In Oregon, Washington County Circuit Judge D. Charles Bailey has ruled rejecting a bid from a dog rescue organization to take custody of an obese dachshund named Obie weighting 77 pounds. Oregon Dachshund Rescue Inc. wanted to take Obie away from foster owner Nora Vanatta, a former veterinary technician. A Washington couple gave up Obie when they could not control his eating which seems a bit strange since Obie cannot buy food or set it out himself.
Bailey focused on the question of ownership. There appeared to be a lack of documentation in the foster relationship of Vanetta, but the court declared it was “not convinced that at this point in time this dog is any more ODR’s than it is Ms. Vanatta’s.”
The basis for the lawsuit was ODR’s view that Vanatta was mistreating Obie, including agreeing to appear on The Today Show where he was flown across the country in the cargo hold — not the place most of us would put a grossly overweight animal. ODR objected that Vanatta was parading the dog from one publicity stunt to another both locally and nationally: “exploiting him for the sensationalistic promotional value of his unusual obesity, earning money off of his public exhibition on national and regional television shows, and refusing to either provide the necessary veterinary treatment for his actual adverse medical conditions related to obesity, or to expend the monies she was generating from her public display of him on his actual health and well-being.”
Vanatta insists that she has succeeded in getting the dog to shred 15 pounds.
The ruling however will not be the end of the matter. The case will now go to mandatory non-binding arbitration. If either party is unhappy with the arbitrator’s decision, the case will go to a jury trial, which could take another three or four months.
The ruling is an interesting one since, in the case of a child and a foster parent, the result would likely be the opposite. It is unlikely under “the best interest of the child” that such media stunts would be viewed as proper or healthy (presumably however the child would not be transported in the hold of a plane). When considering an animal, the court appears more focused on ownership than such best interest determinations.
If the dog is owned by the human, few courts would intercede absent physical abuse or cruelty. Eating disorders are rarely viewed in such terms.
Should the “best interests of the pet” control in foster situations?
Source: ABA Journal
Flying a fat kid around the country to show that there is an obesity-in-children problem WOULD be abuse. Flying a fat dog around the country to raise money to afford a program to help the dog regain his health is NOT for the simple reason that the dog does not understand either (a) that he is fat, (b) that there is a social, as well as health, component to obesity, or, the big one, (c) that his relationships with other humans has some connection to his weight.
I’m just worried they’ll take the dog to New York and they’ll buy a large sugary drink to sip while the dog gets weighed.
Matthew, Absolutely! The aforementioned vet professor often talks about dogs needing mental stimulation which means a variety of activities in different enviroments. Border Collies being @ the highest end of that spectrum. There are some humans here that need a variety of mental stimulation. Some folks always quote from the same left websites, their brains atrophying daily. They think it’s stimulation but it’s really just an echo chamber effect.
Dachshunds are notorious over eaters. They have a lesser number of taste buds on their tongues than most dogs making them garbage mouths. They will eat anything they can get to on the floor. This is just another example of people getting the wrong dog after seeing it on TV or a picture somewhere. I know so many folks that have improper dogs for their life style that were selected because they seem cool. An acquaintance if mine got a Border Collie for an apartment in a large city, you couldn’t find a less appropriate place for that dog if you tried. She is having a hard time finding a really good home for it even tho’ she loves the dog dearly but Border Collies need space to run and other animals to herd as they were bred to do. Dogs need to do the job they were bred for or something close to it anyway. Different dog breeds are meant for different uses Dachshunds were bred to go down a badger’s den and chase the badger out. Riding in a horse’s saddle bag on the hunt until they are needed. Dachshunds are absolutely fearless and have no respect for size they make good guards and keep all the squirrels and cats out the garden.
What does the owner look like… I’ve got a good feeling that she’s got some heft.
Dogs are far healthier on a restricted diet of quality food…but as with Americans in general, we’d rather gobble down tremendous amounts of cheap crap.
Poor fellah. Friendly looking pooch. Oh well.
There is not a fat dog in our dog pack. A Labrador should have a full bowl of good Purina Dog Chow in the bowl. Keep food in it all the tme and he wont get insecure and start gobbling down what is in there to the bottom. He wont get fat. Take him running and let him run loose. Take him to the water and let him swim. Three times a day. Get off your arse and walk with him while he runs and you, fatso, will be healthier.
I’ve been following this story on Obie’s Facebook page. The dog is Obie and he’s 5 or 6 years old. He weighed 77 lbs. when Nora got him. He is down to 62 lbs. in two months. The back story is Obie’s owners were elderly with dementia and they just kept feeding him. Their relative surrendered him to ODR. ODR was not equipped to handle Obie’s special needs and they looked for someone to foster him. Nora volunteered. She has another Dachshund and a lab – both of normal weight. She’s is a vet tech.
Anyone with a pet knows that vet bills can be huge. Obie needs to be checked often. He has skin issues with his belly. Nora had a special harness made for him so his skin doesn’t get irritated when he walks. He’s on his second harness. For pet lovers, his story is inspiring and Obie’s a little trooper. Nora has “advertised” Obie’s story because she needs help financially and she thinks he’s an inspiration to humans and the need for owners to control their pet’s weight.
ODR is making an issue where none exists. Obie is doing great with Nora. It’s unfortunate that legal bills are going to be added to Obie’s expenses. The Judge made the correct decision.
Being a dog owner and lover I don’t need to see obese people in this country to know there is an obesity epidemic. One just needs to see all the obese dogs. People who appear to love their dogs feed them human food to death. All of our dogs have lived long, healthy lives. You feed them the correct amount of GOOD dog food, no human food. They need lots of exercise which means more than just a walk around the block..dogs gotta run. They need loving discipline and just plain ol’ petting w/ lots of praise. They need hard bones to keep their teeth clean and strong. I reccomend listening to Patricia McConnell on NPR. She is a vet professor @ the U of Wi. Very knowledgable and common sensical. She understands all pets, not just dogs.
Glad to see that the authorities are on top of the big issues.
We have a Pug. Like dachshunds, they are virtual land sharks. They will eat, and eat a lot. They love to eat. Almost every Pug I have ever seen is fat, some morbidly so. Dogs like this must have their diet controlled. Too many owners just put out a lot of food a leave it. Our Pug gets a controlled amount of a cup of high quality dog food once a day, plus an occasional treat to help control his behavior or if he is being trained to learn something new. For treats, he loves Beggin’ Strips, which look like bacon. But he does not get the whole strip. A piece the size of a postage stamp is broken off and he gets that.
Our Pug is getting older and grey around the muzzle, but he is fit and trim with a slim waist. Our vet never fails to mention how he does not look anything like any of his other pug patients who are all fat. There is no excuse for having a grossly overweight pet. I know the cat we used to have would have loved to learn to use the can opener, but was out of luck since she did not have thumbs.
This is the owner, not the animal. I am convinced the owner of an overweight pet is most likely ignorant of how much to feed a day, puts out way too much food, and just lets the animal eat all day. The excuse for this behavior is, “But I don’t want the dog to get hungry.” Sorry, but both people and animals on diets tend to stay hungry a lot. A dog on a controlled diet is not in danger, especially if they get a vitamin supplement formulated for dogs.
Thumbs.
Who gots ’em and who don’t?
Bad humans! Get under the house! Bad, bad humans!
Waste of resources….. Waste of time…. Waste of judicial energy….Next it’ll be the kids…. Oh yeah…. They do that already…
Did someone say Full Moon?
Man, It looks like the goblins are out early today! Halloween & a full moon makes for interesting, if marginally readable, comments I guess
FYI …I’m on my 5th Schnauzer over 40 years. They are pigs in dog costumes and their intake must be controlled. How can a human caretaker be so stupid and selfish. The dog did not sign up to be abused, The solution requires a brain!
This dog drives to Pets-mart for shopping and prepares it’s own food with gravy. #NOT #criminal
Because of the nature of the dog and in consideration of today’s celebration, I will rename that dog: Hollow Weenie.
this is dog abuse. Dem doxies can eat dem some food.
Oh, and in Episode One of Dog Court when little fatso comes on stage, have the band play the Armour Hot Dog Song. The canine version starts like this:
Hot dogs, Armour Hot Dogs, ,,,,
What kind of Dogs like Armour Hotdogs….
Fat dogs, skinny dogs, dogs who climb on rocks…
Fat dogs skinny dogs, even dogs with chicken pox…
Like Hotdogs, Armour Hotdogs…
The Dogs, kids like, to bite!
—
Well, its early yet and I have not had my morning walk,
It is about time that we have Dog Court on daytime television. This case could be the opening act.
As to flying the little fatso in cargo hold there is worse precedent on our public horizon. Yes, I am talking about that gypsie faux Mormon running for President on the RepubliCon ticket who put his dog in a crate, strapped it to the roof of his station wagon and drove across country in a snowstorm. He has a faux name Mitt when his real name is Willard and he looks like a guard at Ellis Island. Put this schmuck on episode two of Dog Court. And if he is unavailable then put one of those clone kids of his in the dock.