For some time now, I have been concerned about two dogs living with a neighbour. My concern is shared with my other neighbours.
For months now, both dogs have been sleeping outside in a draughty conservatory with a cement floor, with only a thin blanket to lie on. All day, they are outside the conservatory in all weathers, barking and howling.
One of the dogs is emaciated and has green pus in both his eyes.
The other dog is younger and seems in ok condition, but both dogs are very dirty and smelly. Their environment is covered in faeces and absolutely honks.
The woman who owns them has been a difficult neighbour since she arrived - she is verbally abusive, leaves rubbish outside her house and is generally rude and difficult.
For some years, she lived with a man who was violent towards her - I was very worried about her. She may be difficult, but she’s only young. I called the police when I saw him beating her and eventually he left and was put in prison for theft (he’d been in prison several times before).
Worryingly, they have a small child, although I don’t think the father is involved any more.
I don’t think this lady can cope with the dogs. She never walks them (or if she does, it is hardly ever) and they are left alone, sometimes all day and night.
Each dog cost her several thousand pounds each. Her family are very rich. I say this because she is clearly not unable to pay for vet treatment.
I called the RSPCA three times last week and explained the situation.
The local dog warden came yesterday because both dogs had escaped from the house and were roaming the street. The one that has pus filled eyes and is emaciated is a large, mastiff type dog and has attacked a neighbour’s dog. The concern was that he might have attacked a child as he escaped just before the school run.
The dog warden told me that she has had umpteen complaints about this woman and her dogs.
Yesterday, the lady’s pet rabbit was found dead (by my other neighbour) outside the woman’s garden. I am not sure what killed it, but it’s fur was v matted indeed (I saw the body). She has had many pets and most of them have met a bad end by escaping and getting run over :(
Anyway, the RSPCA officer left a message with me today to say that, in her opinion, both dogs were ‘fine’ and ‘receiving ongoing medical treatment’ and the ‘case is closed’.
I know this is not true. The lady is known for lying and told the dog warden a few days ago that she was having the ill dog put to sleep. She did take him to the vet and he was treated for a sore foot. He wasn’t put to sleep.
What else can I do? I can’t stand the idea that these poor dogs are left in a freezing cold yard without adequate shelter over the winter :(