... to want to pop an informative leaflet into my neighbour's letterbox in the hopes that their new dog doesn't suffer as their last one did?

[shockthemonkey]

Some neighbours of mine had a lovely St Bernard dog which was apparently "too large" to allow in the house. So the dog lived outside and was never allowed in.
It died of heatstroke in the summer of 2017 -- they are both doctors and practice in Paris so he was left for long times unattended (we live in the suburbs).
Last spring they got themselves another St Bernard -- presumably again, it is too large to allow inside.
We have a heatwave forecast for the coming week, and I can't bear to think their new dog will suffer.
I don't know the neighbours well enough to speak to but have asked friends we have in common to tell them that we would be happy to look after their dog in our really cool basement on hot days. We have had no response from them but they are a bit funny and have accused our gardeners of accessing their garden from ours and taking a ladder of theirs.
So, if I were to just pop one of those informational leaflets anyonymously into their letterbox, detailing practical measures for keeping their dog cool when it gets hot, would that be terribly cowardly and bitchy of me? There are a few very effective things you can do (even if you are away all day), to ensure the dog remains comfortable.

WIBU to drop the leaflet?

I don’t really understand is the dog out all day every day? When they go to Paris what happens to the dog?

Why do people buy dogs to then just leave them outside all day? Owning pets is a choice, they obviously don't want to share their space with an animal so why get the poor thing

I would put the leaflet through the door. I would also report them if I saw the dog suffering at all

I think she means they live in the suburbs outside Paris

Well, in France the law says a dog has to have shelter, food and water. If it had shelter (kennel) how could it get heatstroke? Unless it’s a plastic kennel in full sun. If they are not caring adequately for the dog the mairie is required to act, and that would be my first stop.

It sounds like you are all actually living in France so I'm jot sure if there is a local RSPCA equivalent, if there is I would steongly encourage you to report the previous heat stroke death to them and ask them to contact the owners to give advice on keeping the new dog alive. That way you've also flagged it to them in case you need to report the dog being left outside in the sun during the heatwave.

The poor dog though, what is the point of getting a dog of you can't be arsed to care for it!!!

I think they know but choose not to care.
I would wait and see if this dog receives the same mistreatement and then call the police to report animal abuse.

People like that don’t deserve dogs or any other pets and esspecially if they are medical professionals they should know better

I'd like it not to get to that point, mammaries. I would also find it hard to monitor the dog because I can't see into their garden.

The couple live in the Paris suburbs, and work all day in Paris centre. They leave the dog outside but it doesn't (apparently) ever go inside the house as they have said it's too big (swipes things off the coffee table with its tail, that king of thing).

I don't know if it has a kennel, but when it gets to 40 degrees plus, anywhere outside might have been too hot, even a kennel. Bearing in mind its thick coat etc.

Can you drop them in a few houses so it won't be seen as targeted towards them.

You don’t want it to get to the stage to contact the authorities? I think one dog already dying a horrific and very painful death is enough don’t you?

I’d contact the relevant authority as soon as I saw suffering

I would report it to SPA:

www.la-spa.fr/aide-contact/sujets/2224-signaler-une-maltraitance/361282-je-veux-signaler-un-acte-de-maltraitance-commis-par-un-particulier

As you have said you don’t know your neighbours well enough to speak how do you know their previous dog died of heatstroke OP? I’m just wondering if there might have been a bit of assuming going on by other neighbours, with the truth being a little lost in translation along the way 🤷‍♀️

I don’t like the idea of any dog being left alone all day every day personally, but if left outside in a heatwave there really should be access to good shade and plenty of drinking water

Thanks for your thoughts so far.

I know the dog died of heatstroke because of the friends we have in common. They are the ones who told me the dog isn't allowed inside and they say the family were very upset that their dog suffered multiple organ failure because of the heat.

Nesssie, you must have misunderstood me. I don't want it to get to the stage that the dog suffers, I want to prevent any suffering happening (better all round than reacting to suffering, I think you will agree). I cannot call the French version of the RSPCA until there is actual suffering, and I will find it hard to know when the dog is suffering because I can't see into their garden.

Basically, I would hope that the family is informed of how they can avoid another heatstroke; for all I know they were mortified by the last incident and will be already taking steps. But maybe they have not learnt! They seem a bit strange (the ladder accusations...)

I really like huuskymam's idea, thanks!

Thanks Rabbits, I'll keep that up my sleeve.

If the last dog did indeed die of heatstroke then a leaflet will make no difference. They have either learned how to stop it happening again or they don't care.

OP I honestly think they dont care.
Nobody, even someone with the IQ of broccoli to state it bluntly, would leave a dog they actually cared about outside in a heathwave, if they knew their previous pet died because of them having done the same thing to poor dog.

These people are doctors FFS, after all humans are not THAT different from animals, they KNOW what they are risking and a leaflet, though well intended from your side, will not suddenly wake them up to their senses.

Contact the authorities!