to be annoyed about this situation with neighbour and her dog?

That’s such a bad dog ownership. She wouldn’t forget her children in this situation and just leave them with neighbours so it’s unacceptable that she’s going that

I would try and ring her phone from a number she doesnt recognise.
I agree with your plan to drop the dog at vets.
I know she's grieving but she is being incredibly selfish and its completely unfair to you.

If I were you, I'd just go to the vets now..she's known your deadline for ages and there's a real risk you get pushed from pillar to post if the vets refuse to take him. So the earlier you start, hopefully the quicker you get a solution and can switch into holiday mode.

How many dogs do you have? Not desperately relevant but I know it could be 2 but I'm picturing like 7 dachshunds

Poor dog as well, such upheaval for it and I can imagine being taken to the vets will be frightening for it.

The neighbour has to make contact first or they're landed with the dog indefinitely.
Otherwise, this would be the least stressful solution.

Is anyone else invested in this now? I don't mean to make a soap opera of your dilemma OP...I think this is horrendous...but I do want to know how this pans out.

Talk about no good deed going unpunished.

Don't make kennel payments. You have been very clear you're unable to care for the dog beyond today so why should you foot the bill? You'll never get it back plus she could stay up there for weeks!

As others have said, dog warden is probably your best bet. And I'd said one final clear message telling her that's what you're going to do and you can't predict the outcome if she doesn't contact them in a reasonable time to reclaim him.

Could you book the dog in the kennels for Friday night and pay (assuming it’s £15-20 ) leaving all contact details of neighbour and then leave her to sort it out. Obviously message her and tell her where the dog is.

No good deed goes unpunished! Awful situation for your neighbour but totally unfair to just abandon their dog and expect you to deal with it. My initial thought was kennels but not if you have to pay upfront, you’ll never see that money again. What an irresponsible dog owner she is, and after you’ve done her a favour too.

Wow. I get this is hard for her but she's really left you in the lurch.
not stress you need before your holiday!

I have a feeling she wouldn't pay you back so unfortunately rspca. You have given her multiple chances to sort it even calling the kennels for her!

Put it in her garden and send her a photo of it and report as a stray she is taking the pi$$
slss as I the family member who said she’s too upset to sort it out is a joke someone surely out of the family could take charge I really feel for you op you were only trying to help get abd this is the thanks you get

And if you're in Sussex, I will!

The whippet I've been looking after for two weeks is going home today, and I'll miss her.

What an awful predicament your neighbour has put you in.
Do what have to do and then go and enjoy your holiday x

Could your parents have the extra dog? Just till she gets down to collect?

Why is everyone suggesting vets? The vets is for illness, vaccinations etc. It's not an abandoned dog drop off point!

PP is correct that boarding kennels need the vaccination book, and all vaccinations need to be up to date. (not all owners do this and the kennels won't take the dog if not)

I wonder if she was looking to offload the dog anyway, and this is a good excuse. Even with the death of a family member I would never offload my dogs, ignore phone calls etc like this. I would lean on my dogs for comfort, in fact.

Contact the RSPCA or report it as stray - https://www.gov.uk/report-stray-dog

Good luck and I hope the dog is OK, above all. Your neighbour is very cruel and I hope the dog finds another, loving home.

She can in a literal sense but I think there is much more risk of the owner never getting the dog back or it being mistreated with an internet stranger. Plus there is the admin of arranging it. I agree she doesn’t have responsibility but someone with a professional duty towards dogs is better I think. Even if she just drops the dog off and runs away

I honestly can't imagine not thinking of my dog, even in these circumstances. You just pull yourself together and do it. The dog depends on you. This is awful.

The OP is being far from harsh.

The vets most likely won't take it if it's being looked after. They're more likely to reluctantly take it in if they think it's been found.

It’s a sad situation but not your responsibility. Our kennels do payment on collection so I’d drop there and give her contact details to them. But if that’s not an option I guess you would have to drop at a rescue or vets.

Dreadful situation OP, but please don't just leave the dog in the neighbours garden or house (if you have the key). That would be cruel. The dog cannot be left to fend for itself.
The dog warden may be your best chance.

I think OP is right - Vets is straightforward option or Kennels if owner provides payment details. Also agree that phoning may be better - either to owner or protective relative. Say you need an answer by 1pm maybe.
It is a simple binary choice for the owner - so completely reasonable (and much more reasonable than they have been).
I understand people are suggesting Cinnamon Trust - but OPis going on holiday this evening and will have too much to do to try and sort that. OP could suggest Cinnamon Trust to the owner for them to explore as an option.