unique personal touch. He has appeared on his own TV show, been a guest radio expert, gives seminars, publishes a dog related blog, does rescue volunteering, and is active in promoting animal welfare and fair dog laws.
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