Neighbour’s dog-advice needed

contact your councils environmental asap

When we moved house years ago the neighbours said our dog had barked and whined when we left him. We had no idea and wished they had told us before!

CardiffJaguar
The number the public have to call in my area for the dog warden is the local council (useless). I gave up after being asked when reporting a large dog, couldn't tell it's breed, that continually escaped from its own garden 'catch it let us know and we will collect.

That's a good point that many have raised - if your dog only barks when you are out you really wouldn't know. I hope ours does not, I leave a chew, and the radio on low and now give her the run of the house and as far as I know she is fine. Having that there is almost always someone in.

I will never ring the RSPCA again, years ago I phoned up for a cage to catch a stray cat which didn't look very healthy - cat disappeared and still waiting for the cage. Second time a cat got knocked over outside my house, someone knocked on my door because they thought he was mine (he wasn't), two youngsters were holding on the phone for the RSPCA for around 2 hours!!! By the time they eventually answered, we had been sat with the cat I had spoken to the vets I take my cat to who had given me the PDSA number, spoke to them twice who had said about the RSPCA and then because i told them about the time the others were still hanging on said to take the cat to them. He was in the car going round the corner of the street before RSPCA finally answered.

The accident had happened around 7pm

The cat survived the night, but sadly passed away the following day. Thankfully as well we managed to track the owner down and told them what happened/where the cat was in the evening so they were able to see him.

If you are the nearest neighbout at home during the day, the couple might well put 2+2 = 4 if the RSPCA visit.
Personally, the noise would drive be mad.
Ring the councils' Environmental Health dept. They deal with noise. The RSPCA are hard to contact as many numbers on Google are RSPCA charity shops, not anyone who can organise visits.
It may be a puppy and unused to being alone. Good luck to you AND the dog.

RSPCA has become political. Court cases against dubious allegations of fox hunting. They also slightly nicked a friend’s pony. Long story. Took her ages to get back. Good charity that’s gone slightly mad.
As for barking/sad dog. I have had this problem. It’s tricky. Guess a charm offensive with neighbour is first tactic. If that doesn’t work, just push on with badgering RSPCA. Good luck. Hope dog is ok.

My next door neighbours have 3 dogs which whine and howl all day when they're out at work. This has gone on for years.
They have access to the garden and the run of the house, so the noise is everywhere.
We have all told the owners, neighbours have had very heated arguments with them and other neighbours have sold up and left because of the noise.
I can't go in to my garden without them barking at me and I pick up the hosepipe and they flee indoors.

It will drive you mad if you don't do something.

I know quite a few horsey people and have learnt never to say RSPCA in their hearing! I think, since the Countryside Alliance invaded the RSPCA AGM years ago now and attempted to take over because of the anti-hunt stance of the organisation, they have become terrified to act.

According to the horsey set, they either do nothing or whisk away people's horses that are perfectly well looked after. Sad that such a wonderful organisation should become so castrated and vilified.

Re the OP, I admire all the stories about contacting the owners and agree that this seems a good idea. Our newly retiring, single neighbour has just got himself a Golden Retriever puppy and we are already tired of hearing him shout at it....another dog with a miserable life ahead!

i would go and knock on their door ,if you not so brave a nice card (not a letter) that sounds threatening, through the letterbox.and explain that you are concerned about the dog sounds like he is distressed and out in the garden all day esp with all this hot weather ....ask them whether shade is provided and water .. leave for a few days if nothing is solved call the RSPCA . or offer to take doggy for a walk

I've had cause to phone the RSPCA on a couple of occasions, both turned out to be a total waste of time, I no longer donate anything to them now.

I agree that it's probably worth approaching the owners first before anyone else as they may not be aware the poor dog is suffering separation anxiety. Also in this heat it could be dangerous if it has no shelter. The neighbours on one side brought their 5 dogs and left them in the garden while they went to work - they hadn't actually moved in at the time! It was hell as they fought, barked and cried all day. When they finally moved in it didn't really get any better but at least they let them have the run of the house as well. They're now down to 3 dogs and most of the time they're quiet unless one attacks the other when there is an almighty squealing and banging against the gate attached to our wall. I mentioned it to the owner a couple of months ago but she just said the younger one is a bit too playful so the older one eventually nips her!

I've also rung the RSPCA about a poor cat which used to come in our garden and house and was in a poor state. I even took him to our vets but that apparently made it not a stray so they didn't want to know!

I have no experience with RSPCA. Hope someone from that organisation is reading these posts as the majority are not positive reports, surely an important point for a charity hoping for our donations.

Not impressed with RSPCA myself -but worth trying first. If no good, and dog owning neighbours unco-operative, the environmental health people can be very helpful. They will lend you stuff to record noise levels and get the evidence you need for action to be taken, including care for the animal concerned. Our environmental health officer got someone taken to court for keeping a golden eagle!! chained up in his tiny kitchen. He was fined and prevented from keeping birds and animals again.

We’ve had a similar problem with our neighbours who have two dogs and leave them outside when they are at work. I send a polite message to the neighbour asking if someone will be home soon as the dogs seem to be distressed. They usually pop home and lock them in the house. Don’t want to fall out as otherwise they are lovely neighbours.

Sorry for this poor dog. I have a similar situation. Next door neighbour should not have a dog. She moved in last summer and the dog has never been taken out of the property since she moved in. She works strange hours but is home in the day. She just leaves back door open for the dog to go out when it wants to bark.

I cannot leave my dog at home even to go quickly to the local town about 20 mins away as the barking of this other dog unsettles him. My dog rarely barks but if we happen to be in the garden and the other dog barks this sets him off.

When I go into my garden or down my path this other dog barks, so in this nice weather I have been limited to using my garden.

I did have a fall out with this person soon after she moved in re a loud party so she would suspect if I complained to the landlord.

She also leaves the dog for many hours on its own. Why people get animals they don't intend to look after I do not know.

Definitely contact environmental services (ES) about the noise. You say it doesn't bother you but it's probably sending other neighbours round the bend. If ES sort the problem for you, the dog will be in a better place too.
ES won't act unless the noise can be heard inside your own home with the windows shut. They will not divulge who made the complaint. When we had a similar problem, ES were fantastic. One neighbour had told the family that the dog was noisy and I wrote a very polite note and put it through the door (signed). All to no avail. Both of us complained to ES (they prefer more than one complainant if possible.
ES sent a letter and the result was instant. The husband began taking the dog to work with him.

It's not the noise that’s bothering me so much as the distress the dog must be in to cry like that

I sympathise with you and "doggy." Having had at least one dog, then 2 until recently (No.1 son, divorced couldn't take "Jessie" into shared accom.,) so we became "step dog owners" to both. Is that the right term.? No matter.
Not knowing very much about your exact situation; dog's size, temperament etc. the dog is obviously lonely and needs human company. A second dog, again depending on circumstances, could lead to unsupervised territorial jealousies.
Both my dogs have since "moved on" and I sadly miss my "walkies". A retired friend now walks his neighbour's dog; necessary exercise for him and the dog. Cheaper than engaging prof. dog walkers.
Is it possible for you to have him in your garden during the day simply to share company?
Anyway; it's just a thought and may not be practical, but I'm always upset whenever these situations arise and even though I'm 12,000 miles away, give or take a few, I'd appreciate news if possible, of a satisfactory outcome.
Good Health and Good Luck

I have found the RSPCA very unhelpful in the past....although I do work voluntary in one of their charity shops, but that is just the shop.

My dd has called them on numerous occasions when she has come across stray cats/dogs but again no help what so ever they very rarely answer the phone.

Yes, I have to say that I have no time for the RSPCA these days. I once called them because I'd found a stray cat in our stables, clearly injured and not at all welcoming attention! I was told to take it myself to the nearest vets. When I said that I didn't fancy handling it as it was obviously in pain and therefore very bad tempered and that I had nothing in which to transport it safely even if I could have caught it, I was told there was nothing they could do to help owing to lack of resources.
A couple of weeks later one of their officers spent over three hours sitting at our kitchen table (drinking our coffee) while he cross questioned my ex H over a claim that he had shot one of our neighbour's pet doves! It was nonsense of course, he hadn't been anywhere near their house with a gun that day but he owned a couple and was known to be a keen shot so obviously he'd done it!

One of the horsey lot here and I've cancelled all contributions to the RSPCA. Two local examples of horses kept in appalling conditions and they refused to help. A couple moved away and just left their car behind but because it could find shelter in a local shed they would not help. Happily local man took cat in and as far as I know they are still happily together.

Cat, not car! They took their car!