Worried about next door’s dogs.

Have you spoken to your neighbour about the young dog howling?
I’ve not been impressed by the rspca - if the dogs are fed, watered and ok I doubt they’d do anything
So many dogs live like this- left alone for hours - it’s wrong IMO but unless that’s seen as neglect or abuse I’m not sure you can do anything x

Why don’t you offer to pop round and let them out for him in the middle of the day when you’re at home? I wouldn’t leave my dog for 10 hours at a time, but if he treats them well otherwise it would make all the difference to them if they could go out for 5 minutes at lunchtime.

Your DH is right. They may be getting exercise that you don’t see. The last thing you need is to rock the boat with neighbours. Say nothing, unless it is absolutely clear they are being abused, which doesn’t sound like it here.

Thanks everyone. IMO I don’t think they’re being abused. I just feel sorry for them. We have spoken to him to offer to take them out but he said no. We are at home all day and so we could but he keeps himself to himself and probably doesn’t want anyone going into his house.
I guess there isn’t anything more we can do.

Would you be able to dog sit them in your home while he’s out if he would agree? I know that would be a big commitment. I feel for these poor creatures. Why do people have dogs and leave them alone like this, just have them for pleasure when they are at home?

It’s a shame for the dogs, especially the younger one. Doggy Day Care would offer an alternative, or dog walkers are available who would give the dogs a good walk.

My neighbour sadly had to go into Care due to her Dementia. Her absolutely shambles of a son was then in charge of her beloved Dog. The Dog was only about 3 years old lovely little chap.
My neighbours son failed to look after himself let alone that little Dog.
Poor thing barked all day, no one ever saw him take him for a walk. Left in the garden all weather's.

We were getting more concerned, but someone cracked before we did. Early one morning on my way out, I saw the local councils Dog warden van in his drive.
Never saw that Dog again.

His sister later told me, that someone complained, the Dog was given to someone who would care and love him.
Luckily the Mum never knew.

The RSPCA won’t do anything but if you try to adopt a dog from one of their shelters they won’t let you if you go out to work and leave the dog for more than a couple of hours. They’d rather put them down. I stopped giving to the RSPCA years ago.

There is nothing you can do here. You have already offered to let the dogs out during the day, and your neighbour has said no thank you.

You could mention quietly to him that the young dog howls quite a lot while he is at work if you haven't already done so, but that is really all you can do, and perhaps you shouldn't as your husband would obviously prefer you to do nothing.

I would feel sorry for them too Jezra. It's hard to know what to do. You have tried to help, he doesn't want it. It must be very distressing though. Why do people get animals and then leave them for so long.
The RSPSA won't do anything. I found a poor cat this summer in a bad way, they asked me to first knock at all the doors in my neighbourhood before they would come out. We took him/her to our local vets, they called them.

Please don’t criticise the RSPCA, it’s a charity, and doesn’t have the resources to follow up every contact, or the facilities to take envy animal who needs it into their care. It’s quite right that they make sure that those animals they are caring for are going to excellent homes. If we gave them more, I’m sure they would do more.

Maybe a visit from the RSPCA would result in him being good advice about the dogs. Personally I would make the call without telling anyone and to hell with whether the neighbour suspected me, the dogs’ welfare is more important. Unless you have another similarity concerned neighbour?

Similarly concerned…

Casdon, I wasn't critising the RSPCA. I was just giving an example of when l called them earlier this year. It would have meant me knocking at around 30 houses most of which were strangers too me. I thought that was ridiculous.
I realise all animal charities only have a certain amount of funds.
I agree with GSM though, it is worth a call to see if they will come out to give your neighbour advice, as he certainly needs it.

Maya1

Casdon, I wasn't critising the RSPCA. I was just giving an example of when l called them earlier this year. It would have meant me knocking at around 30 houses most of which were strangers too me. I thought that was ridiculous.
I realise all animal charities only have a certain amount of funds.
I agree with GSM though, it is worth a call to see if they will come out to give your neighbour advice, as he certainly needs it.

The problem here is...the neighbour would know his neighbours are contacting them in order for them to go round and ‘ advise’ him.

It’s just not worth it Jezra. It’s lovely that you care, but it may make things very difficult for you.

Animal cruelty is everone's business. You can contact your local council's Environmental Health department about a 'noise nuisance' and they will investigate, without revealing your identity.

I know that you're more worried about the dogs than the howling. Still, a visit might be a wake-up call and prompt him to make better arrangements.

DiscoDancer1975, unless they are his only neighbours, how would he know which had complained?

Thanks all.

I wouldn't think twice.
I loathe irresponsible pet owners.

I also found the RSPCA unhelpful, as well as rude.

Hetty58

DiscoDancer1975, unless they are his only neighbours, how would he know which had complained?

The ones that have been offering to help? I’d put two and two together.

I wouldn't care if he realised.
He has a duty to look after his animals properly.

If he is nice he will hopefully be ashamed enough to do something about it, like other pet owners have to.

I would value the dogs’ welfare above my relationship with the neighbour. They need someone to speak up for them. I wouldn’t hesitate to make the call.

Casdon. We have every right to criticise the RSPCA. I’m rather involved in animal welfare and I can assure you the RSPCA is one of the wealthiest charities and not above criticism. The small charities do so much more and with much less money.