Neighbours reported us to the RSPCA

[olebiscuitbarrel]

Here's a photo of my dog taken this morning after the man from the RSPCA had been (this is probably going to out me, hence name change)

He turned up at 9am, having had a report that our dog is always in the garden for long periods of time, he was left out in the rain and is looking 'thin with matted fur'.

After spending a couple of minutes cuddling the dog and chatting, he went away perfectly satisfied having noted that the dog was in very good condition.

The dog really loves being in our garden. He asks to go outside all the time, because it's big, there's lots for him to sniff, explore and chew and his favourite spot is lying outside the patio door, both guarding and sunbathing. He also being a retriever, loves the rain, and there are plenty of places he could shelter if he wanted to, but when I tried to call him in yesterday, he wasn't having it. He wanted to run about 'catching' it.

We back onto a field where people like to exercise their dogs so when he sees them, he sometimes woofs but always call him and then the woofing stops (it never lasts more than about a minute). We never leave him outside for long periods of time and never when we go out.

It can only be one set of neighbours who reported us, because we only have neighbours on one side, who would have been able to see the dog outside in the rain yesterday. They had previously threatened to report us a few months ago, when he found a weakness in the fence and escaped into their garden, we apologised, made good the damage and had the fence professionally mended and reinforced so that he couldn't get out again. I don't think they like dogs because after we moved in, we had the police round saying that they had reported that we had not been cleaning up after him fouling in the street (another untrue accusation, I always carry poop bags, I've had dogs for years and always been responsible).

I can understand that maybe they get irritated when he barks (although its never for more than about a minute as we stop him and never at unsociable hours) but I am really cross at the 'extremely thin with matted fur' embellishment. AIBU and should I go and say something? (Sorry for long post, don't want to drip feed)

Your neighbours sound completely bonkers. I'd ignore them. If you go round there they would probably report you to the police for harassing them! Lovely dog though

Poor, poor, neglected dog. You should be ashamed of yourself.

I demand you courier him to me immediately

Fancy having a dog & looking after him so well. Disgusting I tell ya, disgusting.

Are you my sibling?!?!?!

It's bad that a genuinely abused animal got left today so yours could be checked.

Our ex ndn had a dog out in all weathers but he had a pet door & it never occurred to me that it wasn't his choice to be out there. He seemed happy enough mooching around.

Here is the goldie that I look after being asked to come in and refusing.

It sounds like your neighbours just don't want to live next door to a dog and were hoping he would be taken away. Nasty people, ignore them.

What is it about retrievers? They are just made for snuggles and cuddles.

Your boy looks in great condition. I know it's hard to laugh off, but do try to.

I could've written your whole post myself. I've had this too, but it wasn't one of my neighbours who reported me, it was 2 local idiots arseholes people who clearly had nothing better to do.

We have a siberian husky, who is 15 years old and in decent health, except he can't walk far without running out of steam. We've had him since we moved here, 13 years and for those 13 years, he's lain out in the front garden (pedestrianised area but the garden is contained and the gate is bolted), he's too old to jump the fence although he's only ever done it once as long as we've had him. He's well-known, well liked and notorious for being fed by the neighbours too.

On occasion this couple pass through our street, both looking rough as badgers that have been dragged through hedging backwards. They began making comments about the dog, loud enough so we'd hear them through windows etc. NYE, they passed and she took it upon herself to screech through my open bedroom window 'get your f'ing dog in, it's f'ing cruel leaving him out here'. The next day more abuse, complaining he had no food (he's fed inside anyway), had no water (he'd drank what he had in a huge bowl so assumed he'd had none). Then the threats I would be reported to the RSPCA.

A few weeks later I had a visit, but was out. I rang and left messages/emails. She visited again but was out again, so she left a huge note, stating dogs kept outside should have shelter, water, food and somewhere to lie. I'd been throwing his padded cushion out for the defiant toerag to lie on the concrete path! I did request again that she come out when we were in for her to see the dog etc and confirm everything was fine. She did, and she was lovely, checked the dog had a bed, water, food, checked his age and asked about his health, commented on his lovely condition for his age and confirmed the calls were malicious and any further calls would be ignored as the dog was fine. She was also surprised that both times she'd knocked when we weren't in, that the dog was in the house beside the front door and had neither moved from his slumber to bark at the visitor!

I was furious they'd been out the first time, but felt much better when she came out and checked everything was fine. I've attached a picture of my boy too :) In need of a good brushing though haah

Gorgeous dog. I wouldn't be bothered by the odd barking session of a minute or so. Your neighbours are stupid.
The spaniel upstairs howls ('hooooo, hoooo, arhoooo, hooooo) for quite a while when his owners go out without him. I usually just laugh. That's apartments for you.

Should've said a 'visit from the RSPCA' - reading that back it looked like the woman from the couple came round for a visit lol!

Our neighbours did a similar thing to us. Reported that our dog was thin and malnourished, was left outside all the time, kept in a tiny cage and that I would beat him in the street. Obviously he was absolutely fine and he was every time the inspector had to come out after yet another report. I never said anything to the neighbours and eventually they stopped reporting. They would have just denied it anyway, it wasn't worth the fight.

Same neighbours also reported us to social services and have done so again recently when they noticed I was pregnant...

Well I for one am amazed the rspca even came out for a wet and matted dog! I didn't think they were bothered unless the dog had no water or shelter. Good to know because my neighbours dog (pup actually) is outside alone night and day and it howls constantly.

Gorgeous boy.

Our neighbours did similar - we had a big garden and decided to get a third dog. None of ours lived outside, but spent lots of time in the garden. My nan became ill and we took in her elderly boy too. He had never had a garden and loved hanging out in there too.

My own very elderly dog had dementia, and started wanting to be our all the time. She had a shelter at the side of the house, and we allowed her to be out all day, but insisted she slept inside with the others, same as when we went out.

We got a complaint to the rspca about our neglected dogs after a handwritten passive aggressive note telling us we weren't caring for them.

Dog warden came, snuggled dogs, left.

It's terrifying how awful some ppl are. I bet a lot of rspca and social services etc call outs are due to malicious people with nothing better to do. I was threatened because my cat was outside too much , in reality they had started feeding him (already overweight cat due to other idiots feeding him but that's another story) then got sick of him coming back for more.
Arseholes!

Oh dear.

If this is what a matted dog looks like then I'd better prepare for the RSPCA anytime now....

I hate dogs (and spend a lot of time clearing out bins full of local dog mess on our private estate - a long other story.....) but even I can see that that dog on the first post looks in really good condition. I don't think these reports to the RSPCA for malicious reasons are sensible at all. What a waste of resources.

There have also been a lot of complaints about over zealous prosecution and misuse of powers by the RSPCA by the way including by the courts.

He looks so lovely and soft! I want to cuddle him! misses point of thread

Look at all these poorly treated creatures! They look so sad and neglected... oh wait, no they don't!

Some people are nobs and I really want a dog!!!

As an owner of two retrievers, he looks absolutely fine! Lovely dog. Ours don't really like staying out in the rain but love going in water!

Barks for just one minute?

This is my starved, beaten, neglected dog. I think my neighbour hates him because they share a name but my dog is actually adorable and not an arse and also has excellent manners.

Your dog looks lovely and every thing. And it may be your neighbours being dicks.

BUT

It might also be someone walking their dog in the field, saw your dog looking wet and decided to err on the side of caution. After all, having a visit from the RSPCA is a brief inconvenience, not some massive hassle or stain on the family honour. The officer came round, saw your dog was fine, and went away. What's the big deal?

Ahhh what a beauty! Nasty vindictive malicious neighbours!!

We regularly neglect these two. See? Witness their distress....not. As you were OP.