Next door neighbour's dog left alone while she's on holiday.

[DoggyDilemma]

I've lived here for 5 months and this is the second time it's happened. The first time I got other neighbour to ring her and turned out a family member was meant to be looking after dog when they got back from their holiday that evening but their flight had been delayed. He turned up an hour later. The dog had been alone most of the day at this point. The dog is quite anxious anyway and was howling incessantly . So much so that the guy from the house in front (back to back terrace) came round because his baby couldn't sleep due to the noise.

Skip to today. Noticed yesterday that she wasn't around. Have heard the dog howling on and off. Her mum comes once a day, takes him to the green opposite for maximum 3-4 mins then leaves. She appears to be leaving the house with full poo bags as well 😷. Have noticed a friend popping by as well in the evenings and she seems to stay a bit longer but there are stretches of many hours in between these visits and the dog is audibly distressed.

Asked other neighbour and turns out she's gone abroad. I don't know yet how long for.

As a dog owner myself the idea of going on holiday and leaving Ddog in my house is unfathomable.

Am I overreacting and/or being a busybody? I don't want to cause bad feeling as we will most likely be neighbours for a long time and we get on fine at the minute. She knows I'm a sahm with a dog so why not ask me if I'd be willing to help?

I'm out at the minute but planned to get her number from other neighbour when I get home and text her asking if I can do anything to help (other neighbour has a key but she hasn't asked him to help either) as in check on dog/walk him/just spend some time with him. Would that be out of order?

Ultimately my concern is the poor dog. The noise he's making is so so painful to listen to .

Advice really welcome.

[ProfessorCat]

My friend is a pet sitter and this is very common. People leave their dogs and go abroad with an hour a day visit from her for a walk and to clean wee/poo.

My dog enjoys kennels but I'm guessing some are more comfortable at home. It's definitely not enough company time though, poor thing.

[jaseyraex]

I would phone RSPCA to be honest. You can't bugger off and leave a dog to it's own devices for days on end, whether someone is popping in or not. That's not a responsible pet owner especially seeing as it's not the first time.

[mydogisthebest]

That's awful, poor dog.

I don't leave my dog for longer than 4 hours on his own. He goes to a dog sitter or someone comes to my house and sits with him.

When I go on holiday he goes to a dog sitter.

ProfessorCat, I have heard of people asking dog walkers/sitters to pop in while they are on holiday. I think it is totally wrong and if I were a dog sitter/walker I would refuse to do that.

There is no way a dog should be left all that time, the owner should be totally ashamed

[ProfessorCat]

It's very wrong. I can't believe people do it!

[Notreallyarsed]

That’s really cruel. My dog wouldn’t cope at all, she hates being alone for anything more than an hour or so. But then we only got a dog because we knew someone would be around, and if I need to be out all day DP takes her to work in the van and gives her a decent run between jobs.

[Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar]

The kennels we use offer this service. I’m not sure how many visits per day, but it’s certainly very common.
I wouldn’t do it personally but plenty do.

[Hillingdon]

its very kind of you to offer to help as you are concerned about the dog ultimately.

I think people just cannot be bothered and I suspect for cost reasons they aren't using a kennel.

I totally undertstand why you wouldn't want to report to RSPCA. Why don't you see if you can reach out to her re keeping an eye on the dog when she returns.

[Tattybogle89]

Call rspca. Please. Can be anonymous

[DoggyDilemma]

Thanks all.

This thread is a microcosm of what I found online. Some people think it's awful, some people think it's acceptable. I genuinely don't know if I'm overreacting in thinking it's cruel. As I said in my OP, the dog is quite a nervy and anxious one anyway and I just don't believe his needs are being met at this point in time. The howling surely is proof of this?

If I were to ring the RSPCA, what would they actually do?

[DearMrDilkington]

Rspca.

[DoggyDilemma]

That's it Hillingdon - I would happily help if it meant saving the animal any more distress. I really don't want to report her and drive a big wedge between us. It's just getting harder and harder to ignore the cries.

Will be a curtain twitcher this evening and make a note of who visits and for how long. Establish for certain how long he's being left. Will also get her number and have a think about how to proceed.

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

That is so cruel - the poor creature must be terrified and desperately lonely. It will also be forced to defecate and urinate indoors (so is probably confined to a single room with easily cleaned flooring).

The RSPCA in my experience are a load of useless tossers, and are likely to say that if the dog is being visited and fed/watered, there is nothing they can do.

Ring the police.

[LouiseBrooks]

Another vote for RSPCA. This is appalling.

[HoneyBoo269]

I struggle to understand why anyone would think this was acceptable. It's cruel, and there's never an excuse. Please report

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

The police may be able to act because the dog's howling is causing a nuisance, even if they feel it is having its basic needs met.

Your neighbour is an absolute cowbag!

[toolonglurking]

I'm stunned anyone would go abroad and leave their dog, that's fucking awful!
They shouldn't be allowed to own one of they treat it so poorly, it's heartbreaking.
If I were in your position I'd call the RSPCA, I hope they do something.

[mogulfield]

That’s unacceptable- whenever we go away we leave our 2 labradors with relatives who are there most of the day to look after them. A few minutes a day here and there is abuse.

[HoneyBoo269]

I understand why you're hesitant to escalate it further, but I would not be able to leave a dog in distress.

Why don't you message her & say you've noticed she's left the country & her dog is getting minimal visits, would she like you to provide the dog with extra company/walks? If she says no, say unfortunately I feel I may have to take this further then, as I cannot bear to hear your dog in distress. It might prompt her to get more substantial care

Bit more understanding then I'd be in the same circumstances, but it's better than doing nothing at all

[Toomanypackingboxes]

I doubt the RSPCA will be able to do anything as what you have described is people visiting several times a day to feed and check on the dog. The council's environment department to look at noise issues may work better.

We have a dog walker visit our house when we go away but she takes dog out for a long walk and visits three times a day. The dog and cat are much happier when we return than they ever were in kennels, but I work three days a week so the dog knows the dog walker well and also is used to being by himself for stretches of time.

[Dingdongdigeridoo]

In my experience RSPCA are utterly useless. I’d be more inclined to constantly report the noise. If she’s a tenant, the landlord or council might put pressure on her to rehome the poor dog if they get enough complaints.

[RatherBeCrazy]

I personally wouldn’t ask, as you’re offering up your services every time she goes away. I appreciate you’re thinking of the dog though. I’d call rspca or police. How selfish. Surely everyone knows what a responsibility a dog is. What if there was a fire?

[Fudgefase]

Dogs really identify with their social group and when they are left alone like this, they feel very abandoned and frightened (as well as sad). So yes, if you possibly can, help the poor beast. If you can take him in, do so. Your neighbours are not leaving him adequate provision even though they've obviously asked people to help. He doesn't deserve this. Help him.

[JaneEyre70]

I'd ring the RSPCA regardless, and I'd also ring EH at your local council to report the noise. Some people really shouldn't own pets, it's a disgusting thing to do. And perhaps leave a note on the door, for whoever is letting the dog out that it is incredibly distressed when left? It's cruel. Our neighbours opposite both work full time and their dog howls all afternoon. They've left it from 7am to 11pm before now, and it makes me feel physically sick to hear it distressed. I've offered time and time again to let it out, reported it but they said as dog was looked after, there was nothing they could do

[Daisymay2]

Trouble is if you contact her,and she doesn't want your help, and then you report it ( or someone else does) there is going to be a rift between you. Chances is the chap over the back may report the noise as well.
I think I would report as an environmetal health noise issue . I think you can do that anonymously.
I had a similar problem with a neighbour who left her dog outside penned up, we could not go outside when she was out as the dog just barked non stop. She was so defensive when I mentioned it, it got very difficult.

[diddl]

I'd want to help, but would be worried about keep getting roped in in the future.