Neighbour doggy dilema
Discussion
Hi All,
I have a neighbour who has a young female staffie. Back in the summer I was aware the dog was in the garden over a long weekend and no one appeared to be around in the house. I didn't even know she had a dog as she had only recently moved there. I went into the unlocked garden to check on the dog - no water or food so I gave it both and kept an eye out until she returned. I asked her whether it was hers and she was all bashfull and said someone let her down etc. I explained what I had done and why, as I was concerned for the dog's welfare. I really hear and see nothing of the dog until recently, I even thought she had passed it on.
Roll forward to last week and I hear the dog in the garden again, it's late on Friday, cold and wet and no one in. I look over the fench and the garden is full of poo so the dog is obviously spending a lot of time out there. Big handful of dog-biscuits over the fence and I keep an eye. The woman returns late that night but the dog remains in the garden all night. This happened all weekend, regardless of when she was home(hardly ever) so I keep up the airdrops.
I went in the garden on Sunday, the dog has a open shed between the houses to sleep in but no bed apart from some towels I gave it in the summer, only a small water bowl by the back door and poo just everywhere. The dog is actually quite well fed as not boney at all. I don't now whether she was out there in the middle of last week when it was freezing but I expect so.
Now, what do I do? I think the owner(young mum of 3, seems to work loads and hardly ever there) was either given it as a pup or got it as a fashion thing as it has a stupid glamour name. I think she has no understanding about dog needs, welfare, pack animal, never walked etc etc and has lost interest. I'm not sure it is even house trained as I said she was such a lovely little dog and the woman sort of pulled a face and said "yeh, well" It is the softest dog I've ever met but I think that is fear and isolation making it so shy.
I have a number of options.
1) Ignore - not going to happen as it upsets me and it's not right.
2) Talk to her, offer to make a kennel etc but that still leaves the dog outside on its own 24hrs a day and makes any other action obvious it is me involved(not happy about that aspect) and also shows I've been in her garden.
3) Call the RSPCA as first instance(really worried they could take the dog and it could get put down which would be a bad thing for such a lovely little young hound) and got to think of the kids!
4) Find the local lady who walks past and works at Woodgreen Animal shelter to try and have a word directly(smacks of REALLY nosy neighbours)
5) Dog escapes and is found then handed in to WGAS - borderline theft and got to think of the kids!
6) Buy her a "how to look after your dog properly" book but I think she really has no interest.
7) I don't bloody know....
Help!
I have a neighbour who has a young female staffie. Back in the summer I was aware the dog was in the garden over a long weekend and no one appeared to be around in the house. I didn't even know she had a dog as she had only recently moved there. I went into the unlocked garden to check on the dog - no water or food so I gave it both and kept an eye out until she returned. I asked her whether it was hers and she was all bashfull and said someone let her down etc. I explained what I had done and why, as I was concerned for the dog's welfare. I really hear and see nothing of the dog until recently, I even thought she had passed it on.
Roll forward to last week and I hear the dog in the garden again, it's late on Friday, cold and wet and no one in. I look over the fench and the garden is full of poo so the dog is obviously spending a lot of time out there. Big handful of dog-biscuits over the fence and I keep an eye. The woman returns late that night but the dog remains in the garden all night. This happened all weekend, regardless of when she was home(hardly ever) so I keep up the airdrops.
I went in the garden on Sunday, the dog has a open shed between the houses to sleep in but no bed apart from some towels I gave it in the summer, only a small water bowl by the back door and poo just everywhere. The dog is actually quite well fed as not boney at all. I don't now whether she was out there in the middle of last week when it was freezing but I expect so.
Now, what do I do? I think the owner(young mum of 3, seems to work loads and hardly ever there) was either given it as a pup or got it as a fashion thing as it has a stupid glamour name. I think she has no understanding about dog needs, welfare, pack animal, never walked etc etc and has lost interest. I'm not sure it is even house trained as I said she was such a lovely little dog and the woman sort of pulled a face and said "yeh, well" It is the softest dog I've ever met but I think that is fear and isolation making it so shy.
I have a number of options.
1) Ignore - not going to happen as it upsets me and it's not right.
2) Talk to her, offer to make a kennel etc but that still leaves the dog outside on its own 24hrs a day and makes any other action obvious it is me involved(not happy about that aspect) and also shows I've been in her garden.
3) Call the RSPCA as first instance(really worried they could take the dog and it could get put down which would be a bad thing for such a lovely little young hound) and got to think of the kids!
4) Find the local lady who walks past and works at Woodgreen Animal shelter to try and have a word directly(smacks of REALLY nosy neighbours)
5) Dog escapes and is found then handed in to WGAS - borderline theft and got to think of the kids!
6) Buy her a "how to look after your dog properly" book but I think she really has no interest.
7) I don't bloody know....
Help!
Edited by tonyvid on Tuesday 18th December 11:39
Why is what should be the first option always buried further down the list?
TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOUR! She could well be relieved that someone's prepared to help. Very few people actively set out to neglect animals, they just get a bit overwhelmed and can't cope so ignore the problem as if that might make it go away. The worst that could happen is she tells you to f
k off and does nothing, in which case call the RSPCA. But you knew that, so MTFU and get on with it!
TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOUR! She could well be relieved that someone's prepared to help. Very few people actively set out to neglect animals, they just get a bit overwhelmed and can't cope so ignore the problem as if that might make it go away. The worst that could happen is she tells you to f
k off and does nothing, in which case call the RSPCA. But you knew that, so MTFU and get on with it!Obiwonkeyblokey said:
Never has a thread title promised so much and delivered so little.... 
It's funny, the answers so far pretty much echo the ones that ring around my head so you see the dilema!
Pothole said:
TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOUR! She could well be relieved that someone's prepared to help. Very few people actively set out to neglect animals, they just get a bit overwhelmed and can't cope so ignore the problem as if that might make it go away. The worst that could happen is she tells you to fk off and does nothing, in which case call the RSPCA. But you knew that, so MTFU and get on with it!
This is probably the best first option - the downside is if nothing changes it will be a major falling out when the RSPCA turn up but the dog MUST come first, especially as she is only renting and is probably just short term.k off and does nothing, in which case call the RSPCA. But you knew that, so MTFU and get on with it!I do believe that she can't cope or doesn't know how to cope. Her car has been broken for weeks so she keeps turning up in borrowed ones, I expect she is overloaded with 3 kids on her own and the dog comes very last.
I wish I could have the dog, I would jump at it as she is lovely but I'm away a lot and work 35miles from home. Since my divorce I share ownership of my Cav. We do alternate weeks and I juggle the work and trips around that which really works in the dog's favour.
I think I'll try the chatting stage, try to advise what dogs need and be honest that you can't keep dog on its own outside(especially a short-haired mut) with no warm shelter as a minimum. The dog must be so lonely but never ever makes a noise
I don't want to threaten with the RSPCA but the dog hasn't got its own phone...
tonyvid said:
Obiwonkeyblokey said:
Never has a thread title promised so much and delivered so little....
It's funny, the answers so far pretty much echo the ones that ring around my head so you see the dilema!
Pothole said:
TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOUR! She could well be relieved that someone's prepared to help. Very few people actively set out to neglect animals, they just get a bit overwhelmed and can't cope so ignore the problem as if that might make it go away. The worst that could happen is she tells you to fk off and does nothing, in which case call the RSPCA. But you knew that, so MTFU and get on with it!
This is probably the best first option - the downside is if nothing changes it will be a major falling out when the RSPCA turn up but the dog MUST come first, especially as she is only renting and is probably just short term.k off and does nothing, in which case call the RSPCA. But you knew that, so MTFU and get on with it!I do believe that she can't cope or doesn't know how to cope. Her car has been broken for weeks so she keeps turning up in borrowed ones, I expect she is overloaded with 3 kids on her own and the dog comes very last.
I wish I could have the dog, I would jump at it as she is lovely but I'm away a lot and work 35miles from home. Since my divorce I share ownership of my Cav. We do alternate weeks and I juggle the work and trips around that which really works in the dog's favour.
I think I'll try the chatting stage, try to advise what dogs need and be honest that you can't keep dog on its own outside(especially a short-haired mut) with no warm shelter as a minimum. The dog must be so lonely but never ever makes a noise
I don't want to threaten with the RSPCA but the dog hasn't got its own phone...
Pothole said:
dont 'threaten' with anything. Have a civil, polite conversation. you could find out what's wrong with the car, too. Fixing that, or helping get it fixed could solve the dog proplem as well.
I'll be calm and collected 
I was going to offer to look at her car anyway as the tyres are getting flat which will give her even more trouble to fix. It's an 05 Astra CDTi that was seriously chugging and smoky last time I saw it move. I'm off the next two weeks so maybe I can be full of Christmas cheer...tonyvid said:
Pothole said:
dont 'threaten' with anything. Have a civil, polite conversation. you could find out what's wrong with the car, too. Fixing that, or helping get it fixed could solve the dog proplem as well.
I'll be calm and collected I was going to offer to look at her car anyway as the tyres are getting flat which will give her even more trouble to fix. It's an 05 Astra CDTi that was seriously chugging and smoky last time I saw it move. I'm off the next two weeks so maybe I can be full of Christmas cheer...Rotaree said:
ehonda said:
The RSPCA wont be able to do anything if the dog has food, shelter and water.
I think they would at least investigate to make sure and also offer advice which, if nothing else, might make the owner wake up to the fact that the dog is not being properly looked after.Jasandjules said:
I would say
Option 8 - congratulations, you have just acquired a staffy......
Option 8 - congratulations, you have just acquired a staffy......
It does annoy me that the RSPCA are still taking the stance of food water and shelter as being enough, when a couple yrs ago the law changed so mental well being should be included. This dog is not being provided with adequate mental care. Also a garden full of poo is not good basic care, esp if she has kids.
I hope she is willing to talk to you, sounds like she'd be daft to reject your help!
I hope she is willing to talk to you, sounds like she'd be daft to reject your help!
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