Neighbours reported us to the RSPCA

[olebiscuitbarrel]

Here's a photo of my dog taken this morning after the man from the RSPCA had been (this is probably going to out me, hence name change)

He turned up at 9am, having had a report that our dog is always in the garden for long periods of time, he was left out in the rain and is looking 'thin with matted fur'.

After spending a couple of minutes cuddling the dog and chatting, he went away perfectly satisfied having noted that the dog was in very good condition.

The dog really loves being in our garden. He asks to go outside all the time, because it's big, there's lots for him to sniff, explore and chew and his favourite spot is lying outside the patio door, both guarding and sunbathing. He also being a retriever, loves the rain, and there are plenty of places he could shelter if he wanted to, but when I tried to call him in yesterday, he wasn't having it. He wanted to run about 'catching' it.

We back onto a field where people like to exercise their dogs so when he sees them, he sometimes woofs but always call him and then the woofing stops (it never lasts more than about a minute). We never leave him outside for long periods of time and never when we go out.

It can only be one set of neighbours who reported us, because we only have neighbours on one side, who would have been able to see the dog outside in the rain yesterday. They had previously threatened to report us a few months ago, when he found a weakness in the fence and escaped into their garden, we apologised, made good the damage and had the fence professionally mended and reinforced so that he couldn't get out again. I don't think they like dogs because after we moved in, we had the police round saying that they had reported that we had not been cleaning up after him fouling in the street (another untrue accusation, I always carry poop bags, I've had dogs for years and always been responsible).

I can understand that maybe they get irritated when he barks (although its never for more than about a minute as we stop him and never at unsociable hours) but I am really cross at the 'extremely thin with matted fur' embellishment. AIBU and should I go and say something? (Sorry for long post, don't want to drip feed)

[ColourfulOrangex]

Ohhh he's so cute I don't even like dogs really but look at him

I'm not sure they would pay any attention if they went to the RSPCA before coming to you OP

[KinkyAfro]

Poor malnourished sad looking dog you have there. Ignore them, some people are just dicks.

Gorgeous dog btw

[TheGoodEnoughWife]

That is such a WTF? face!
Lovely dog, silly neighbours. Ignore!

[CryingShame]

No because you can't prove it was them, it may have been someone from the exercising field who saw your dog wet and put two and two together to get five.

You do need to do something about the barking though. How many "one minute" barking sessions happen in a usual day?

[Holz657]

Gorgeous dog!!

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

Aww, yes, he looks unhappy and unloved doesn't he?

Ignore, ignore, ignore. They have reported you to the RSPCA, who have seen for themselves that your dog is healthy & happy.

There is nothing more they can do.

[mando12345]

Definitely ill treated, send him straight to me

[Garnethair]

He looks great OP, but your post does prove that the RSPCA have responded to a report and do sometimes turn up, which is good.

[Hoppinggreen]

He's a Golden Retriever, of course he likes to sit out in the rain!!
Mine is happiest when soaking wet ( mostly so he can come in and make everything smell of wet dog I suspect)
Try not to worry about it, it's nasty but you've got nothing to hide

[Spam88]

Gorgeous doggy!

To be fair, when wet most dogs look underweight and matted? Or maybe just mine

[olebiscuitbarrel]

cryingshame he doesn't bark every day. He tends to have a quick howling woof at nighttime if he spots a fox or badger or something. He's not really a barking model and shuts up as soon as he's told to.

Is there a way to stop a dog from barking?

[WankingMonkey]

Our neighbour reported us 3 times. Her problem was that she was scared her dog and ours might fight So she wanted us to get rid of ours and we refused. So she reported us.

Woman came, there was a kennel outside plus a bowl of water, though he had his food inside. Apparently the report was that he was outside 24/7...and the woman said even if he was outside most of the time it was fine as he had a cosy kennel and access to clean water and such.

Neighbour then took to throwing shit into our garden and reporting to the council that we never cleans it up. Fucking loon...

[user1473069303]

Shame on them for wasting the RSPCA's time which could have been spent on an animal in genuine need.

He's beautiful!

[RatherBeRiding]

Dogs bark. Birds tweet. The wind makes a noise in the trees.

Unless he is barking incessantly for long periods then ignore people complaining. A few quick barks from time to time is immaterial.

Some people expect dogs to be seen and not heard. And preferably not seen either.

[Aeroflotgirl]

Awwww soooooo cute, and sooooo unloved

[TheHodgeoftheHedge]

Some people really are just arseholes aren't they? He's a gorgeous big floof! I miss my goldens.

[ShotsFired]

@olebiscuitbarrel Is there a way to stop a dog from barking?

You could teach him to do this instead?

My friend's dogs pick up a pillow every time someone enters the house

[1stDinkyDecker]

Same thing happened to us years ago. When the RSPCA Inspector turned up, DH was 'fighting' with the dog, a lab, who was obviously loving every minute. The Inspector was watching through the glass door before ringing the bell. He had to come in and see for himself, but left convinced someone was being vindictive.

Our guess was some neighbours who live around the corner. There garden is 90 degrees to ours. They had two little yappy dogs that never bloody shut up. If we were out in the garden with our dog we used to tell him to 'see them off' which made him bark. Then we'd tell him that was enough and he'd stop. He hardly ever barked at anything

[Evilstepmum01]

Aww, lovely big goldie! Sounds like it was your neighbour bit I wouldn't say anything to them. Laugh it off, don't let petty twats like that get to you!
As for the barking, do nothing. He's a dog. They bark.
If he was constantly barking, then it's a problem. He's not so let them waste the councils time.
Our idiot howls and yips and barks but we never had any complaints as like you we stop it before it becomes a problem.
Be super duper nice to neighbour's next time you see them. You don't know it was them but if it was, that'll annoy them! 😀

[LittleBooInABox]

We had similar with our cat, the neighbours reported me because she went out and didn't come home for two days. When she did come home I was at work so she sat outside our door for a maximum of 2-3 hours.

Some people have nothing better to do!

[Hoppinggreen]

Here's my poor abused dog " shut out" in the hail ( while we tried to persuade him to come in)

[PrimalLass]

He looks beautiful.

But a minute of barking would annoy me too.

[Maggy74653]

I have a Labrador and she also LOVES to be outside. Your neighbours are being ridiculous and more annoyingly wasting the RSPCAs time. They clearly just have an issue with your dog. I hope the RSPCA send them a bill.

[DJBaggySmalls]

What will happen is that the inspector will make a note of a malicious complaint. You dont have anything to worry about. They know retrievers like to be outdoors, they know many working dogs like to get wet and muddy, and they know what a healthy dog looks like.

[PersianCatLady]

I am so angry for you right now.

Your retriever looks great and is obviously well cared for.

I can't get the RSPCA to come out and investigate two dogs which are being left outside all day and all night, come rain or shine.