if I report my neighbour, will he lose his dogs?

[Drowsybutawake]

Background - we live in a smallish 2 bed semi, small garden, two doors down has three large dogs (Alsatian, full size poodle, one other I don't know). They do definitely get taken for walks but the space is too small imo. Owner is a bit antisocial, nothing serious though. Things like parking in a selfish way and being defensive/rude when asked to sort it. Not someone who cares what we think!

The other day the owner went off somewhere, and his friend lost control of the dogs. One ran off and the other two ran around in the road. When we came up the dogs approached my MIL and 18mo DS, growling and barking. It was quite scary. Friend of owner stood in front garden saying they weren't her dogs so she couldn't be expected to get them inside. When a car came and almost hit them the driver got out and helped shoo them in. They didn't snap at or bite anyone.

This isn't the first time the owner has lost control of the dogs, another time they followed DH home and were quite aggressive.

I'm probably being PFB but I really didn't like seeing my baby getting barked at by dogs twice his size! I said this to the friend at the time but I know the owner won't care. Should I tell him that if it happens again I'll report him?

I really only want him told to sort himself out and for the dogs to be under control, I'd feel terrible if he lost them.

[Greyhorses]

I very much doubt they will do anything bar speak to the man and ask him to make sure it does not happen again.

The law states that dogs can be reported if they make people concerned or worried, however in reality ive not heard of one case of this being enforced and I think it would take a lot more than a bark for the dogs to be removed from him.

He should really be keeping them more secure though!

[Drowsybutawake]

Thanks Grey, I thought so, my only worry is that if I draw attention to the lack of space they have.... But I guess 3 big dogs in a 2 bed house with a smallish garden isn't the worst they'll have seen, right?

[tabulahrasa]

They won't care about space unless they're having to keep the dogs so confined that it would be negligent or cruel.

[northernshepherdess]

I worked with dogs...farm dogs mostly but also rescues.
New legislation says that any dog felt to be acting aggressively, can recieve a destruction order.
Agressive is not fully defined but includes jumping up. What it comes to is that someone's chihuahua can jump up playfully at you, you can report it if it made you feel threatened and a legal case can be raised for destruction.
Rescues are now placing huge efforts into training including getting people to commit to training classes upon adoption in order to reduce the chance of this happening needlessly.
As to space being too small, I reported someone keeping a dog in a car but as the area inside the car was larger than a kennel it was not deemed too small for dog accommodation. Unless it got hot, and the dog was distressed, there was nothing the could do.

[Donki]

As there was no biting you could ask the police if they would be willing to use a Community Resolution Order.
That way the owners don't get a criminal record and the dogs won't be removed, but they are on record if there are further problems.