Advice needed regarding neighbours and a dog
Discussion
Good afternoon PH.
I'm aware that this should probably be in either 'All Creatures Great and Small' or 'Legal Jazz' but, I'm also aware it's Christmas so less people than usual are likely to be online and I could really do with some advice on a situation I've found myself in.
I live in a street of 7 houses, and we all get on fairly well. The family in no5 have a 17 year old Irish Wolfhound sort of thing, called Taz. Over the summer he's clearly been deteriorating, and the couple who have him have spoken with me about how he's going downhill and they're really sad etc, as they've had him from a puppy.
On sunday just gone, they all went off to South Wales for christmas to stay with family. I know this because the wife approached me beforehand to have a look at their 2nd car while they were away as the brake pads need replacing. I'm always tinkering with cars and get asked for odd jobs now and again. Anyway off they go. Come Monday morning, I'm staggered to look outside and see their dog staggering around my garden, soaked to the bone in torrential rain. I brought him in and dried him off, gave him some food and water, and went and knocked on their door. They have a teenage son, so at this point I thought he must have stayed home. I got no answer, so went through the front garden and found the door open. I called about, and no signs of life. So at this point I went and knocked on No7, as No6 are also away for xmas. It turns out they've left the dog home alone, and asked the ~13/14 year old daughter (friends with their daughter) to look in twice a day, top his food and water up, and leave the front door open so he can get into the garden.
I was pretty staggered by this, but nonetheless kept my nose out and explained he'd got out etc, and gave him back.
Tuesday morning, I arrive home from picking the wife up to find cars stationery all over the shop around our street corner, because the dog has gotten out again, and is wandering around the road looking for people. How he's managed to get out I literally have no idea as the poor thing can barely stand, his back legs are completely shot, and he's even walking on folded over rear knuckles because he can't even use his feet properly, he can't manage 5 paces without his back end giving way it's horrendous. I had no idea he was as bad as he is.
At this point I took him into my house and went down to No7. Again I explained that the dog had gotten out and was wandering in the road. The girl who was tasked with looking after him was visibly upset that he could have come to harm, and repeated that No5 had asked her just to leave the door open and that she had no idea how he could of gotten out bearing in mind he can barely walk. Bearing in mind his age and obvious health issues anyway, I find it disgusting that they left him in the care of a young girl, she was upset enough that he'd gotten out, god knows how she would have felt if he'd been hit by a car or something, especially at christmas. Obviously her father wasn't overly impressed either. They have 3 dogs of their own that are active, so it's not a possible that they could take him in and look after him, as their dogs would easily knock him over being quite boisterous terriers.
The situation I'm in now is that I've explained to the family at No7 that I'll look after him while No5 are away, as I can't see him left home alone with no company in a freezing house (they've knocked the heating off and the door was open) while they're away. It turns out they're not back until Sunday, so he would have been left for 7 days alone.
So he's at mine now, I got the keys for No5 to go and get him, he doesn't even have a bed, he's been sleeping on a sleeping bag, so I've got him in front of the fire at mine. He's visibly better now that he's warmed through, although he's still utterly tragic on his feet. I personally couldn't let a dog carry on in the state he's in, mentally he's clearly fine, he's excited to see me, loves attention having been left, and is excited to go out, but his body simply isn't up to the task. He can't walk, it's horrific watching him try to go for a pee or get some air, as I'm just waiting for him to fall badly and break something.
My problem is, asides from being completely taken aback that someone could treat a dog in that manner, especially after having him in the family for 17 years, is that I simply don't want to hand him back on Sunday when they come back.
At the moment I feel like I'll have to, I don't think legally that I can just take the dog, nor do I feel that's the right thing to do necessarily, but I'm really uncomfortable about his quality of life, and the living conditions he has. I don't know what the correct next step to take is.
To thicken the plot further, the family in No5 clearly have next to no money, and mentioned in passing that they're moving back to family in south wales by the end of January latest. My feeling here is that they've ran out of money, and they actually mentioned (whether it be joking or not) that they may not give notice and might just do a runner. Having seen the state of the house they clearly are not going to get their bond back (rented property), so I feel that the reason they might not have had him put down is possibly financial. Having had to take the hard choice to have one of our own dogs put down earlier this year, I know the local vet charges circa £300 for a home visit and cremation. I feel it's apparent they don't have this cash.
All in all, it's a horrible situation to be in. I'm looking after the dog until they get back, but then I don't know what to do. The path of least pain for me is simply to hand it back and say nothing, but it's clearly suffering and morally I feel that's the wrong thing to do. What makes it worse is that if I had it out with them and they washed their hands of it (no idea how likely this is), I'd feel that the best thing to do would be to have the dog put to sleep anyway. That raises a huge kettle of fish as obviously I've waded in here and it's been their pet for 17 years, and it's not really my right to do so.
WTF do I do?
I appreciate it may sound like I'm being a busy body and should just keep my nose out, but if there's any doubt I can take a video of this poor dog trying to walk, it's absolutely heart breaking. If it was in good health and had just been left home alone I'd be tempted to just have a quiet word and let it be, but the poor thing is clearly suffering and I feel like I'll be letting that continue if I say nothing.
I'm aware that this should probably be in either 'All Creatures Great and Small' or 'Legal Jazz' but, I'm also aware it's Christmas so less people than usual are likely to be online and I could really do with some advice on a situation I've found myself in.
I live in a street of 7 houses, and we all get on fairly well. The family in no5 have a 17 year old Irish Wolfhound sort of thing, called Taz. Over the summer he's clearly been deteriorating, and the couple who have him have spoken with me about how he's going downhill and they're really sad etc, as they've had him from a puppy.
On sunday just gone, they all went off to South Wales for christmas to stay with family. I know this because the wife approached me beforehand to have a look at their 2nd car while they were away as the brake pads need replacing. I'm always tinkering with cars and get asked for odd jobs now and again. Anyway off they go. Come Monday morning, I'm staggered to look outside and see their dog staggering around my garden, soaked to the bone in torrential rain. I brought him in and dried him off, gave him some food and water, and went and knocked on their door. They have a teenage son, so at this point I thought he must have stayed home. I got no answer, so went through the front garden and found the door open. I called about, and no signs of life. So at this point I went and knocked on No7, as No6 are also away for xmas. It turns out they've left the dog home alone, and asked the ~13/14 year old daughter (friends with their daughter) to look in twice a day, top his food and water up, and leave the front door open so he can get into the garden.
I was pretty staggered by this, but nonetheless kept my nose out and explained he'd got out etc, and gave him back.
Tuesday morning, I arrive home from picking the wife up to find cars stationery all over the shop around our street corner, because the dog has gotten out again, and is wandering around the road looking for people. How he's managed to get out I literally have no idea as the poor thing can barely stand, his back legs are completely shot, and he's even walking on folded over rear knuckles because he can't even use his feet properly, he can't manage 5 paces without his back end giving way it's horrendous. I had no idea he was as bad as he is.
At this point I took him into my house and went down to No7. Again I explained that the dog had gotten out and was wandering in the road. The girl who was tasked with looking after him was visibly upset that he could have come to harm, and repeated that No5 had asked her just to leave the door open and that she had no idea how he could of gotten out bearing in mind he can barely walk. Bearing in mind his age and obvious health issues anyway, I find it disgusting that they left him in the care of a young girl, she was upset enough that he'd gotten out, god knows how she would have felt if he'd been hit by a car or something, especially at christmas. Obviously her father wasn't overly impressed either. They have 3 dogs of their own that are active, so it's not a possible that they could take him in and look after him, as their dogs would easily knock him over being quite boisterous terriers.
The situation I'm in now is that I've explained to the family at No7 that I'll look after him while No5 are away, as I can't see him left home alone with no company in a freezing house (they've knocked the heating off and the door was open) while they're away. It turns out they're not back until Sunday, so he would have been left for 7 days alone.
So he's at mine now, I got the keys for No5 to go and get him, he doesn't even have a bed, he's been sleeping on a sleeping bag, so I've got him in front of the fire at mine. He's visibly better now that he's warmed through, although he's still utterly tragic on his feet. I personally couldn't let a dog carry on in the state he's in, mentally he's clearly fine, he's excited to see me, loves attention having been left, and is excited to go out, but his body simply isn't up to the task. He can't walk, it's horrific watching him try to go for a pee or get some air, as I'm just waiting for him to fall badly and break something.
My problem is, asides from being completely taken aback that someone could treat a dog in that manner, especially after having him in the family for 17 years, is that I simply don't want to hand him back on Sunday when they come back.
At the moment I feel like I'll have to, I don't think legally that I can just take the dog, nor do I feel that's the right thing to do necessarily, but I'm really uncomfortable about his quality of life, and the living conditions he has. I don't know what the correct next step to take is.
To thicken the plot further, the family in No5 clearly have next to no money, and mentioned in passing that they're moving back to family in south wales by the end of January latest. My feeling here is that they've ran out of money, and they actually mentioned (whether it be joking or not) that they may not give notice and might just do a runner. Having seen the state of the house they clearly are not going to get their bond back (rented property), so I feel that the reason they might not have had him put down is possibly financial. Having had to take the hard choice to have one of our own dogs put down earlier this year, I know the local vet charges circa £300 for a home visit and cremation. I feel it's apparent they don't have this cash.
All in all, it's a horrible situation to be in. I'm looking after the dog until they get back, but then I don't know what to do. The path of least pain for me is simply to hand it back and say nothing, but it's clearly suffering and morally I feel that's the wrong thing to do. What makes it worse is that if I had it out with them and they washed their hands of it (no idea how likely this is), I'd feel that the best thing to do would be to have the dog put to sleep anyway. That raises a huge kettle of fish as obviously I've waded in here and it's been their pet for 17 years, and it's not really my right to do so.
WTF do I do?
I appreciate it may sound like I'm being a busy body and should just keep my nose out, but if there's any doubt I can take a video of this poor dog trying to walk, it's absolutely heart breaking. If it was in good health and had just been left home alone I'd be tempted to just have a quiet word and let it be, but the poor thing is clearly suffering and I feel like I'll be letting that continue if I say nothing.
Disco You said:
It does sound like, sadly, they should have the dog put down. The trouble is that your intervention would serve only to cause poor relations between you and them, so it's best just to leave alone.
P.S. You've done the right thing by looking after him so, sincerely, well done.
Indeed. Thing is I know they're moving, so I'm not actually bothered about poor relations. I feel that I'm in the right and that will do me to be honest, it's not often I'll confront people over something but to my mind, this is disgusting behaviour. Granted I'm a dog owner myself so naturally biased, but so are they. I've asked my neighbour (not no5 lol) to look after my dog before when I've been out for 10 hours to do a track day, I can't comprehend leaving a dog that can barely walk to it's own devices for a week.P.S. You've done the right thing by looking after him so, sincerely, well done.
Also, something I forgot in my initial post, the door to the garden is in front of the stairs, they've left a hoover at the top of stairs, I'm assuming to discourage the dog from attempting to climb up incase it falls. It just serves to show that they're all to aware of it's mobility and the associated risks.
Normally I would say keep your nose out of it, but they appear to be so unresponsible that I would find myself wanting to keep that dog myself, or possibly hand him to the RSPCA. I honestly don't know what I would do, but leaving the house open whilst asking a young child (no matter how responsible and good natured) to look after the dog in such a manner in that condition is out of line.
They find themselves in unfortunate circumstances and perhaps are not thinking clearly, but what would happen if someone stole their stuff? Would they blame the young girl? Do they want something to happen to the dog so they don't have to pay the associated fees?
He looks like a lovely dog , but if he's struggling that much is it fair to keep him alive just because they don't want to lose him?
They find themselves in unfortunate circumstances and perhaps are not thinking clearly, but what would happen if someone stole their stuff? Would they blame the young girl? Do they want something to happen to the dog so they don't have to pay the associated fees?
He looks like a lovely dog , but if he's struggling that much is it fair to keep him alive just because they don't want to lose him?
Well done OP for taking him in. Poor guy. When my last dog was too ill with cancer I had him put to sleep. The welfare of the dog is the most important thing.
I think you should keep him and do what's in his best interests. If that is to have him put to sleep then I'm sure the good folks of PH would help towards the cost. I know I will.
At least the poor guy was dry, warm and given affection etc on Christmas day, not that he would know what day it is.
I think you should keep him and do what's in his best interests. If that is to have him put to sleep then I'm sure the good folks of PH would help towards the cost. I know I will.
At least the poor guy was dry, warm and given affection etc on Christmas day, not that he would know what day it is.
lost in espace said:
From personal experience email the RSPCA. They will have someone around to assess the situation before you know it. Let them handle the situation, and deny all knowledge to the owner. They will allow you to remain anonymous.
I'm tempted by this, but the problem is that the dog wasn't left it my care.I'm already conscious that I've sort of barged in and took over care of the dog from No7, and if the dog dissappeared and I denied knowledge it would leave them in an awful situation, which I'm not willing to do.
Birdster said:
Normally I would say keep your nose out of it, but they appear to be so unresponsible that I would find myself wanting to keep that dog myself, or possibly hand him to the RSPCA. I honestly don't know what I would do, but leaving the house open whilst asking a young child (no matter how responsible and good natured) to look after the dog in such a manner in that condition is out of line.
They find themselves in unfortunate circumstances and perhaps are not thinking clearly, but what would happen if someone stole their stuff? Would they blame the young girl? Do they want something to happen to the dog so they don't have to pay the associated fees?
He looks like a lovely dog , but if he's struggling that much is it fair to keep him alive just because they don't want to lose him?
I'm totally with you. It's not going to help to cast personal views on the family of their behaviour from my behalf. The facts however, are that a family with 2 children living at home, one a young girl, and one a teenage boy, have flat screen tv's in nearly every room, but don't have any basic essentials. For instance, there isn't a sofa or single seater chair in the living room, it's got a sleeping bag for the dog, and a coffee table and 2 chairs. I feel that they're probably at breaking point financially, and while I may or may not sympathise with that depending on my view, I feel that the dog is going to end up the victim, if it hasn't already.They find themselves in unfortunate circumstances and perhaps are not thinking clearly, but what would happen if someone stole their stuff? Would they blame the young girl? Do they want something to happen to the dog so they don't have to pay the associated fees?
He looks like a lovely dog , but if he's struggling that much is it fair to keep him alive just because they don't want to lose him?
jsmjsm said:
+ 1 ring the RSPCA and let them handle it asap.
The only way I can see out of it, with me dealing with it, has more of a knock on effect all round. I'm aware that the family are likely (high likely IMO) to do a runner leaving the property. Currently I honestly don't know if they would leave the dog or not. If you'd asked me beforehand I wouldn't have said so, but I'm amazed they've left it home alone for a week. The only way I can see to intervene, is to approach No7 first, and explain my concerns, and that I don't at all blame the daughter for her best efforts, contrary in fact I think she's done her best and been left in an awful situation. I'm not sure how aware her parents were of it, as No7's daughters father seemed pretty taken aback as to how immobile the dog is. Either way, if I was to take any action, I feel I have to make it clear to No7 that in any event, they can shift any blame to me entirely, as they were left in charge of the dog and I have barged in. I have to consider that they are my future neighbours and I don't want to ruin any relations with them as we get on well currently.
If I was to intervene, I feel I should also contact my landlord. We have a good relationship currently, and being rural, it's a very small world. If they did end up doing a runner, and I'd intervened and took the dog, or any action regarding the dog, I'm pretty sure they'd hear about it, and given the state of the property and they're apparent desire to do a runner, I'd feel (and likely look) pretty poor if I didn't give them a heads up.
Well done chap. Ironically this could end up being the most memorable and enjoyable Xmas for you ever, what a grand old boy Taz looks.
You've done the right thing, don't fret is my advice, look after him this week, enjoy his company and approach them with empathy when they return. You'll soon know if they are mortified about the situation, that they love him etc, then hand him back. If they seem like they don't care, or have a pop at you 'interfering' hold onto Taz, call RSPCA and tell them to do one and take what's coming to them.
With luck it will be the former.
I'd hope that they will hear of the situation from the 14 yr old looking after him, (who I'd suggest is blameless in all this) and maybe contact you to thank you or come back early. I'd not be able to leave my pet in that way, we have two mogs the same age and they do very well for themselves, but they get a trained nurse and her family looking after them on the rare night wer're away! Spoilt........very much so, they always have been truth be told, but have given us 17 years wonderful service so far!
Merry Xmas to you all incl Taz.
You've done the right thing, don't fret is my advice, look after him this week, enjoy his company and approach them with empathy when they return. You'll soon know if they are mortified about the situation, that they love him etc, then hand him back. If they seem like they don't care, or have a pop at you 'interfering' hold onto Taz, call RSPCA and tell them to do one and take what's coming to them.
With luck it will be the former.
I'd hope that they will hear of the situation from the 14 yr old looking after him, (who I'd suggest is blameless in all this) and maybe contact you to thank you or come back early. I'd not be able to leave my pet in that way, we have two mogs the same age and they do very well for themselves, but they get a trained nurse and her family looking after them on the rare night wer're away! Spoilt........very much so, they always have been truth be told, but have given us 17 years wonderful service so far!
Merry Xmas to you all incl Taz.
D4MJT said:
Does anyone know if I can ring the RSPCA anonymously to discuss the situation beforehand and ask their advice?
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