To think that this just so cruel!

[MrsTeach]

First post, please be gentle!

So our neighbours have a lovely little dog. Unfortunately, said dog is left outside permanently and just isn't happy about it.
There is a little kennel and a water bowl so it does have shelter and drink but it is tied to the gate the majority of the time and just sits barking/howling at the window.

This has been the situation for months. During the winter I called the RSPCA on more than one occasion as the dog was howling throughout the night and it was so cold! Nothing was done.

Now it is boiling outside and they still say they can't do anything as the dog does have access to shelter and water!

We do see it taken out on walks very occasionally (maybe once a week if that) but I just think what is the point in having a dog if you don't actually want it in your house!

We haven't spoken to the owners (their garden backs onto ours so in another street) I'm not really sure what to say. Should I be approaching them?

Any advice gratefully received!

We called the RSPCA recently about two horses tethered on a roundabout in the recent heatwave who had no access to water. They said they couldn't do anything about it. I think they need to drop the Prevention bit of their name as I don't see them doing much about it. Recently a foster home they used for horses was in the news for neglecting and mistreating the horses.

You'd be surprised how vocal people are over animal cruelty, to be fair.

But yes I know what you mean about local pages

Wait until they are out. Untether the dog, take it to the dogs home and say you found it wondering on the streets. I doubt they will track down the poor thing, and won't think you have done this, just that the dog escaped.

I don't think I could live with seeing that poor dog every single day, my heart goes out to you

Too busy paying their staff and of course CEO with huge salary and bonus.

No, shumpa who'd be that stupid? I do support local causes for animals though, they use volunteers and do you know what? No fat cats

Definitely talk to them. Acknowledge the dog had shelter and water but play on the fact it is extremely unhappy and cries and barks a lot. Hopefully this might prick their conscience.

Good for you OP for not turning a blind eye.

@brizzledrizzle see this was my thinking too! P for Prevention! Not only acting once an animal has been seriously harmed!

Steel it. It doesn't sound like they'd be all that bothered if you did.

When I saw a dog with a
Life that that I actually wanted to euthanise then and chuck them some meat with a pill in it

It’s no life

Bastards

The RSPCA are rubbish! They really are useless.

Steal the dog - the cruel bastards must go out sometime. Or as RooadRunner suggests ask/threaten.

Just today I met a lady with a springer - beautiful dog, but very small for the breed. I was talking to her about it, and she told me that the dog spent the first six months of its life in a rabbit hutch. She and her husband offered to take it - she said the woman opened the door and the poor pup just threw itself out - a bag of bones, hair all matted with poo, full of fleas and terrified.

It's new owner had had him 18 months and he was lovely (but very small and very shy). What a dreadful life he must have had - thank God he ended up with people who love and care for him.

Environmental health, tell them the dog is barking day and night and disturbing your sleep, or childrens if you have any
I hate people ho do this,why have a dog at all

My DH has just reminded me that earlier this year they actually came to our house to complain about our garden!
"Are you aware that it is spring now, your rose is hanging over our fence"
My DH was very polite, I would have told them to cut it themselves if it was such a problem!
Not so worried about going round to talk about (or release ) the poor thing anymore!

My friend was in a similar situation with her neighbour and decided that instead of challenging them and perhaps making the situation worse, she asked them if they would mind if she took the dog with her on her morning run. So she now takes it out on a long run every day. Dog is so much happier and it's owners have actually started being better with it as well.

Phone them back and tell them there's no water. Then they'll have to come out. Hopefully give the owners a fright into looking after her. Barring that, i agree with the other poster, sneak the poor little mite out and take it to a rehoming shelter. Bastards.

Viva what a great thing for your friend to do.

That's cruel. Some cultures don't treat dogs well but then why have one as a pet? RSPCA generally useless unless infront of a camera I agree. Once found a puppy running across a busy road and managed to grab it but they didn't want to know! Yes you could ring environmental health at yr local council for noise disturbance but think you'll have to make quite a few calls before they act. Is there another neighbour who would ring as well? The more calls they log the sooner it will get sorted.

I agree with those posters who have advised that you pop over when they are out and liberate the poor dog.
I run a dog charity and have done this sort of thing, here and abroad.
I recently paid off a drug dealer who was neglecting his American bull terrier and found said dog a lovely home in a village.
Feel free to PM me if you'd like any help.

I'm all for you sneaking over, stealing saving!!! the poor dog OP. BUT the problem with people like this owner is that they'll just go out and get another dog who they will treat abuse just the same.

Some people really shouldn't keep animals.

WOW rosa I really admire you for doing that!

Would you be able to look after the dog OP? I hope you work something out for it.

@Excited0803 as much as I don't want any harm to come to this dog I'm really not an animal person myself. I would have it temporarily though if needed before rehoming.

Thank you for caring op. You sound lovely 😊 I hope you can help this poor little dog. Why do people have dogs, and then treat them so badly? Ours are part of the family, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Good luck op.

We had this issue with one of our neighbours and in the end we were advised to keep a noise diary to show the barking/howling was excessive and go to the council with it. The council were actually very helpful and eventually the dog stopped howling at anything and everything. I think they got a dog warden involved, but not 100% sure - someone gave them some advice on looking after the dog better and suggested rehoming if they couldn't.

Just to put in an opposing view about the RSPCA. They may appear not too bothered about well fed animals who are neglected because they may be dealing with real life and death cruelty cases and only limited resources. A dog such as this would be way down the list.

@Pebblespony true, thank you for this. I guess it's easy to be so involved with something right in front of you that you don't think of other cases demanding more attention.

I'm with farangatang and Annieanonamoose. It's living a cruel, miserable life. If it ahem 'escapes', the smaller shelters never put dogs down & it gets a chance of new, loving owners. They probably won't even bother looking for it.