What to do about deserted dog

[weepiper]

My neighbour's sister's neighbour went on holiday for a fortnight and left her dog alone in the flat.... and left her 6-month-old baby with her neighbour for the fortnight too... the RSPCA broke in and took the dog and the health visitor is now watching the family very closely.

 

[zenie]

Well, my advice to anyone who thinks that any charity isn't good enough is, 'go and volunteer your time for free and help them make it better'.

I too am very concerned about the dog, that's why I suggested acting at once rather than waiting. If it's crying has been going on for days, then that's days too long.

Yes well said - I already do work for a charity albeit not the RSPCA

Have you had any luck with the dog yet?

 

[Hellsbells]

I haven't heard a sound tonight. Seems the dog is no longer there.
Very relieved.

 

[longdog]

Could mean it's dying (seriously).

It still call the RSPCA.

 

[lizzieloo]

Seconded.

Just cos the dog is quiet doesn't mean the dog's ok. might have just given up.

You really should still do something. Might sound very obvious but can't you knock on their door???

 

[kea]

yeah get on with it. the rspca will keep your details private, so don't worry about a backlash from the neighbours. tbh if i'd heard this for several days i'd have got seriously worried quite a while ago.

 

[tobyjug]

I haven't heard a sound tonight. Seems the dog is no longer there.
Very relieved.

So now not only is there a potentially dead owner, now there is a potentially dead dog.

 

[Hellsbells]

There was someone in the house (the owners, I presume) last night, windows open, could hear the radio playing.
I don't think anyone is dead!

 

[lizzieloo]

'Cept maybe the dog.

 

[subversplat]

The RSPCA certainly aren't saints, and they've fucked me and my mates off a lot of times, but they're the only people who can legally get let into someone's house, so unless you fancy doing a bit of impromptu hostage rescue yourself give them a ring - your neighbour doesn't need to know it was you that did it.

If you do rescue the dog yourself, I'll look after it

 

[Pingu]

RSPCA is your forst port of call. if you dont want to do it pm me the details and I wil happily call them

also depending on where you live yur local animal control service (dog warden) canoften help out on cases like this.

be aware though that some councils have a 7 day policy when it comes to dogs that have been seized\strays. i.e. after the legal 7 days are up the dog could be PTS.

so RSPCA first off

failing that it would be a dang shame if someone broke in and damaged the back gate. then someone would have to take the dog in in order to prevent it from straying...


if they have gon on holiday and left their dog out uncared for then I would be more tnan happy if they did get turned over and had some gimp shit on their bed.

 

[Hellsbells]

Okay, update on the situation and advice needed....

The owners haven't gone on holiday (nor are they dead!). I've seen them in their garden on several occasions. However....

the dog seems to be in this fenced in area of the garden pretty much all the time. This evening, there were 2 guys actually sitting in the garden chatting, and the dog was still locked in his area on his own. He was howling and crying, desperate for attention, poor thing.

I discovered a loose part of the fence at the back of our garden and have been able to remove it in order to actually see the dog. He really is lovely, very beautiful, and quite big. Certainly too big to be in such a restricted area all the time.

He appears to be in good health though, and I could see a food and water bowl. I also had a word with some other neighbours and they said they have seen the dog being taken out on walks.

I'm not happy with the situation though and don't understand why someone would get such a large and beautiful dog if they weren't willing to spend any proper time with it. It really upsets me to constantly hear this dog whimpering , but I really don't think there is anything I can do.

Would the RSPCA actually do anything if I told them about this?

 

[Shirl]

Okay, update on the situation and advice needed....

The owners haven't gone on holiday (nor are they dead!). I've seen them in their garden on several occasions. However....

the dog seems to be in this fenced in area of the garden pretty much all the time. This evening, there were 2 guys actually sitting in the garden chatting, and the dog was still locked in his area on his own. He was howling and crying, desperate for attention, poor thing.

I discovered a loose part of the fence at the back of our garden and have been able to remove it in order to actually see the dog. He really is lovely, very beautiful, and quite big. Certainly too big to be in such a restricted area all the time.

He appears to be in good health though, and I could see a food and water bowl. I also had a word with some other neighbours and they said they have seen the dog being taken out on walks.

I'm not happy with the situation though and don't understand why someone would get such a large and beautiful dog if they weren't willing to spend any proper time with it. It really upsets me to constantly hear this dog whimpering , but I really don't think there is anything I can do.

Would the RSPCA actually do anything if I told them about this?

I believe they would invetigate, you've got nothing to loose and the dog may well benefit.

 

[zenie]

As said previouslly if the dog has food water and shelter they can't do anything.

They may well go round and investigate but it is a sad fact that some people do keep their dogs in kennels.

Out of interest do you know what breed of dog it is?

Of course if that fence panel came loose and the dog managed to escape and was brought to a far away place of safety.........

 

[Hellsbells]

As said previouslly if the dog has food water and shelter they can't do anything.

They may well go round and investigate but it is a sad fact that some people do keep their dogs in kennels.

Out of interest do you know what breed of dog it is?

Of course if that fence panel came loose and the dog managed to escape and was brought to a far away place of safety.........

I'm not sure of the breed. I'll ask my housemate tonight, he'll probably know.
It makes me so angry not being able to do anything. Why did these people get a dog in the first place, just to keep it in a kennel 24 hours a day? For gods sake, they were in the garden yesterday and still didn't let him out or pay him any attention

I've already been trying to convince my housemate to go on a middle of the night rescue mission.

They discovered me with my head through the dodgy fence panel last night though, so I reckon that'll be fixed pretty soon. Plus if anything does happen, ie - dog going missing/rspca called round, I'll be the first person they'll suspect now they've actually seen me sticking my nose in

 

[kea]

it's worth calling the rspca to ask at least, they're probably used to giving advice to people in 'borderline' situations like this. i don't know whether the 'food and water' rule is correct or not and i would suggest calling them to check with them directly. they might have some advice which could put your mind at rest.
after al, what's to lose by calling them?!

 

[Epona]

I've already been trying to convince my housemate to go on a middle of the night rescue mission.

Which could leave you facing a charge of theft!

Why haven't you called the RSPCA yet? They exist to investigate this sort of problem.

 

[Hellsbells]

I didn't want to go rushing in before I was more certain what was going on. Plus I didn't think that the rspca would be able to do anything. The dog has shelter, food and water - just not enough attention.

I have been trying to call them this morning (the rspca) but so far haven't been able to get through to a human person. It's also difficult calling from work.
I will try again when I get home tonight and see if I have any more luck.

The rescue mission would have simply involved loosening an already loose fence panel and then calling the rspca to tell them I had discovered a lost dog. There would be no actual theft involved. Even if the dog was returned to its owners, at least the rspca would have had to come round and investigate the situation and would have seen the conditions the dog was living under and maybe had a word with the owners.

 

[Epona]

I understand - but at the very least, the RSPCA will have a word with the owners, make sure they know what care their dog requires, and will return to check up on the situation to see if anything has been done to improve the dog's conditions.

There's nothing wrong per se with keeping a dog outdoors provided it has access to food, fresh water, and shelter from inclement weather/shade if it's hot. This dog does sound as though it's in distress and not getting the opportunity to exercise adequately - in which case the RSPCA will give advice to the owners and follow up.

 

[Hellsbells]

Update

After several attempts I finally managed to get through to an actual human at the RSPCA. I explained the situation and was told it was possibly borderline neglect and that they would investigate. Last week they called me up to say they had been round to the address I had given and had been told that there was no dog there. Worked out I'd accidently given them the wrong house number. So I called them back again with the correct address. I haven't heard anything since, and that was last week some time.

I'm a bit worried now that they may think I'm messing them around and will now be reluctant to come round again. But the thing is, I am now getting very concerned about this poor dog. It poured with rain all last night and is pouring now and the dog is out there (as usual) in his kennel. He has no shelter and is dripping wet. The rain obviously distresses him quite alot as he whimpers even more loudly when it rains.

What if they keep the dog outside all winter when it is freezing cold. Surely they can't be allowed to do that...?

 

[lizzieloo]

After several attempts I finally managed to get through to an actual human at the RSPCA. I explained the situation and was told it was possibly borderline neglect and that they would investigate. Last week they called me up to say they had been round to the address I had given and had been told that there was no dog there. Worked out I'd accidently given them the wrong house number. So I called them back again with the correct address. I haven't heard anything since, and that was last week some time.

I'm a bit worried now that they may think I'm messing them around and will now be reluctant to come round again. But the thing is, I am now getting very concerned about this poor dog. It poured with rain all last night and is pouring now and the dog is out there (as usual) in his kennel. He has no shelter and is dripping wet. The rain obviously distresses him quite alot as he whimpers even more loudly when it rains.

What if they keep the dog outside all winter when it is freezing cold. Surely they can't be allowed to do that...?

You probably need to get onto someone more pro-active

Have you kept a diary of the neglect?

 

[lizzieloo]

You could try talking to rescue centres in your area for advice.

http://www.mayhewanimalhome.org/

http://www.dogpages.org.uk/sth-east.htm

Explain that the RSPCA are dragging their feet.

TBH if that was me I'd get the dog out myself. That's not necessarily advice to you, obviously I don't know the situation there.

 

[miss giggles]

Just ring the RSPCA. They won't tell your neighbours it was you, their not allowed. I have a rescue dog myself and this sort of thing makes me really angry. If I didn't already have a german shepperd, I'd go there and take him myself. If it makes you feel better , you can report it without giving your name, or ask a friend to report them again so it looks like two different reports.

 

[Hellsbells]

erm...did you read the thread miss giggles? I have rung the RSPCA!! I've spent literally HOURS on the phone to them in the last couple of weeks. I'll probably try and call again from work tomorow to ask when they're actually going to do something.

And thanks for those links lizzieloo. I'll see if I can get through to them aswell.

I hope someone does something soon. I really love animals and it upsets me so much having to sit in my house listening to this dog in distress.

 

[kea]

i guess you've just gotta keep trying the rspca - i dunno whether a local shelter can do as much as the rspca would, tho it might be worth a try, do you know of any?

 

[Pingu]

tbh a local rscue wont be able to do anything other than contact the rspca

the only body really with any powers in this are is the rspca, unless you have a local police officer who is into animal welfare.

hopefully however with the introduction of the animal welfare billthough it will become easier to do something about this sort of thing

in my expereinces the rspca central office is useless but if you have a local branch you may get further

 

[lizzieloo]

tbh a local rscue wont be able to do anything other than contact the rspca

the only body really with any powers in this are is the rspca, unless you have a local police officer who is into animal welfare.

hopefully however with the introduction of the animal welfare billthough it will become easier to do something about this sort of thing

in my expereinces the rspca central office is useless but if you have a local branch you may get further

If you have a rescue centre speaking for you you may get a bit more from the RSPCA.

How about a letter in your local paper? About how the RSPCA are dragging their feet and you are very concerned.

 

[Ellie23]

As well as the RSPCA your local council should have a Dog Warden.

They will call to check the welfare of the animal and offer advice to the owners if there have been complaints from the neighbour because, for example, the animal is barking when left alone.

They will not give your name to anybody and will let you know what happens.

Good luck



edited for gobbledegook!

 

[kea]

oooh do they? that's a great idea ellie!! hellsbells please try the council!! that poor dog

 

[Hellsbells]

Update

I've just had a call from the RSPCA. They have been knocking on my neighbour's door for months and only yesterday actually managed to get a response, despite the fact there were obviously people in the house - lights on, noises etc

The RSPCA inspector went out into the garden and took a look at the dog and the kennel. The dog is apparently in good condition, which is a relief. And there is shelter within the kennel where the dog is able to go when it rains.
But I know for a fact that he doesn't. When I've been out to see him, he's been absolutely drenched, constantly whimpering and howling.

The neighbours are foreign and claimed not to understand most of what the Inspector was saying. Although she did issue them with several notices. But as they apparently can't read them, she doesn't know what good that will do.

She said there is nothing more she can do since the dog does have shelter, and therefore has the option of sheltering from the rain.

Apparantly another neighbour has been on the phone though, complaining about the dog barking. They were referred to Enviromental Health, and I was advised to call them aswell, and to get as many people on my street to complain too.

I'm starting to get quite worried. More so than before, now that winter is coming and that poor dog is going to be outside in freezing conditions. At the moment he's having to cope with fireworks, and he has nowhere to hide or escape to. It makes me so sad and angry