Bowling Green Police Division responded Sunday to a report of suspected animal cruelty in the 300 block of Parkview Avenue.
When the officer arrived on the scene, the caller pointed out a dog tied with a leash to a bush, reportedly left outside day and night without shelter or water.
As the officer was headed to talk with the owner, another resident of Parkview Avenue approached and said the dog is left outside 24 hours a day. The resident said she has called the dog warden and the humane society, but as soon as the authorities leave, the owner puts the dog back outside.
The officer went to the back of the apartment and observed the larger brown dog, which looked healthy, laying in wet grass. It was snowing and raining off and on, and the temperature was 37 degrees. There was a very small silver dish nearby with nothing in it. The dog’s leash was wrapped around a bush, and the dog was whining.
The officer advised the owner of the complaint, but she interrupted to say the dog is not outside all the time. The officer told her that more than one person had reported the dog is outside round the clock.
The owner was told by the officer that she must provide food, water and food for the dog. According to the police report, the owner got upset, arguing with the officer, saying she gives the dog water when it needs it, and that her apartment was the shelter. The officer advised the owner that her apartment is not shelter if the dog is left outside.
The officer told the owner that he would be checking back regularly to make sure the dog wasn’t being left outside for extended periods of time. He advised the owner on the procedure for surrendering her dog, but she said she did not want to do so.
When the officer left, the owner took the dog inside.
The officer stopped back later on Sunday when it was 37 degrees and raining, and observed the dog chained and curled up in the mud next to the back patio. After watching the dog for 30 minutes, the officer went to the apartment front door. No one answered, so he walked around to the back to find that the owner had taken the dog inside.
The owner reportedly told the officer she would get a doghouse that same day. The officer advised the owner he would keep checking in on her dog.
