A whole lot of people on social media, along with readers of the Rhino Times, can rest easier now that a badly emaciated dog that was constantly seen with the owner in and around Friendly Center is in the hands of Guilford County Animal Services.
The dog was the focus of a recent Facebook post in which the poster and many commenters who had also seen the dog expressed concern that the owner was starving the dog to death.
Many of those who posted their views on Facebook and who commented on a Rhino Times story about the situation said they hoped the police or Animal Services did more than cite the owner, since the dog was in obvious distress. One Facebook poster said she had witnessed the owner even taunting the hungry dog with food just to cruelly take it away.
The dog can be seen in a well-fed state in the picture above, which was taken before the owner in question got control of the animal. Pictures taken after the owner took the dog showed a much different looking animal – one that was essentially skin and bones.
Guilford County Animal Services Director Jorge Ortega informed the Rhino Times on Wednesday, Nov. 17 that the dog was now in the hands of the county.
“The dog is currently here at the resource center,” Ortega wrote in an email, referring to the nice new animal shelter the county opened in 2021.
Animal Services, with pets, is a lot like Guilford County Socials Services is with children: The first choice is always to keep them with the family but, in some instances, there’s really no other choice but to take the animal from the owner or the kids from the parents.
Ortega said that his department prefers not to split up animals from their owners.
“We focus on keeping pets and people together,” he stated.
Surely this dog will not be returned to the owner. We all can see how returning children to abusive parents works out most of the time.
Who worries about the owner, I’m guessing the Rhino only is concerned about the dog also. Sad for both.
Did you read the article? The owner was taunting the dog with food
Were animal abuse charges brought against the owner? I hope so. I’m a little confused by the dates. The date of this article is May 18 but the info from Jorge Ortega says Nov. 17. ???? Anyhow, I sure hope the poor doggie is being cared for and fed.
If I’m not mistaken, I saw the same guy with two dogs walking near Friendly Center yesterday. Has he gotten two more dogs? People in and around Friendly Shopping Center keep your eyes out to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
I Would like to thank you Scott for sharing this update and for sharing the story before. I hope if you hear anything more you’ll update us. Praying they want return the dog to this man again though.
“Please Guilford County Animal Shelter” please don’t let him re-adopt this sweet pooch.
Obviously he has mental issues which unfortunately causes him to be able to take care of animals since he obviously needs supervision himself .
Yes , Thank you Scott D.Yost for posting about this story and update. I hope both the animal and Gentleman are both getting the care they deserve.
I also wanted to Thank the lady who posted about this on Facebook and got the attention that this story needed.. also I’m sure Rhinotimes doesn’t only just care about the dog but the man as well. But animal abuse is abuse and any animal that is in that kind of situation does not deserve that and should be taken out of that kind of treatment just like a human deserves not to have to live like that…
An Animal can’t speak for itself so it has to rely on others to speak for them and you better believe that I will speak for them if I can. Again I hope that the Gentleman is doing better as well ..
I refer to the “gentleman” as a “Dastardly Dipstick”.
The Gentleman is my son,Ryan. He has not always been like this. He refuses help. We have tried to get him help to no avail and he has declined over the last several years. We are powerless and sick as his parents.
He is sick and my son.
Dear Paula,
I am so sorry to hear that. Please don’t give up on him. Pray as hard as you can for him and maybe one day he’ll come around and accept help.. mental illness is very hard to cope with both for the individual and the family.. my prayers go out to your family and son. I hope good news will come soon for everyone..
I appreciate all that the Greensboro community has done for Ryan and his dog, Alex. I have not given up on Ryan. He needs help but refuses. Please pray for him.
I sure will Paula . I hope he comes around and will accept help very soon.. I hope Alex the dog is doing better to.
He oughta be put down. If my son turned into such trash I’d disown him. How he abused that animal is unforgiveable.
Walk a mile in my shoes before you judge so strongly.
You are very blessed that you haven’t had to deal with these problems. I never in a million years thought I would either.
After reading this article and contemplating how I would respond, I will attempt to make this brief. This dog was rescued years prior. He was taken care of, fed, watered and given an exceptional life. Unfortunately, the owner (whom I now personally) fell on hard times due to mental issues. Ryan (the owner) was once a thriving, artistic, creative, hard working, money making, good, kind, genuine, very talented construction/carpenter. He worked for me for 4 years actually. He had a home in the Kirkwood area of Greensboro and at his age, did very well for himself. I am not a therapist or doctor however feel that a series of events caused his downward spiral. Ryan was adopted as a young child, given up when he was very young. I don’t know what its like to be given up however he often commented that he felt less of a person because of being given up. Not knowing the circumstances in full, I know he was adopted by a family that loved him. The family that adopted him had two biological children and knowing people in similar situations, regardless, I think/assume that although you have a “family”, you still feel like an outsider and misfit. Ryan was dating a young lady whom ended up moving away and thus the relationship ended. Ryan stated that he, again, felt abandoned. I truly think this was the point of his downward spiral. Ryan lost his home, his cars, his job, his possessions and the only thing he had was his dog. Alexander (the dog) was his side kick. I have never been homeless however I would assume it might be challenging taking care of yourself, not to mention an animal. Over the past few years, i have given Ryan money, taken him clothing, food, shoes, and even food for Alexander. For whatever reason, Ryan/and Alexander kept getting thinner living on the streets. Although I commend people trying to help the dog…..I am kind of shocked that people would go out of their way to rescue the dog yet did absolutely nothing for Ryan. So now the dog is rescued, and Ryans decline seems to be getting worse. Ryan was a good dog owner. He did not mistreat the dog, he fed him what he had, he did not intentionally starve the dog, as some of the comments and article seems to imply. Shame on those people who went out of their way to make such a huge effort to help the dog yet neglect Ryan. So you have successfully removed the dog but Ryan has nothing to bond with, nothing to love, nothing to interact with and unfortunately (my assumption) seems to feel abandoned, yet once again. I applaud peoples willingness to help the dog but those that did…..what were you thinking? Why not help Ryan too? Why not attempt to help them both? I continue to give Ryan money for food and have briefly spoken to him about Alexander however he still feels at some point he will get back on his feet in order to get Alexander back (something that probably will never happen). So next time you go out of your way to rescue a dog or think you are helping……research the issue a little more. People suck! I am blown away at all the rallying around the dog yet you leave the person….and in worse shape, now that you have taken the only thing he had to love. Ryan has mental issues but he was not intentionally harming the dog. Let me say this again…..people suck!