Abandoned dog...advice please :(

[ohbigdaddio]

Our horrendous, criminals-on-the-run next door neighbours moved out yesterday and left their dog in the back garden. It lives outside the whole time and they never interacted with it or took it for a walk. I've no idea if they are coming back to get it but the dog has been alone and unfed/watered for 24 hours now. (Who moves out and leaves their dog??)

It's a small westie type dog, looks healthy (but bet it's never been to the vet) and is used to living outside so the RSPCA won't come out to get it I presume.

Sorry if I sound stupid but what would you do? Wait to see if they come back for the dog (I can see belongings still in their house)? Or just find some way of helping it?

There is a 6ft brick wall between our garden and theirs, I'd love to climb over and 'rescue' the dog but not sure how to do that as there is a soil border on our side so a ladder will not be stable/safe! Tried with a step ladder and it sank.

I have 2 cats so we can't really take the dog in (though I would love to!) and we have no car to take it anywhere. The local rescue centre is for cats only!

Any ideas as I'm not coming up with any great ones!

[MrsJoshDun]

Rspca. Say it has no water or food.

[MrsJoshDun]

They will come if its abandoned

[MrsJoshDun]

You could put wood or similar under the stepladder to stop it sinking

[Keeshy]

They will definitely come out if you say it's been abandoned and has no food or water.

Definitely try wood under the step ladder.

Could you throw some food over the wall for the dog? Just a few slices of ham or something?

Poor pup

Don't worry, OP, someone will take this dog in and love it and spoil it.

You phoning the RSPCA and stressing that they need to come out immediately is the sad beginning to a story which will eventually have a happy ending.

[ohbigdaddio]

Didn't realise the RSPCA would come out so will try them. The issue is the 6FT wall, need to try the wood method, I presume we would need to bring the dog into our garden before the RSPCA would take it? Can't imagine them leaping over the wall...or is that within their remit?

She's a sweet little dog and they were a god awful family. I really want her to have a happy ending.

[ohbigdaddio]

I threw some food over! She ate it straight away :( Poor thing.

[S0upertrooper]

Can you lower a bucket of water over the wall?

[LaurieFairyCake]

Fucking arseholes. Any chance you’re in/near London? I would come and get it if the rspca wouldn’t tonight. I love Westies, I have a Scottie.

[Keeshy]

Throw more over, OP

I'm wondering if there's any way to get water over there. Is the surface the other side solid? Or is it grass/soil? If it's solid, you could empty a couple of 2l bottles of water in the same spot and it might make a puddle that the pup can drink from?

The only other thing I can think of is a plastic tupperware box filled with water, sealed very tightly with a hole in the side so the water will dribble out?

Or, ice cubes if you have any?

RSPCA don't have the authority to enter properties without permission so may need to bring the police with them. Is the house rented? Do you know the landlord's or letting agent's details at all? They might be able to give the RSPCA permission to enter the property so would speed things up.

I would also recommend you throw an old blanket over for the dog to lie down on. If the RSPCA can't get access until later tonight or tomorrow, it's important the the dog's as warm and comfortable as it can be.

[Keeshy]

Yes, lowering some water is a good idea but presumably you'd need to be up the ladder to do this?

Make sure the container with the water in isn't too high though- you want the dog to be able to get at the water. If that makes sense.

[InBlackwaterWoods]

Poor wee soul, good of you to help her OP. so many people dont want to get involved.
Hope RSPCA are helpful. As PP said, if she's no food water or shelter, they can seize her after 24 hours if they can prove she's not been fed or attended to.
good luck, hope wee dog ok

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

It would be a great shame if their fence was to blow down and the dog was to escape into the arms of a local rescue group I bet it's not microchipped, or if it is the details are out of date. One of PestDog's previous owners abandoned him when she moved out, and naturally he wasn't microchipped to her at all.

If you can tell us which county you're in we can probably identify a local rescue who deal with strays. Many of them are operated based on networks of foster carers, so there's no physical rescue centre (e.g. my local one is All Dogs Matter)

However, if there are still belongings there are you sure they're not coming back?

You could also speak to the dog warden for advice - they may be able to intervene and if they can't they'll know who can

[RandomMess]

Is any of the garden boundary not 6' wall?

[ohbigdaddio]

Thanks all, can't attempt rescue until tonight when DH gets home. Will keep you updated. Just thrown more food in and have spied that the dog has got drinking water so that's one good thing.

[ohbigdaddio]

Whole wall is 6ft high RandomMess, no access from bottom of garden (fence there is about 7ft).

They could come back avocados, yes. But not sure as they are very dodgy and one is on the run.

LaurieFairyCake I am in London so will get in touch if the RSPCA are no hope.

[tabulahrasa]

The RSPCA won’t come out for a dog being kept outside... but they will for a dog that’s been left abandoned - you just need to phone and tell them that they’ve moved out and abandoned the dog... and yes they can gain entry under those circumstances.

[RandomMess]

I meant from the bottom of their garden or other side - could you approach neighbours to retrieve dog via their gardens?

Wonder if you could lower a bucket of water over the fence so it can drink?

[juneau]

Call the RSPCA and let them worry about rescuing it. If you go over there you could get stuck, or the nasty neighbours could come back, or the dog could bite you. Westies can be snappy little bastards (we had one), at the best of times and you're going to have to pick it up and then hold it with one arm while you climb up a ladder and over a 6ft fence. That doesn't sound safe or sensible to me. Let the RSPCA do their job and stay on your side of the fence.

[retirednow]

Would it jump into the bucket to be rescued or be able to dig itself out under the fence at the bottom

[Keeshy]

Would it jump into the bucket to be rescued or be able to dig itself out under the fence at the bottom



Sorry, but that made me laugh. I just pictured the scene with the Lassie music in the background and the OP managing to get this dog in a bucket over the fence without a hitch. If only...

OP, what did the RSPCA say?

So glad the dog's got drinking water. I'm afraid I'd definitely just empty the whole of tonight's tea over the fence. Good excuse for a takeaway

[LaurieFairyCake]

How’s he doing? It’s chilly out now

[ohbigdaddio]

There's no access into the garden - 6ft walls and fences all round RandomMess 😕 I would do that in a second if there was access.

We called RSPCA and they were concerned and are passing it onto our local branch. Waiting for a call back today.

She does have a little container to go in (very small, like a cat carrier) so she can shelter from the rain. Will throw some dog biscuits over this morning as she hasn't eaten since Tuesday and god knows what time she ate then. I'm outraged that people could do this to an innocent creature, it's disgusting.

Will keep you updated! Thanks for your help. Just want her to have a happy future.

[ohbigdaddio]

keeshy the lassie scenario made me laugh too!

[retirednow]

sorry if I sounded stupid, hope the poor thing gets rescued soon.

[ohbigdaddio]

retirednow Sorry, I wasn't making fun of you and you didn't sound stupid, it was the Lassie music comment that keeshy made that made me chuckle.