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Living With Humans by Toby Monster Christensen

A Horrible Reality

Hello, I am Toby's co-owner and his love as my wife calls me. I am writing a serious entry here today. Not as fun and happy as previous entries I am affraid. The subject is a bit sad and I would understand if you wish not to read this but I have to get this off my chest. Toby has noticed that this has bothered both my wife and I. First a little back story. We have a neighbor three houses down from us how bought a Bichon-Maltise mix about two years ago. Wendy and I have noticed over the past two years that these neighbors took poor care at best of their dog. The dog's name was Bella. They did not overy abuse it but they also did not care for it very well either. Wendy and I as well as other neighbors noticed that they never seemed to take the dog for walks, play with it, or pay it much mind. Many of us would notice the dog tethered to a pole by itself day and night. This would happen reguardless of the season, Winter, Summer, Spring, Fall. Last Winter when we had a terrible cold spell I saw the dog out side for hours at a time. One night I knocked on the neighbors door and told them that the dog had been outside for two plus ours already from what I noticed and it was acting like it's paws were hurting. The neighbor said that the dog still had another 45 minutes left before she could come in and he didn't seem a bit concerned. That night and during that day the temps were around 25 below zero. At this I attempted to contact the local county animal human society to report this behavior but was not able to connect with a representative. Lots of phone tag. So that is enough back story. Now on July 13, 2005 I come home and my wife and I get a call from a neighbor that lives across the street from this neighbor. It seems that the Bella had died from heat exhaustion. Even though this did not suprise me it still enraged me. We called the police to file a complaint and the police took statements from us and the workers that witnessed the dogs situation while they were building a house across from the neighbors house (they live on the corner lot). The neighbor took their dog to the vet and the vet said that the dog strangled itself to death from the tether restraining it. Heat exahustion was not the official cause of death but the vet stated that dehydration was present. We found this out from the police officer on the case. Since the conclusion of the investigation was officially inconclusive the neighbor was charged with nothing. This sort of thing happends too often it seems. Some people should not be allowed to have pets if this is how they treat them. Sorry for this morbid entry. These types of actions against pets are terrible. Toby's next entry will be more cheerful, I promise.

Michael.

Halloween 2004

Well another strange holiday called Halloween has come and gone this year. I think this is a goofy holiday. Mom and Dad dress me up in stange outfits, and weird people come to the door dressed in all kinds of outfits. Dad holds me back from greeting them while Mom gives them treats from a bowl. Why can't I have some of that. It looks good! This year I was a fire dog. I liked last years outfit better. Last year I was a pumpkin dog, or was that a Devil dog, I can't remeber. It was fun seeing the people in the goofy outfits. I got a couple of "Cute Doggie" comments from some little girls. The girls always like me. It's all in the fur and the puppy eyes. Well, it's late and I'm off to bed. Night all!

Toby M. Christensen