The owner should press charges as a sign to the girl that she just can't assume things and act upon them. This time things went reasonably well because her license plate got caught on camera. Next time when she kidnaps a baby because she thinks the mother is unfit that may not be the case. Can you imagine the stress of the parents? No, I'd say press charges and let her experience the consequences of her acts.

I hate that this is even a consideration. Press charges! She is a thief nothing more nothing less. If she actually cared for the dog she would have handled it the correct way.

We were visiting my brother and walking his dog in town. He used a gentle leader at the time when she was still hyper and excitable. These college age girls walked by and one said in a voice way too loud to be private, "I can't believe they'd muzzle a dog like that." I shouted over my shoulder, "It's a gentle leader, dumbass. Look it up."

Well-intentioned would have been calling the spca to investigate, not just stealing somebody's dog.

If the case ever comes to trial she'll get a delicate little tap on the wrist and a lecture from the judge, if charges are filed at all, as the justice system will not see this well-intentioned nitwit as a threat to society. That's not a reason to hold off filing charges, though, as the trouble and stress of being charged and having to stand trial will put her off ever committing theft "in a good cause" ever again.

I don't get how she thought this was okay. She took the dog away from home against his will and traumatized him, how is that not animal cruelty?

Her delusions of self-aggrandizement are a danger to others, especially mothers of little children. What happens when she decides she 'needs' to take a baby or toddler? Get her into the penal system and work toward getting her some counseling and meds.

He did right. She obviously stalked him for some time, also she need to learn consequences of her actions. It could be more aggressive dog and could bite her if she put off muzzle.

If he was hitting dog, clearly abusing his health or needs, there still wouldn't be legal background for this action so what she did was plain stupid or her reasoning was just an excuse to get to a dog she wanted (yes that happened, I experienced it). Please press charges, this could come up in investigation that she wanted his dog and was waiting for opportunity.

Alternative ending: The police arrive at her house to the sound of s snarling dog rampaging through the house. The police force their way in only to be attacked by Maximo and, out of panic and self-defence, shoot him. With the unmuzzled dog dead, they search the house. Upon opening a cupboard where they hear a whimpering noise, they find the girl with half of her face missing and a deep gash in her throat. She gasps and dies. She had managed to remove the muzzle from Maximo and out of panic and the desire to go home he had tried to escape only to be blocked by her, so he took the only option he knew. Now... isn't she lucky that she didn't get his muzzle off before the police got him back. Prosecute the idiot before she gets herself or someone else hurt.

Muzzles are for training not for abuse. (Most of the time.) And dont just go up to someones dog and take them, abuse or not! If the dog IS be in ng abused, call an animal law enforcement team. It's just common knowledge and so I sense the girl that stole the dog is lying.

I would press charges so fast her head would spin! And she actually injured the dog cutting the muzzle off??? WTF?!?? Does she not know how to work a buckle? I'm thinking this girl needs some serious counseling. I would ask the judge or whoever to make her go to a therapist.

It's too bad the dog didn't rip her face apart when she got the muzzle off. Then she would've understood the need for the muzzle. Stupid twit.

Absolutely press charges. All she had to do was ask why the muzzle was being used.

This wouldn't happen in the UK. The pressing charges bit. Because it would cost the dog owner to take the matter to court and even if found guilty, the girl would make an initial payment of say £1 and not have to pay another penny. Another option we have instead is through victim support, where you request an interview with the girl, relate just what emotional damage she caused to both you and your dog. Discussions like this with the victim are often more successful deterrents. Not sure if that's an option here?

Pressing charged is a right thing to do, because she is mature enough (I hope) to understand that she is "kidnapping" a dog, even if it's from abuser. She should have turned to animal protective services instead if she sees a dog for many weeks every Monday. As well.. she could be a stalker who is kidnapping dogs to re-sell, there are plenty of people like this.

People are so f*****g crazy. She went way out of her way

The proper thing to do, is file a complaint and say you suspect abuse. She is wrong, and charges are not a problem. They will likely educate her on proper procure to report suspected abuse.. what she did is theft. And she freaked out Max!

Why would you take a dog with known aggression issues, one bad enough to require a muzzle, to a dog park anyways? He didn't deserve to have his dog stolen, but he is indeed kind of an asshole. My boy doesn't get along with other dogs, due to being attacked, and taking him to a place literally filled with dogs is the last thing I would do. (Unless it's the vet, and even then I'm super cautious.)

This woman said she watched the dog every Monday and claimed abuse. If that was the case, she should have called a local animal agency- whose job it is to investigate abuse- and notify them when and where they could observe the "abuse". She was out of line and should have charges filed against her.

Just another example of a deluded bleeding heart that thinks their lifestyle or beliefs justifies imposing on others through force or intimidation.

The idiot was lucky he had a muzzle on him. Most dog owners wouldn’t use a muzzle unless there was a valid reason

I agree with everyone about this girl being way out of line and needing consequences. But it hurts me to see so many responses about contacting authorities if you suspect animal abuse and letting them deal with it. Authorities don't give a f**k about animal abuse. You can acknowledge that the girl was wrong in this situation without deluding yourself that, had the dog actually been abused, her reporting it would have achieved anything.

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i guess she's the same kind of people who feed vegetable to her cat or dog.