Cruelty to animals

[Scarlett]

My Dad has started to hit and kick our lovely golden retriever when he is being disobedient, and refuses to get up to go in the house/ go home/get in the car etc. This upsets me a great deal. Whilst he spoils the dog rotten in every other respect, is there any law against this treatment? The poor dog flinches and his little face creases us when he fears he is going to be hit. i can't bear it.

[B00]

This has got to stop before he does permanent damage! My God how can anyone hit or kick their pets????

I'm sorry, father or no father I'd contact the RSPCA before he really does injury to the poor thing. Have you tried talking to him when he's in a rational mood?

[smudge]

Tell your Dad in no uncertain terms that you WILL report him to the RSPCA if he hits or kicks your dog again. How cruel!

[shaneystar2]

Not on..not at all.There is no excuse for hitting a dog . Threaten to report him,this may make him stop.If he is spoiling him one minute and belting him the next, the poor thing must be in a real turmoil.
Has he always done this to the dog or is this new,recent behaviour?.If your dad has problems it's not fair to take it out on a defenceless animal. If he has no patience with the poor thing it would be better off being rehomed.Try talking to your Dad and ask him why he is treating the dog like this.
How sad. This has upset me too.
Do let us know how things go Scarlett.

[allotment10]

scarlett, you must do something about this, my dad was the same years ago when we had a puppy who was messing in the house, in his temper he threw the pup out the back door and ended up breaking his leg,i tried reasoning with my dad but he was so stubborn, in the end i took the dog and had him rehomed, it broke my heart but at least he went where i knew he wouldn't be hurt anymore,please think of the dogs feelings, your dad must be stopped doing this, hope you sort things out.

[lankeela]

Scarlett, is there a neighbour you could talk to, or maybe an uncle or aunt who knows your dad. You are right in trying to do something about this but you need to be careful that you don't upset your dad and make him take it out on the dog even more.

As the last person said, it might be better to find the dog a good home even though this would be upsetting for you.

Really hope you get this sorted.

[allotment10]

please keep us posted on this,and let us know how your'e going with it.

[hunaja]

No animal should ever be hit by a human, unless in self-defence.

You need to contact the RSPCA before he seriously hurts your dog.

x

[Celtigra3]

If he can be cruel to animals............? I would report him, father or no father. I have a dog who was a rescue dog and she was evidently badly abused by a man - hence she hates men. It took a long time for my son to earn her trust and she is the most loving, beautiful dog ever. I have no time for people who are cruel to animals - what he is doing is abuse.

[gessoo]

Have you actually spoken to your father about this? He needs to be informed by someone that what he is doing is cruel and if it continues he will be reported. If this behaviour is recent then I think there must be something wrong with your father, but the first priority here is the dog and it should be protected immediately.

You have to act.

[mydogsandme]

has he seen the results of this sort of treatment?!! My rescue spaniel STILL puts her head down, goes stiff and shakes all over when she's unsure of what we want her to do FOUR YEARS after being rescued! Please, you must stop this now.

[smudge]

Have you spoken to your Dad about this yet Scarlett?

[DivaDebs]

Scarlett.. PLEASE let us know how this situation is progressing. I feel absolutely sick to the pit of my stomach, and I know I'm not the only one... Please - just a quick message to say it's been sorted. Your Dad HAS to stop this!

[Scarlett]

Okay, thanks everyone. So we are agreed it is wrong!

It is very difficult for me to confront my Dad about this, as this is what he used to do to me and my sisters when we were growing up. He was very violent and abusive. For me to tell him to not hit the dog is pretty much the same as saying "it is wrong that you hit us to such an extent", and we just have never spoken about that. However I have told my Mum in no uncertain terms that he HAS to stop it (she also had a go at him for hitting the dog), and to tell him from me that if I see him doing it again, I will go straight to the RSPCA. I also told my sister to nag my Mum and make sure she has passed that on.

I went to the RSPCA website, and there was NOWHERE where you could email anonymous messages. Only a phone number which stated that they needed all your details etc. If there was some way I could report him anonymously, I would.

[Scarlett]

Just spoken to my Mum, who says she has told my Dad. Apparently he said "good point" and won't do it again. Or she could just be covering for him. Either way I will be watchng him like a hawk from now on.

[allotment10]

thanks for replying , i can stop worrying now, hope everything goes allright for you and puppy. x

[DivaDebs]

Well done Scarlett. I can appreciate it was a very difficult situation for you, but you seem to have handled it well. Good luck.

[jakep]

Never mind the RSPCA, this is now a criminal offence and can be reported straight to the police.

You could call anonymously and say you were a concerned neighbour

Then get the ******* castrated!