Distraught puppy next door - what to do?

[Ari]

My idiot neighbours decided that despite the fact that they both work full time, it was a good idea to get a dog. So a puppy arrived a week ago.

The thing barks and cries and howls all day whilst they're out. I've spoken to them about it (as have other neighbours I believe). Their view is that it will get used to it, and anyway all dogs have to be left alone sometimes.

It's been a week now and so far today the thing has been howling and crying on and off (and I mean 90% on) for five hours straight.

Apart from the obvious noise issues, it's bloody cruel, the thing is clearly absolutely distraught.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Do they settle down and get used to it in time? (Even if they do, it still seems very cruel to leave an animal locked up in a house all day every day).

[Ari]

I've recorded the noise it makes (not from the perspective of volume, but to demonstrate how distraught it is). I think I'm going to go round there when they come home, play it to them and tell them that this isn't happening any more.

[Ari]

I am bloody angry actually. I was away most of last week so regret not doing something earlier. Poor bloody dog.

[Ari]

That's a good suggestion - just found one. £15/day so I doubt that is going to happen.

I'll take it with me though. My view is they either organise this, one of them stays at home, or I call the RSPCA tomorrow.

[Ari]

Will the RSPCA actually do anything though..?

[Ari]

It has shut up now.

It's a difficult one (he say, resolve evaporating now the bloody thing is quiet) because they're direct neighbours so I'd prefer not to fall out with them (which will inevitably happen because they won't see things the same way).

FFS.

[Ari]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Ari said:

Will the RSPCA actually do anything though..?

No, I reported the same thing a couple of years back in that really harsh winter and was told as long as it had water they wouldn't do anything.

I wondered as much. Okay so that's a completely empty and thus pointless 'lever' then...

[Ari]

CaptainMorgan said:

Another full time working dog owner here. Granted I work early shifts mostly so he's only alone when the Mrs leaves for work at 9ish till early afternoon.

We got him as a pup, everyone who we spoke to said dont wrap him in cotton wool, let him get use to being on his own. I set up a GoPro, he cried on and off for the first week or so, then stopped. He gets a walk in the morning, play time, then a long walk and play time all afternoon plus cuddles and a pre bed time walk. He's happy, social and lazy.

Is this pup left alone the whole day? or just some of it?

From about 8:30am till about 4pm.

[Ari]

Greg66 said:

My sympathies are with the puppy and you. But I'd avoid the RSPCA unless I had no other choice, because I regard them as pretty heavy handed, and as someone has already said, the puppy will end up in a shelter and be no less unhappy.

No one wants to make a rod for their own back, but if you are able, could you offer to dogsit the puppy during the day? Or even just take it out for a walk at some point?

That did cross my mind, but they've not lived there long so I'd guess they probably wouldn't want to give me a key. I'm not having the dog here, and I'm not keen on committing to walking it - fine on a nice day, but going to seem much less like a good idea when it's the depths of winter, freezing cold and raining hard.

[Ari]

thainy77 said:

What about suggesting they get another puppy so they are company for one another?

Genius!

Or a shark - howabout a shark?

[Ari]

I didn't do anything in the end, decided to give it another day or two since it was Monday and the thing would have had its owners there all weekend and probably felt more abandoned as a result.

Today has been much better. A bit of crying for half an hour a couple of times, but otherwise silent.

I still think it is fking cruel to get a dog and then imprison it all day long but that isn't going to change no matter what I do (and judging by this thread it is far from unusual) so if the crying stops I guess that'll be that.

I'll see how it goes.

Do feel bloody sorry for it though...

[Ari]

BluePurpleRed said:

Ari said:

I've recorded the noise it makes (not from the perspective of volume, but to demonstrate how distraught it is). I think I'm going to go round there when they come home, play it to them and tell them that this isn't happening any more.

Makes you want to force them to listen to the howling for 4 straight hours so it sinks in !

It absolutely does.

[Ari]

Quick update on this one. Poor bloody thing was howling and whimpering and crying all morning today - as bad as it's ever been. Decided enough was enough. Recorded it on my phone, went round there tonight and asked them to listen to it. She held it to her ear for about five seconds and handed it back. Told them it was cruel and inhumane (I was pretty steamed up by this point after five hours of the thing - and I went out, it probably carried on!)

Usual crap 'well what do you expect, what can we do about it we both work.?' To which I said 'don't get a dog in the first place if you're not able to look after it'. Didn't go down well.

He then claimed they'd taken it to the vet and the vet said it was normal and fine. I asked which vet, I'd ask him to let me know it was okay - didn't want to tell me that, to which I said 'no, because it's not true is it?'

I told them either they deal with it, by one of them staying home or putting it into doggy daycare, or I would.

At which point I was invited to leave!

I am bloody fuming about it though, I cannot abide animal cruelty.

Guess the next step is the RSPCA.

fking annoying, hate falling out with people but enough is enough.

[Ari]

It's a fking husky!

I haven't seen them walk it but it's only a few weeks old so maybe hasn't had all its injections or whatnot (or I just haven't noticed, I don't sit watching the road).

[Ari]

I reckon they're had it about two and half weeks. It's still tiny (for a husky).

[Ari]

Thing is, he's distraught now. So yes he might, but right now he's clearly extremely upset.

He's also kept in a cage whilst they're not there apparently, 'for his own safety'. God knows how he goes to the toilet - in the cage presumably.

Awful.

[Ari]

DuraAce said:

Have you called the RSPCA yet? What did they say/do? Makes me angry just reading your post!

If you haven't or don't want to for fear of causing upset with neighbours etc; PM me the address and I'll do it.

They'd still know it was me after yesterday!

Will give them a couple of days to sort something and if no change will call. Although given the comments above, doesn't sound like it will do much good.

Council noise nuisance might be another angle.

[Ari]

elanfan said:

If you like dogs and are at home a lot of the time could you offer to look after it whilst they are at work? They owe you big time.

Nope. Don't want it in my house, don't want to pick up its faeces, and frankly don't feel inclined anymore to help them with their self inflicted problem!

[Ari]

Maybe try calling? Got to be better speaking with someone than just another email enquiry I'd guess.

[Ari]

Granville said:

I've got the same problem with my next door neighbour. He got a dog about a month ago from The Blue cross rehoming centre.

How the hell he passed a homing test I don't know as he leaves the house at 7.30 - 8am and doesn't come back till very late in the evening. The dog is shut in a crate and it howls, barks and cries ALL DAY. It gets a short walk in the morning and another in the evening when he gets in (providing it isn't raining).
And of course there is the problem when he goes out in the evening as he obviously cant leave the dog alone. So he has to take it with him and leave it in the car.

I've spoken to him as I'm sick of hearing it when I am at home, and I also have a child that needs to be in bed early. Other neighbours have complained and reported him to the Blue cross but nothing has been done.

I really feel sorry for the dog, it's cruel and I really don't see why he wanted a dog when he is never in.

Bit like people with birds. Lets get a creature that belongs in the skies and in trees, and stuff it in a cage for its life until it dies.

Weird.