Neighbours have gone on holiday and left their dogs...

[chinesechicken]

Ugh i am so tired today. Basically my neighbours have gone on holiday and left their 3 dogs. Someone is coming in twice a day to let them out but then they're left alone all night and they are barking continuously from 9pm till about 4am. I don't know how they didn't pass out as they were barking so long. i work really long shifts and I can't cope with less than an hour of solid sleep a night and I have 3 small children.

I haven't manage to catch the person who is letting them out, i only know as i noticed that some water appeared outside a few times.

Is there anything we can do? We're not exactly friendly with these neighbours...they rent but i don't know who their estate agent is.

pop a note through the door and ask the person who is calling in to give you a ring. There are less drastic forms of taking action than getting the rspca or the landlord involved. Leaving a radio on can help calm dogs, maybe the person calling in could stay overnight? It's worth having a conversation about before assuming the person can't or won't help.

In our area dogs barking for more than 20 minutes at a time means you can call in the local dog warden and environmental health, this would work on a Saturday but if you leave it till tomorrow everything will be shut etc.

I'd try 101 or your PCSO if you have one, leave a note on the door for the person coming in, ask them to call you - try the RSPCA just in case although I agree they probably won't help (don't tell them you have seen someone coming in).

Longer term you need to find the agent for next door. Do you live in an area where you could easily narrow that down? If you google the address the original Estate agent listing might come up.

NARPS (National Association of Registered Petsitters) won't allow you to stay a member if you agree to do this. Dogs should never be left for more than four hours continuously is their guideline, and certainly never overnight. Same with RSPCA. Unfortunately it's only a guideline. As previous posters have said if the dogs have shelter, food and water then the RSPCA won't prioritise them. You may do better with the noise nuisance approach.

Agree, if the dogs are fed watered and sheltered, the RSPCA cannot (not will not!) do anything other than leave notes and ask for further information. However I'd still say it's worth calling them, you haven't seen anyone tending to the dogs, you don't know they're being cared for, and you care concerned for their welfare. They'll send an inspector around (eventually) who will probably leave a note and follow up with the dog sitter/owner. And at the same time contact your environmental health department about the noise, they'll ask you to start recording etc and eventually follow up.

In short you can't stop this immediately but if your neighbours come back to letters from RSPCA and council environmental health then hopefully it won't happen again.

In the meantime - find the room in your house furthest from the noise, and agree white noise/radio/ear plugs etc for you.

Should be named and shamed and have dogs removed. It’s bloody expensive, kennelling 3 Dogs but if they’re not prepared to do this they’re not suited to pet ownership. Call RSPCA immediately and report. Shame on them.

Oh. RSPCA won’t do anything. Great.

And getting someone to visit once a day is probably costing your neighbours about a tenner if they're even paying at all - it may be a relative. Whereas having someone to house sit would cost at least £40, more if it's one of the main reputable companies - we charge £55 a day - and having three dogs in home boarding, we'd be billing at least £35 a day.

Isn't it just awful that nobody can do anything about this? It is breaking my heart, they sound so distressed because the owners are there all day normally as one doesn't work so i don't think they are used to being on their own. Also my toddlers are so bloody miserable today from having such a crap sleep. ive not got anywhere else i can go and stay no as we aren't near family where we are, and i can't really have earplugs in as my husband works nights so i have to be able to hear the children. thank you all i will call the council although i know it won't help immediately

How utterly selfish of them OP. You must feel awful
Poor dogs too.

I hope they shit in their bed for leaving them like this whilst on their jolly.

Legally as long as they are being attended once in 24 hours that is considered sufficient so the rspca/dog warden can't do anything. It's not right but it is considered the acceptable minimum.
In fact it is not illegal to leave them alone for a few days if there was sufficient food or water - but, if anything was to happen then the fact had been left would also be taken into account.
Our council requires 3 weeks worth of diary sheets in first instance so neighbours would be back (I'm assuming) before you got anywhere.

I think short term the suggestion about a note through the door - or a word with the lettings agent. It may be legal but it is not morally acceptable to leave dogs like that for their welfare, or how it would be likely to affect the neighbours.

Where I live we contact the local council Dog Warden. Pass the details about the constant barking particularly at unsociable hours and the dates. He/she should be able to act from there.

Actually I would try the RSPCA, I’ve found them helpful in the past. You have nothing to lose by trying them.

Twice a day isn't even enough for toileting...so sad. If they're used to company, even worse as they'll be so distressed.

Defo get onto the Council and the RSPCA.

OP, let us know what happens, would you. I feel so sorry for the animals.