to expect my neighbour not to leave her dog alone in the house when she goes on holiday

[Solola]

This is the 3rd time she has done it.

Neighbour's sister lives 5 doors down and comes round to feed and walk the poor dog but the rest of time it is left alone in the house. It barks and howls all night long. It is obviously pining for them and the walls between our houses are so thin it is like having the dog in next room.

1st time she did it we spoke to neighbour after she came back and explained how disruptive it was and how upset her dog had been.

2nd time she did it we spoke to the sister straight away who said that no kennels will take the dog as it howls all night. So we told the sister that if the dog howled in the night again, we would come and knock on her door no matter what the time. DH did follow through on this at 11pm one night and she grudgingly took it to her house but sister was unhappy as then she was disturbed. We had a word with the neighbour when she came back from hols and she was apologetic.

Then that dog died so for a few years it was ok. They got a new dog but hadn't left it until last night.

Last evening lots of noise up and down stairs from neighbours, that was probably them leaving for holiday. 2am the barking and howling started and didn't stop for an hour. I can't believe she has gone and left the dog again.

It is so cruel to the dog and unfair on everyone else on the street. The neighbour across the street could hear the dog too it was so loud. Only just started getting a full nights sleep myself as baby sleeping better so sleep is precious.

Can you contact the RSPCA and explain that the neighbour has history of doing this? I doubt they'd take the dog away if the sister is around to feed it, but they may have words when she gets back and it may scare her enough to make proper plans in future?

I would phone the rspca

Well, we leave our very elderly dog at home when we go on holiday (there's no other option because of her age and various issues), my MIL lives very close by and walks her at least three times a day, in between times she sleeps or goes to MIL house for visits.

However, she doesn't howl, rarely barks (deaf), and I wouldn't leave her if she did, especially if she did it at night.

It sounds like this is a younger dog though, who could go to kennels.

I am a dog mad sort of person so can't really imagine leaving a dog alone while I go on holiday, it is really irresponsible and unkind. Tea that is a bit different if your MIL really can go over that often though.

If the dog has a howling/barking problem maybe you could suggest a "bark collar". My dog (who used to bark ALOT when people passed, knocked at the door etc) often wears one in the house. When she barks even once it emits a small spray of citronella which is unpleasant to the dog but not harmful. It literally cured her noisemaking instantly!

My neighbours did this. I called the dog warden and they removed the dog.

Call environmental health and the dog warden.

Ok am going to take action on this by calling someone.

Do you mean the RSPCA dog warden Paran0id? Or did you call the council?

I think I will wait until the sister comes round next and find out how long they are on holiday, and let her know that unless something changes (i.e she takes the dog back to her house) then that is what I am going to be doing.

i'm abroad so no idea who yours would be, sorry.

This new dog not much more than a puppy.

Just called RSPCA to get some general advice and they said that because the dog's physical well being isn't in danger as someone visiting daily, they can't do anything. So they have given me the phone number for local environmental health.

I like to try keep things sweet with the neighbours, as although they are quite a roughish family and not liked on our road, they have always been friendly and no problem to us and I'd like to keep it like that. I honestly can't believe they have done it again after we spoke to them and made it really clear what a problem it was last time.

I think there are different issues here

1; the dog being left but check on lots
2; the dog barks/howls

number 1 is not really an issue if someone is going in and walking it, feeding it, fussing it etc not too much difference from someone being at work all day

number 2 is what the problem is the dog needs to be taught? that it doe snot bark/howl the second someone leave the house or all night

TBH our dog probably gets more attention when we're on holiday than she does when we're at home, MIL takes dog sitting very seriously.

If we got a puppy (which we won't), it would be going to kennels.

If they've left the dog during the day before I haven't noticed, but there is normally someone in their house most of the time. I suppose they haven't taught the dog to get used to being alone in the house as it is not an issue that affects them when they are not there.

RSPCA will probably not be interested as the dog has adequate food, water and shelter and is being exercised.

The best was to deal with this is contact your local council Environmental Health department either during working hours OR there is an emergancy line for ooh if the noise gets too much. From what you have posted it sound like it might be a noise nuisance which can be dealt with under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 where it could be considered to be "prejudical to health" iirc (was an EH dog warden a long time ago!)

In the mean time I would keep a diary so that you have some idea of when the dog howls, how long it goes on for and how it is disturbing you and your family - this will show the EH officer a good snap shot of the problem.

Do they own their house or rent? The other line of inquiry could be to their landlord if renting - I know in the area I worked in the HA took noise complaints very seriously. hth

Could you tell the sister & ask her to keep the dog overnight at hers?

We leave our dog at home when we go away. We have a complicated rota of dog walkers and feeders 3-4 times per day and he is fine. It is really like a big kennel that he is famiar with. More space and more walks than if he was in kennels too.

Thanks everyone for your comments. Especially whojamaflip, the ex dog warden. Very helpful advice.

Update is that when DH came home from work tonight he saw someone in the house and knocked on the door. Turns out the 17 year old son has not gone on the holiday but was out all night last night. He is a sweet young guy though and did say sorry for all the noise last night so hopefully won't happen again this time.