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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Next door neighbour's dog left alone while she's on holiday.

90 replies

DoggyDilemma · 11/10/2017 17:21

I've lived here for 5 months and this is the second time it's happened. The first time I got other neighbour to ring her and turned out a family member was meant to be looking after dog when they got back from their holiday that evening but their flight had been delayed. He turned up an hour later. The dog had been alone most of the day at this point. The dog is quite anxious anyway and was howling incessantly Sad. So much so that the guy from the house in front (back to back terrace) came round because his baby couldn't sleep due to the noise.

Skip to today. Noticed yesterday that she wasn't around. Have heard the dog howling on and off. Her mum comes once a day, takes him to the green opposite for maximum 3-4 mins then leaves. She appears to be leaving the house with full poo bags as well 😷. Have noticed a friend popping by as well in the evenings and she seems to stay a bit longer but there are stretches of many hours in between these visits and the dog is audibly distressed.

Asked other neighbour and turns out she's gone abroad. I don't know yet how long for.

As a dog owner myself the idea of going on holiday and leaving Ddog in my house is unfathomable.

Am I overreacting and/or being a busybody? I don't want to cause bad feeling as we will most likely be neighbours for a long time and we get on fine at the minute. She knows I'm a sahm with a dog so why not ask me if I'd be willing to help?

I'm out at the minute but planned to get her number from other neighbour when I get home and text her asking if I can do anything to help (other neighbour has a key but she hasn't asked him to help either) as in check on dog/walk him/just spend some time with him. Would that be out of order?

Ultimately my concern is the poor dog. The noise he's making is so so painful to listen to Sad.

Advice really welcome.

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 11/10/2017 18:35

I’d contact the council due to the noise, ask the police what they can do and the rspca. I understand driving a wedge between you. But this is a living, breathing animal.

It really pisses me off when people can afford to go on holiday but can’t afford to pay for proper dog care. Yes it’s expensive but dh and I have less expensive and/or fewer holidays to make sure our dog is well cared for.

PersianCatLady · 11/10/2017 18:41

My NDN dog was staying at my house last week from Wednesday to Sunday while she was away.

On Sunday when NDN came home, she had the flu and she is very ill and in bed.

While NDN is still this ill , instead of the dog going home she will stay here as I can take her out when she wants and so on.

I would not dream of leaving a dog in the way that you have described.

randomer · 11/10/2017 18:45

Could you ask the relative who is letting the poor thing out to up her game

fc301 · 11/10/2017 18:47

Had very similar. Reported to RSPCA. They came out the next day, did a home visit. Did not tell her who had reported.

fc301 · 11/10/2017 18:47

They will want as much info as poss.

mummabubs · 11/10/2017 18:56

I'd call the RSPCA, you can do so anonymously OP. We would never leave our dog for that long or like that- I'm due to go into labour any day now and worrying about what happens if it takes our dog sitter a few hours to get here.... I wouldn't even contemplate not having someone live in with the dog. (and ours is an elderly Greyhound who I know logically sleeps 12-18 hours a day but I'd still never leave them).

LindyHemming · 11/10/2017 19:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
DoggyDilemma · 11/10/2017 19:21

So when I got home my other neighbour came straight round. He and spoken to NDN and apparently she is due back tomorrow, had made plans with numerous friends/family members to check in on dog and has been let down but had arranged for her dad to come tonight and spend the night in the house with the dog.

He hasn't arrived yet and the dog is howling louder than ever Sad. I think I need to ring the RSPCA.

OP posts:
GuntyMcGee · 11/10/2017 19:23

I posted recently about this as my next door neighbours did the exact same thing.

RSPCA refused to investigate as there was someone coming in every 24 hours at least so they were satisfied that the dog was being fed and it didn't breach the animal welfare act.

It's disgusting behaviour from the dog owners, but the RSPCA have more extreme abuse cases to deal with so can't do anything. I think they should be able to put a note through the door or at least have a chat with them about not leaving the dog alone but they don't have the resources.

mydogisthebest · 11/10/2017 19:24

How on earth can anyone think it is acceptable to leave a dog? A couple of visits a day is not enough. Obviously the dog is unhappy as it's crying.

I would report it to the RSPCA even though I don't have much faith in them and also get on to your local council and/or dog warden.

It's bad enough that dogs are left all day when their owners work but to go away and leave them is disgusting. This person should not have a dog

SipsiCat · 11/10/2017 19:27

How irresponsible and cruel. This person should not be a pet owner Angry

liverbird10 · 11/10/2017 19:32

YANBU. Poor dog. Your neighbour is a bumbaclaat! Angry

MatildaTheCat · 11/10/2017 19:37

This exact thing happened to us except it was two dogs and they were kept outside with a kennel. Its a suburban area. They barked absolutely incessantly . We called the local dog warden. He visited and left a note on the door stating that unless the visiting pet friend removed the dogs then they would be removed by the RSPCA.

The visiting friend did take them away. We were so bloody glad when that couple moved. Those fucking dogs barked all day when theyvapwere at work and they refused to accept it was a problem.

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 11/10/2017 19:40

I would ring RSPCA too, I wouldn't hesitate. It's just cruel to leave a dog on it's own.

Can you record the dog now, so you have evidence of the barking?

CoraPirbright · 11/10/2017 19:42

Really shocked that people have been told by pet sitters/kennels that this is common. It sounds absolutely horrendous to me!! The guilt I feel if I leave my dog for more than a couple of hours is unbearable (although I do accept I am a bit OTT in this way) so to leave him alone for days is just unthinkable. That poor, poor dog - he doesn't sound particularly well adjusted anyway and this is just compounding the problem!!

strongasmeringue · 11/10/2017 19:55

No one has let her down. She's let the dog down. I don't believe someone would agree to check on a dog then not bother.

sympatico1 · 11/10/2017 20:02

As an animal lover, I would find this intolerable, the poor, poor dog. I would offer to have the dog for her whenever she goes on future holidays - I know it is not your responsibility, but frankly, I would far rather have the dog and peace of mind, than fret wondering if the dog is ok. And yes, I know you shouldn't have to do this, but I wouldn't hesitate!

Branleuse · 11/10/2017 20:07

thats really shit. I would phone the RSPCA

ItsNachoCheese · 11/10/2017 20:10

Your neighbour is an irrepsonsible cunt

Tika77 · 11/10/2017 20:12

I really don’t understand why is it different for a dog to be in a kennel rather than it’s own environment. Obvously this dog is distressed but in general. Whenever I drive past kennels all I hear is constant barking and dogs aren’t exactly with their pack either.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 11/10/2017 20:30

No Tika, but they have company. Kennels are stressful for many dogs, but being abandoned and left alone, and even be unable to toilet outside is worse. And what if there is an electrical fault that causes a fire? Or a gas leak? Or the dog becomes ill? Or chews something in its distress and chokes?

It is terrifying for an animal to suddenly have the rest of its pack disappear.

PersianCatLady · 11/10/2017 20:32

Also in kennels there are staff there 24/7 to keep an eye on the dogs.

Crispmonster1 · 11/10/2017 20:35

Ring the Police and complain about noise etc? Maybe that would prompt a response.

Toomanypackingboxes · 11/10/2017 20:42

Going against the trend here but I don't think it is unreasonable to expect a dog to spend some time by it's self, particularly if it is part of it's daily routine. I am not saying that you should leave them all day but my dog at least finds it much less stressful to be left in his own environment rather than taken to kennels. It is not a cost issue for me, I have tried a service where they are taken to another house, kennels and the dog sitter visiting them, they all cost roughly the same and my dog is the calmest and healthiest when I return if he stays in his own house. That said my dog sitter is the nicest person and animal crazy, giving them lots of time and love when I am away.

Greyhorses · 11/10/2017 20:52

It's not something I would do to my own dog however I doubt the RSPCA will do much as the dog is cared for, fed and watered and is being 'looked after' by someone.

MIL left hers at home with visits from petsitters and family as it got so stressed in kennels last time it ripped it's own nails off so I can see for some dogs it's the lesser of two evils Sad

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