....to feed next-door's dog?

[PlumpingThePartTimeMother]

Poor creature has been whining more than usual for 24 hours now and there's no sign of people being home. We don't really know them except to occasionally say hello in the street - a woman and her adult son live there, woman is a nurse and sometimes works away, don't know what son does.

The dog lives in the garden (in a kennel) and gets no fuss or walks ever. I WFH twice a week and am usually here at weekends, plus I was a SAHM before that and never saw any contact.

I've called the local police/RSPCA and they both say there's nothing they can do right now - if the dog is housed and not visibly starving then it's 'fine'

Will I be in any legal trouble if I lower a bowl of food over the fence for him?

I may already have done this.

I'd be more worried he has no water, are you able to check?

Yes bring him some water too and YANBU in my opinion.

I would certainly feed it and send water over too!

The poor pooch must be dehydrated if its whining too.

Poor thing. Of course yanbu. Good point about water.

I've given him 1.5 tins of food and left a bowl of water for him. I drilled holes in a plastic bowl, tied a long piece of string to it and lowered it over the fence.

He looked so miserable sitting at their back door

Oh, he's crying again now. Is there anything else we can do?

Fucking neighbours - I have a theory that the son went off the day after a party (ee overheard this) and forgot to feed him.

If he's fed and watered (well done!) he'll be crying because he's bored and lonely Short of kidnapping him (so very tempting) there isn't a lot you can do. Did you explain to the RSPCA that he appears to have been abandoned/left without food or water for over 24 hours?

If you call the RSPCA again do not, whatever you do, admit that you have fed or watered him. If an animals is fed or watered by anyone then they will refuse to attend it. I learnt this after leaving a small bowl of food out for some dumped kittens thinking it would keep them in one place whilst I phoned for help. They also refused to come get the horse that was, due to a very long rope, able to walk in to the middle of the street running in to our village because someone had left a bucket of water for it.

What a sad situation.

Gosh it would be terrible if the dog somehow got loose or was taken while no one was home wouldn't it

Thanks both. Unfortunately I can't kidnap him (DH has a seething hatred of dogs that he won't quite admit to) and anyway we have cats and 2 preschoolers to consider.

I might call the RSPCA again tomorrow and tell them he's being neglected. No need to mention my involvement but will definitely feed him again in the morning.

Poor thing - it must be so lonely ??

I am highly impressed with your drilling holes and string set up. I fancy you'd be handy in a crisis, love.

Loving you, Plumping, and very sad for the dog.

FLAME those irresponsible owners!

My dog is OUTRAGED (well, asleep on her fluffy cushion, but I feel her pain!)

Poor dog, that makes me so sad and angry. Dogs are social animals, they need to be with their people

Oh god. :(

My DH did this to our dog; it's one of the reasons I know he was having an affair; my neighbour text me to say my dog had been in the garden howling all night when I was away.

Possibly not applicable but can you text them if you have their number to say, all innocent like, that the dog is locked out?

Well, I've had a busy day so DH fed the dog this morning (bless him). The neighbour is back now (judged from the car) and hopefully is paying his pet some bloody attention. I've stocked up on pedigree chum for future emergencies though

Plumping... You are a lovely person , its folk like you that make this world a better place to live in, compassion seems sadly lacking nowadays

That's horrible. I don't understand why people get pets if they're not going to look after them properly

How lovely of you Plumping, poor dog

I haven't seen or heard the dog since the neighbour came back. I'm really tempted to go over and ask after him! I can but hope that he's either started allowing him indoors or that he's given the poor creature away to a potentially better home.