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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours have left their dogs alone in a house that's been on fire.

117 replies

Geobat · 31/12/2018 19:25

Part One:

Hi everyone, this is my first time posting here and I'm honestly in desperate need of some advice please?

This is going to be a long post because I want to explain everything so far (it helps me personally, as well as potential advice-givers, I guess), so I apologise for the long read!

Okay, here goes. My OH and I live in a 70's terraced house, the walls are thin, the house is small and it feels cramped with the two of us living here.
Next door, we have a family of 2 adults, 2 young children and 2 medium/big dogs.

As of 8th of December 2018, there was a fire in this neighbour's house (we were told by a firefighter that they suspected the fire was started by an unsupervised child, who had tried to use the toaster, but had accidentally set some paper on fire). The fire was a small kitchen one, but we saw the smoke escaping through the roof, and it had entered our bedroom, too - this is how we'd ended up speaking to a firefighter because we were concerned about how much smoke was upstairs.

Once the fire had been extinguished and the fire brigade had left, the family packed up some of their belongings and left. Leaving the dogs behind. My partner and I had assumed they would collect the dogs later that day. They didn't. They return to the house once a day to feed/water the dogs. They rarely let them out and the don't take them for walks (not that they ever did when they were living in the house, either).
4 days later, the constant barking, whining and fighting from the dogs had really gotten to me. I'm currently fighting anxiety and depression, I'm on medication but I'm out of work due to another medical issue (one in which I'm waiting for surgery). Because of these issues, I'm at home a lot. I rarely go out. The continuous noises were getting to me and I was losing sleep.

(Continued...)

OP posts:
Santaisfastasleepatlast · 31/12/2018 20:04

Illegal or not I would have busted them out.

Original poster
Geobat · 31/12/2018 20:10

@PowerPantsRule Thank you so much for the defensive response! I really do appreciate.

Judging by some of the comments here, you'd think I was the one neglecting my dogs.

Thank you to everyone who's given advice and their opinions!
I've just got off the phone with the RSPCA and the lady is passing on the information to one of the inspectors.

I will write a follow up if/when the RSPCA investigate further.

OP posts:
Original poster
Geobat · 31/12/2018 20:12

@Bobbybear10 We've tried the council. We've tried the RSPCA in the past. We've contacted the owners directly more than once. We've spoken to them in person. I also contacted the police via their live chat. I had to post in two parts because it was too long a post to put in one message.

OP posts:
Thetruthwillout80 · 31/12/2018 20:16

Can't you text/ring them and ask them what they're planning to do with the dogs.

SheeshazAZ09 · 31/12/2018 20:23

Looks like the OP has not contacted the RSPCA and I (like others) cannot understand why not. Leaving dogs alone for so long does seem to be a welfare issue. Call them, for heaven's sake--it's just a few minutes of your time.

Original poster
Geobat · 31/12/2018 20:24

@Thetruthwillout80 After my initial text (which was ignored), I didn't know whether to push the subject with them further. Instead I chose to contact the other places that I have so far. I'm not confrontational and didn't know what to say after that text because I'd covered everything I think I should have said. I also worried that if it ever went to court, saying anything out of anger/upset doesn't make you look good (for my limited knowledge, I've never been to court). The neighbour comes across as aggressive (when they're here, he yells all the time, and the door knock was not a normal knock).

OP posts:
WellThisIsShit · 31/12/2018 20:25

I think you have to keep calling everyone you can think of, repeatedly. Basically become a nuisance yourself!

It’s really not fair at all, on you or the dogs.

Original poster
Geobat · 31/12/2018 20:28

@SheeshazAZ09 Sorry, summarising everything over two posts wasn't easy and I seem to have missed out some information. We have contacted them in the past, but I've done so again now.
I did originally write out my first message here, but it wouldn't send (I didn't know at the time that there was a character limit) and it just told me to sign in. I had to rewrite everything and apparently missed out details.

OP posts:
XmasPostmanBos · 31/12/2018 20:29

Sorry to hear that OP it sounds very cruel to the dogs. I know they are feeding them but I wonder if you could complain that they are not adequately exercising them? Large dogs need exercise and they are clearly not meeting this need, so this could be the basis of the complaint along with the fact they are fighting.

Original poster
Geobat · 31/12/2018 20:29

@WellThisIsShit I agree, it's sad that that's the route that has to be taken. With my own issues that are currently going on, it's hard to prioritise one thing or another.
I don't understand why people have dogs if they can't look after them!

OP posts:
Assburgers · 31/12/2018 20:30

You need to get hold of the landlord’s details. Could you perhaps find them on the land registry or something? Do you know her name? I bet she wouldn’t be happy about the situation.

WiddlinDiddlin · 31/12/2018 20:30

Apart from contacting the dog warden (and good luck with that as in many areas they are rare than fucking hens teeth and harder to speak to!)..

Keep harrassing the RSPCA - whilst they may SAY that the dogs have shelter, food and water they are NOT having all their needs met under the animal welfare act AT ALL..

For example, do they have the freedom to be with their own kind OR seperate from their own kind as they choose - if theres fighting going on, that latter point isn't met.

Freedom to express natural behaviours - not sure the option to run about in the sunshine, dig, play, chase rabbits etc is being met shut in a house.

Other than this and the noise complaints (and get on at their landlord) there isn't a lot else you can do.

I do NOT see why posters are trying to get you to contact Dogs Trust, Blue Cross etc - this is NOT in their remit, they cannot help.

Original poster
Geobat · 31/12/2018 20:30

@XmasPostmanBos I did actually mention that when I made my RSPCA complaint moments ago :) From what I've read online, legally no one has to walk their dogs - I'm not sure how true that is though, I currently do not own any pets.

OP posts:
PeapodBurgundy · 31/12/2018 20:30

OP it still might be worth contacting the council housing office when they re-open in the new year. If the landlord is willing to accept tenants who claim housing and/or council tax benefits, they may be on the list of private landlords given to people on the waiting list for authority housing. Also, in my area, there's a voluntary register private landlords can pay a fee to join for various benefits on the understanding the properties they rent are of a good standard, if there's something similar in your area, that's a second way the council may have the landlord's contact information. Worth a phone call/email of nothing else. Sadly it will likely be a quicker way to get the dogs seen to; if the owners are made homeless, they'll be more likely to step in I would imagine.

SheeshazAZ09 · 31/12/2018 20:31

This also counts as a noise nuisance so call the council and ask to speak to environmental health (who deal with noise). They have to investigate.

XmasPostmanBos · 31/12/2018 20:31

Agree with contacting the landlord too. They definitely won't be happy.

AwkwardSquad · 31/12/2018 20:33

I just wanted to offer my sympathy for the situation you’ve found yourself in, OP. It sounds awful. I’ve lived in a house with thin walls with noise from dogs on both sides, and it really affects your mental health after a while. And your situation sounds much worse than the crappy neighbours I’ve had. Really hope you get some help to resolve it soon.

Original poster
Geobat · 31/12/2018 20:36

@Assburgers I could ask my partner to find her details. It's not something I'd expect much for though, she's doesn't care about the property as long as the rent is being paid (this is a different conversation entirely!)

@WiddlinDiddlin Thank you very much for the response! Unfortunately I can't say whether the dogs are kept in the house in a way that would benefit them, as we can't see into the property (besides the kitchen which is at the front of the house). I did mention this to the RSPCA, but I also explained that we hear the dogs fighting and howling too. I honestly don't believe the dogs are looked after well at all, especially now!

OP posts:
WhoWants2Know · 31/12/2018 20:42

Can you snoop around the property to get a better idea of the conditions indoors?

Original poster
Geobat · 31/12/2018 20:42

A quick one before I have to go, thank you to everyone who has responded. Whether it was something constructive, sympathetic or even accusatory, you've all taken time to respond.

I'm someone who cares a lot about animals and I've not been participating in their mistreatment, I've tried many times to get the issues resolved over the years (not everything has been included here because they weren't relevant to this specific case).
I worry about the dogs and that is why I've tried different measures, and I came here asking for help in case there was something I was missing.

Any messages that have followed my previous one(s) and this won't be ignored, I'll be back tomorrow to respond to people - and hopefully I'll have RSPCA updates!

Thank you all again, I appreciate it. Fingers crossed the dogs will get the care they deserve.
I'm going to try to doze off for a short while since I've been awake for nearly 40 hours now.

Happy New Years to you all!

OP posts:
Stormwhale · 31/12/2018 20:50

I can understand exactly why the op hasn't done everything you all think she should have. She is ill! If you have ever suffered with anxiety and depression, you would know that it can make the smallest tasks feel impossible, let alone tackling something big like this.

Op I hope the rspca take this seriously for both yours and the dogs sakes. I would be in a terrible state by now if I was in your shoes. Flowers

VanGoghsDog · 31/12/2018 20:53

Surely if you think the RSPCA are crap then you would’ve phoned one of the other many dog rescue charities?????

Only the RSPCA has statutory powers, other rescues would not be able to do anything (well, they might post a few outraged comments on FB or something).
The police can also act as can environmental health.

OP - could you offer to look after the dogs?

Laine21 · 31/12/2018 21:10

Retry ringing the local estate agents who manage property, one of them may be managing the property and if so, would have the contact information for the landlord. They would not give it to you but would be interested in dogs in one of their properties.

mydogisthebest · 31/12/2018 21:12

I think the RSPCA would be interested and would take action. Although they say that if a dog has food and water it's fine I am sure that being left all that time would not be fine.

In fact I know a couple who due to unforeseen circumstances left their 2 dogs for about 2 weeks. A neighbour was going in feeding the dogs, letting them in the garden, giving fresh water etc. Someone reported it and the dogs were taken away by the RSPCA

MillicentBeauchamp · 31/12/2018 21:13

Contact the RSPCA

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