Who let the dog loose?

(Update)

Since we aired the story about Tiger the dog, left out in the cold during the worst cold snap we’ve seen since the 1960’s, there have been hundreds of emails, phonecalls and comments online regarding the public’s concern for Tiger’s well being. But since our story aired Tuesday at six, Tiger has been dognapped and the people who know where Tiger is aren’t saying anything other than that Tiger is now safe, warm and in loving care. But the backlash from the story has caused a string of illegal behaviour in both actions and words.

Shortly after we left 155 Glover Road in Hamilton Tuesday, the dog was taken by someone other than the owner. Jill Forsythe, Tiger’s neighbour who’s been looking in on Tiger for most of his two years at Provincial Concrete’s property says Tiger’s in a good place. But the people indirectly connected to Tiger aren’t in a good place at all.

Neighbour Jill Forsythe had called the SPCA to alert them to her concerns about Tiger’s well being because the dog was living outside in temperatures that felt like minus forty degrees. When our viewers heard that the Hamilton-Burlington SPCA could not step in and rescue the dog, they became outraged.

Vivian LaFlamme is with the HBSPCA: “I wish the laws were different so it gave me the ability to do something differently.”

The SPCA was ripped apart online for not stepping in and taking Tiger, whose living conditions did not meet requirements for an outdoor dog.

Vivian said: “We do not have the ability to just walk on someone’s property and remove that animal there has to be immediate distress or iminent danger for that animal.”

But the lack of action prompted someone to dognap Tiger. Hamilton Police say that is theft. The owner, who first name is Milton, says he’s upset someone stole his dog and that Tiger was perfectly happy with his living conditions: “The dogs got a really good shelter. I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know who took my dog and I want my dog back, honestly I am going to find out where my dog is it’s my pet, nobody has the rights to take my dog from me.”

Milton was renting space from the President of Provincial Concrete Forming, where Tiger was chained and guarding the rented land. Tony Silva was in the process of trying to evict him. He says the public is wrongly blaming him for leaving the dog in the cold when it’s not even his dog, just a dog staying on his property.

“I’m not happy with all the emails and the harassing phone calls I’ve gotten ( long pause and starts to cry) 2 of them people threatening to shut down my business I’ve worked very hard and I’ve done nothing wrong.”

What is wrong, is the theft of a dog. Hamilton Police wouldn’t comment on tiger’s case because they say Milton hasn’t reported Tiger as stolen yet. Hundreds of comments on the “Only in Hamlton Facebook page” support someone stealing the dog because supports say Tiger’s now been saved. And many are advocating for the laws to be stronger so the SPCA can step in and take an animal inside when it’s left in the cold.

As we mentioned this story has generated overwhelming reaction. More than 23,500 people have watched it on our website. And the comments section and our email inbox has been flooded with people upset with how Tiger’s been treated. Here’s a sampling of what some of you had to say:

Bente emailed to say: “Cruelty to animals should not be tolerated by our society and because the SPCA’s mandate is to prevent cruelty, I find their attitude reprehensible.”

Melissa says: “I would like to extend my sheer gratitude for the amazing individual who took poor Tiger out of the cold!!! While many of us viewers were appalled at the cruelty displayed by Tiger’s owner, it took one courageous viewer to take action.”

Elizabeth commented on our website saying: “I too am angry over Tiger. His owner calls him a guard dog. How can he protect the property when he is chained up, 5ft. of chain. He has no water and I would imagine, little food. Maybe we should chain up his owner on a 5ft. chain and see how he likes it.”

Julie shared a view expressed by many saying: “This is unacceptable! the owner should be heavily fined and his dog taken away.”

And Monique wrote: “No animal deserves this lifestyle. Tiger being left outside and in these frigid temperatures is not right.”