Is there ever a good excuse to keep a dog's collar tight and did I do the right thing?

Question

My mother in law's dog's collar was super tight. Her first excuse was the dog grew. The dog is 6 years old, she stopped growing over 5 years or so ago. You can't even fit one finger under the collar. 

I loosened it without my mother in law knowing but a few days later it was tight again. I asked her about it again and she said that the dog pulls. I told her the two finger rule and also I introduced her to the heel command. Old dogs can learn new tricks and the dog picked up the heel command fast (with a looser collar) but my mother in law said it was a boring way to walk a dog. So I bought her a gentle leader, and she said that muzzling a dog was cruel. (It isn't a muzzle). The collar went back to being tight so I called the spca and explained the whole thing to them. They even tried to explain the same thing as I did but after many warnings and one unlucky hot day when the water bowl was empty they took the dog away.

 My mother in law now refuses to talk to me and her son. Now my husband is upset with me for interfering. I don't know if I did the right thing or not. The dog didn't look like she was in pain or uncomfortable but I still felt bad for the dog. Mostly I just wanted to scare my mother in law, but it must have been that bad that the spca would continue to bother her about it right? Did I do the right thing?

? · Accepted Answer

I would do that twice over. I can't bear to see an animal suffering. Your in law sounds like a really stupid woman who didn't deserve to have a dog. Imagine if you hadn't intervened the dog would have led a miserable life for heaven knows how many years to come.
Personally, I could have lived without speaking to my mother in law, ever !!
She'll get over it just let things settle.

Me. · Answer

Yes you did the right thing! there is never a reason to keep a dogs collar that tight. Call animal control and report her. Sooner or later that thing was going to become embedded in the dogs neck or he is going to get caught on something and strangle himself. Your husband also need to get a grip he is mad because you tried to help an innocent dog and now mommy is not talking to him? grow up he should be taking your side.

As to the SPCA seizing the dog: Your mother in law has no business owning an animal, does she know how fast they can dehydrate? Good they took the dog, it is better off she obviously thinks of the dog as "just an animal" not a living breathing part of the family.

UserB13 · Answer

I would do the same thing to my own mom she has a dog her self but she is very good with her dog but that is besides the point u done right by the dog good for u and remember the spca took the dog because obviously there was a problem and well if your husband loves u and cares for animals he will see that u done the right thing

? · Answer

Think about it this way. Who else would have helped this dog? "It's a boring way to walk a dog"... WHAT? So shes so crazy shed rather have a poorly trained dog that pulls until he Chokes himself and tightens the collar That tight? That is definitely cruelty and she deserved to have her dog taken away. They wouldnt have taken it had they not felt it was necessary. He will now find a better home, and youre better off without the monster-in-law. Your husband needs to suck it up and realize his mommy is a cruel woman.

Frankie Hyenadog · Answer

You did the right thing.

I'd like to see her go around all day with a collar too tight to get one finger under. Go out in the heat. Feel how uncomfortable it is.

Creepy McSteezerson · Answer

The fact that the dog was out on a hot day without water says enough. This woman could not properly care for the dog. She wouldn't listen. I think you did the right thing. It might have turned out a little extreme, but I would've done the same, honestly.

Rosalie · Answer

Wow, did you!
 Of course it was cruelty, or they wouldn't have seized the dog. 
 One wonders what kind of son she raised, but you are better off without either one of them. 
 Well done. You worked hard for that dog- and for your MIL. 
 There's something very wrong with her, as well as her son for defending any of it.

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Is there ever a good excuse to keep a dog's collar tight and did I do the right thing?

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