To be fed up with looking after someone else's animals?

[MotherShabubu]

e been living in a home with a friend for over a year and a half, when I agreed to live with her I knew she had 2 dogs which was fine, I love dogs and she said they are majoritively outdoor dogs so great.
When we moved in together it was a completely different story, they were locked in the house all the time and as they completely lack any training they would shit and piss in the house. I also found out one of the dogs has a health issue that results in her throwing up 5-10 times a day, all of which goes onto the floor boards, none of which my housemate cleans.
When the dogs were put in the backyard they would always escape (I think a lot of this has to do with never being taken for walks etc by the housemate) and i’d be forced to run through the streets chasing her animals sometimes a couple of times a day.
After a year or so living in the house she finally secured the yard to a point where the dogs could be left outside so the daily shits, pisses and vomits inside my lovely house decreased.
I’m now pregnant and I’m entirely fed up with looking after her animals. I am the only one who fills their water dish, she stays out for 3-4 days at a time only coming home to put food in their bowls and then leave again, if I put them outside at night they will bark and bark and bark until I have no choice but to let them in, and when I left them in they will proceed to piss and shit in the house unless I have them in my bedroom with me, which I do not want, they are not my dogs but somehow I have become the primary carer for her animals.
I suppose this is more just a vent, but I suppose some advice on how to delicately but directly tell her that she is effectively neglecting her animals and leaving the house in a completely unsanitary and disgusting state.
She was a close friend when we moved in but the way she treats her animals, and also the complete lack of respect or regard for how I have to live has really damaged the friendship.
Do I sound totally unreasonable, I’ve never lived with dogs before, but I assume leaving them for days at a time, letting them go to the bathroom inside etc is not normal?
I almost fell over in a pile of uncleaned up dog vomit the other night directly in front of her and she ignored me and did not apologise for not cleaning it up.
Arrghhhh, I try to tell myself I will have my own place in 3 months time with my partner, but then I also feel terrible for her animals, who will look after them when I am gone?
Sorry, such a big rant/vent!

I wouldn’t ask her to rehome them, I’d take them sneakily! Just tell her they’ve escaped! Then eventually tell her you don’t think she should get any more because she didn’t look after them properly. They need daily exercise and a lot of attention. You can’t just lock them up and ignore them for most of their life. Poor things. How can people be so cruel!

Dont sit and say "haha" and joke about needing more ladyballs when theres an animals welfare at stake

OP re-read your posts. They are left in their own vomit and faeces; they are not exercised; they are being denied medicine.

But you think it’s OK because you provide the “Puppos” and “Doggos” with “love” and play fetch with them out in the back garden every so often?

Get them rehomed - do you seriously think that their quality of life is high at the moment? You’re concerned about them being put to sleep but you’re fine having one throw up multiple times a day, risking dehydration and kidney damage.

You've been complicit in the neglect. Just because you've bought beds and played catch with them doesn't alter that. Your attitude and tone seem strange too. You should at least step up to address the neglect now.

Get in touch with your landlord then rehome the dogs . What breed of dog are they ? If they’re being constantly sick they do not sound well at all . Could be stress from their home life . Please don’t say they are collies .

ilovesooty, I agree. She/he sees the distress these animals are in and is doing nothing but making excuses for not taking action. She/he is just as guilty at this point.

Quite a few of you are talking BS. It is illegal for someone to rehome animals that don't belong to them. And OP is not "complicit in the neglect"—she is completely inexperienced with dogs and doing her best in a shit situation.

The dogs are at a minumum 18 months old now and are likely beyond help.

… And remember that by law all dogs must be microchipped with the owner's details, so all of your "run away with them and take them to a shelter" suggestions are useless.

MissUGirl I know fuck all about dogs and even I can figure out that if a dog is regularly throwing up, something is wrong.

Neglecting animals is also illegal.

It may be illegal to rehome someone else’s dogs, but this situation can’t continue as it is. The dogs would be better off being PTS. At the very least, the OP needs to take pictures of all the poo and vomit, the damage etc and show the landlord. The friend would then probably be made to get rid of the dogs and can then talk to someone like the dog’s trust, cinnamon trust etc to try and help facilitate that.

This isn’t the OPs fault but she does now need to do the right thing by the dogs and then get the hell out of there.

The dogs need to be rehomed or PTS. End of.

As a dog owner this is disturbing.
You are a very kind person and clearly the dogs survive because of you.
You need to report her to rspca. The dogs need proper exercise and training .
You are a kind person , just report her and see the poor dogs get rehomed
She should be banned from ever keeping animals .

"Take these animals to be rehomed today and tell your flatmate what a shit person she is and she shouldn't ever have dogs again. This post has infuriated me."

^Don't leave them with her, they'll starve to death wallowing in their own shit and piss. You can help these animals. Fuck what she thinks about it, she's selfish and neglectful, and should have either stepped up and be looking after them right, or rehomed them, by now.

I also advise you to never leave her in charge of your baby, when it comes, if you stay friends. In case you come back early one day, to find out she's nipped out "just for a minute", or left your kid alone in their cot the entire time you were gone.

This happened locally to me btw. A group of lads went back to a mates flat to keep partying. Found the kitchen covered from wall to wall in piss, shit and blood, and the bastards german shepard totally emaciated/starved to death. I met him a few times prior, he had a child with a friend of a friend, knew he was odd but never thought he'd do that.

My point is, don't underestimate how little of a shit your friend gives about these animals, don't assume if you stop caring for them, she will. She won't! They'd be dead now were it not for you.

Op could buy the dogs for a token amount, re-register them for vet, chip and licences in her name, then take them to a shelter for a chance at a better life?

I never said she should rehome them herself but of course she's complicit. She's done nothing about the situation. If she's inexperienced she should get some expert advice about what to do to help them and she hasn't.
And I wouldn't mind betting it won't be long before she asks for this thread to be deleted.

Honestly have no idea how you’ve put up with this for so long, it sounds completely vile and downright dangerous now you are pregnant.

I would have taken photos of the faeces and vomit and sent them to the landlord a long time ago. Don’t imagine the LL will be pleased about it whatsoever.

Even reporting the situation to the landlord would have been a step forward. Something would have been done.

Can the people telling the OP to just take the dogs and rehome them behind their owners back, sit down, shut up and give their heads a wobble?

Thats theft.

It also puts any rescue centre DEEP in the shit when the owner finds out whats happened.

It could also impact on anyone taking on those dogs from the rescue should things get that far before the owner finds out whats happened.

Yes, the OP should have said something far sooner and yes, were this a neglect case in court she'd be potentially seen as aiding and abetting or guilty of neglect herself because she has inadvertently allowed herself to be the adult in charge of these dogs at times.. Unfortunately 'they aren't my dogs' is not a defence for ignoring welfare issues in animals you share a home with.

Advising stealing the dogs however is further compounding the issues in an already horrible situation.

OP you must speak to their owner and tell her the neglect stops now or you will take action.

She is failing to meet several requirements under the Animal Welfare act, including causing suffering by failing to give medication, causing the animals to live in filthy conditions, not meeting their physical or mental needs...

In your shoes, I would either - take over the dogs care myself, and ensure I get bills for medication, vets, dog walkers, daycare, food etc - and then use that evidence to prove she's abandoned the animals (and then you would potentially be in a position to rehome)..

Or, leave, do a flit and leave her to pay the outstanding rent.

I think when you put your foot down, she's going to get rid of the dogs, or disappear, either way leaving you to pay for the damage her dogs have done to the property or even leaving you with the dogs as well. I do not see a way out of this that isn't going to cost you unfortunately.

It depends if they are microchipped, because otherwise they are not legally anyone’s...

I would speak to your flatmate and tell her you're concerned about the dogs welfare once you've left as she is away for so much of the time and they aren't getting exercised. Could you say that it would be better for everyone if these poor doggies went to a rescue .

Either that or do what your DP says and don't chase after them next time they go missing. Difficult to imagine a worse life than they are living at the minute .

@makingmammaries

Microchips still do not legally prove ownership of the dog, and a lack of a microchip does not mean the dog does not belong to someone.

@rookiemere as the OP is the responsible adult in whose care the dogs are left, if she permits them to escape and they cause an accident she may be held liable for that.

miss their owner
I very much doubt they will miss the person who treats them so badly. Does she worm them, treat them for fleas, are they up to date with vaccinations? She should be ashamed though I doubt she gives a damn about them. Next time they shit/puke in the house and she doesn't get straight up to clean it, throw it on her fucking bed - every time. She's a truly disgusting person.

If the dog has a medical condition and it is not being treated then phone the RSPCA and make this point clear. They are unlikely to be able to do anything about the living conditions and not being walked, but 'unnecessary suffering through not seeking veterinary care' is a big deal.

OP, I htink you have done a lot for these dogs, which are not yours, and not your responsibility.

I would now sit down with your flat mate and say the dogs are neglected, and that when you move out, they will not be fed, walked or looked after, so you will report her to the RSPCA. Suggest she rehomes them with a rescue, give her the phone numbers of rescues close to you.

You could even offer to phone the rescue and meet them together.

Be proactive, as when you leave, those dogs will be in a much worse situation.

The RSPCA won't do much until you have gone, and can show that the dogs are not getting food and water. As long as someone is feeding them, they won't remove