This plea for action is deeply personal. As a diligent worker who has daily observed an unfortunate situation, it is something that pulls at my heartstrings. In my routine, I encounter a silent victim of neglect. A chocolate lab named Zues. Regularly, I witness him confined to a tiny chicken coop in the backyard of a house in our town. Zues is far too large for this coop, and his basic needs are being consistently ignored.

The water bowl he relies upon is regularly empty. Zues has barely any space to move, let alone to live an appropriate dog's life. In desperation, he's even seen eating his own feces. This is not only heartbreaking to observe but it exposes the level of negligence that surrounds his existence. Living across, a neighbor can smell the waste emanating from Zues' confinement and sees him partaking in such unhealthy habits, like eating his own feces.

For weeks, I've attempted to alleviate his pain from my side of the fence, giving him food and water as much as I can. The hunger with which he consumes the food, strikes one as a dog starved nearly to death.  The local police have been informed of this situation on three occasions and the landlord was notified by me on Monday the 13th of April by phone and she (Susanne) stated that she has informed the tenants of this issue before yet nothing seems to be done about it.

Statistics by Animal Welfare League states that chained dogs are 2.8 times more likely to bite, depicting how such negligence can contribute to behavioral issues in dogs, possibly affecting Zues, or tragedies in the neighborhood (AWL, 2018). This inhumane treatment towards Zues is not just hurting him but the community in general.  Also, it is a Federal and state regulation that domestic animals have collar with a rabies vaccination tag showing.

We urge the relevant authorities to rescue Zues from this situation and ensure his future treatment aligns with a pet's deserved dignity. It's high time Zues experience comfort, medical attention, proper shelter, and love, which are basic rights of every living being. Add your voice to this cause. Sign this petition.