I reported someone

[outthebag]

I reported my neighbour for animal neglect and I don’t know whether to confess or keep my mouth shut.

Should I play dumb and say I didn’t mean to get them in trouble, I just didn’t know who else to call and the animal seemed distressed? Or keep quiet? It’s a communal close, but I’m worried he’ll know it was me, even though they said they keep it confidential. He will wonder how they knew what door to to put the card through, and I don’t know that many others in he building could pinpoint him as the owner, though a few of us have been chatting and some could.

I know I did the right thing, but I wish I had just asked them to check the animal, and not opened my mouth with specifics

I don’t need him as an enemy.

[Aquamarine1029]

Keep your mouth shut and throw away the key. Let the authorities handle it from here.

[doodlejump1980]

You don’t need him as an enemy, but that animal needed you as its friend.

[Aprilmightbemynewname]

I reported my BFF a few years ago to Dogs Trust.
Never told a soul.
Until now!
Keep shtum.

[outthebag]

If he comes asking, do I say I got a card and binned it? I’d have to phone the person dealing with it and ask her to describe the card she uses and tell her that’s what I’m asking.

I know this sounds ridiculous but he will likely eventually wonder how she knew it was his flat and not mine if you know what I mean?

[outthebag]

Or say I saw them when they were here and just said “yeah, that’s where it lives”??

[outthebag]

I feel like such a coward now.

[angryburd]

Just act stupid and say you don't know anything :S

[Bubbles121]

As previous poster said - that animal needed you as a friend. You did the right thing - did they convict him?

[Gunpowder]

Just don’t say anything. You did the right thing.

[outthebag]

They’re not finished checking it out yet. He doesn’t know about this yet.

[Wellthisunexpected]

Just say you've no idea. Play totally dumb.

[shiklah]

say nothing and deny is asked - seriously!

[UpstartCrow]

Stop worrying about it. They wont tell him anything about the specifics of the report, including who made it.

He neglected a live animal so severely, you felt you needed to report him. He is in the wrong. and if he starts to harass his neighbours about who reported him, you report him to the police for doing that.

[rainbowdashflip]

If he comes asking, do I say I got a card and binned it? I’d have to phone the person dealing with it and ask her to describe the card she uses and tell her that’s what I’m asking.

You are overthinking.

If he asks just say you don't know what he is on about.

[KittenBeast]

Don't stress. What's he going to do if he finds out it was you?

[NC4Now]

No, don’t come up with a story. Just say you don’t know.

[NCPuffin]

Don't bring it up! It's understandable you feel guilty, but as someone else said upthread, that animal needed you. FWIW, we considered reporting our next door neighbours but didn't (not sure why not in retrospect, I think we were worried about repercussions, esp. as we have a cat that goes out). Turns out that other people had concerns too, so it's by no means a given they will know it was you. You did the right thing. Our neighbours' dog had to PTS a few weeks ago. It probably had nothing to do with the reason we wanted to report (animal being shut in garden, never being walked, garden full of excrement), but the way they went about its final hours just showed me they were not deserving of a pet. Your really did the right thing, just play stupid and change the subject!

[outthebag]

I’ve no idea what he’d do. I barely know him. But people who neglect animals are hardly upstanding members of the community.

Someone else was going to report it the other day. I wish I’d let her. She only knew which house because I told her and she doesn’t actually live here. If I’d let her go, she’d have made the call without being able to say which flat specifically.

[Jackyjill6]

Try not to worry OP. Someone reported my neighbour. The authorities never say who it was. I'm pretty sure the neighbour thinks it was me, but it could have been several people. The way I look at it, the animal owners are in the wrong, and the community did the right thing.

[vinoandbrie]

Keep quiet

[tangfantastics]

Just curious what the animals condition was for you to report it OP

[MyUsername200]

I wouldn't openly admit anything although the man in question may end up guessing. A friend of mine had the RSPCA called on her (completely false allegations and the authorities seemed happy after a visit) and the inspector couldn't tell her who had called but dropped a couple clues and she ended up working out who it was. I agree with the other posters who say - don't worry. You did what was right for the animal and that's the main thing.

[outthebag]

Fine, but only because a few of us have been feeding it.

[Want2beme]

I reported a friends neighbour for constantly leaving her little dog out in the freezing cold all day long. I couldn't bear seeing the poor little thing out there and friends said they'd report it but never did. I knocked on the owners door to warn her I'd be reporting her, but their was no answer. When I spoke to rescue, they told me not to say a word to anyone about reporting her as it could lead to all sorts of unpleasantness.

Plead ignorance if he comes knocking. It's really good that you reported it.

[Aquamarine1029]

You are really really REALLY getting too worked up about this. If he asks, just lie. Who cares what he thinks anyway?