To have phoned the police?

[Elliebellbell]

On Saturday night/Sunday morning our neighbours dog started barking at 2am. It barked non stop until 4.30, stopped and started again at 6am for another hour. It was obvious there was no one home.

Last night it started again at 12.30am. I rang 101 and 2 officers banged on their door at 2.30am, still no one in. I saw them leave a note.

Police returned at 8.30am and spoke to householders brother, the family have actually gone on holiday and left their 3 dogs home alone with the brother "popping in" to feed and walk them.

I felt a bit shit about reporting them but 2 nights of sleep deprivation have made me quite testy.

I'm not sure how long they're away for but even 2 nights for 3 dogs on their own seems unreasonable to me.

Those poor dogs, no wonder they were barking! I'd have done the same you didn't know if they owner had died or whatever. But who leaves their dogs whilst they go on holiday it's so cruel

oh those poor dogs. I feel guilty enough leaving the cats with someone just popping in, would never in a million years consider it suitable for a dog though.

phone the rspca. Cats can survive a few days with some one checking on them but not dogs.

Awful. Part of the commitment of owning a dog is arranging proper care for them if you have to go away. We pay for our dog to stay with a lovely lady who has two dogs of her own that our dog is great pals with. It’s not cheap but worth every penny to know she’s happy and safe. And I won’t go abroad for more than a week because I think that’s too long to be away from our dog. Mostly we holiday in this Country so she can be with us.
Those poor dogs

Moragen
No, it’s not ok for a dog (or cat) to be put in kennels if they are not happy and comfortable there. People should not have pets at all if they are not prepared to put them first...always.

We've got cats, when we go away we pay a woman who lives on a farm nearby - she has a dedicated area for the cats food and they can come and go there with relative ease. It's all securely fenced so they can't get out but they can be free range within that area - it's ideal. At night they are kept inside in a large comfy area for them, a real home from home.

@Yabbers I only say that as it’s what an RSPCA chief inspector and inspector have told me recently re a neighbour’s dog who was neglected (eg left alone for very long periods in a rundown empty house).

The dog lay dead in the house for months - despite me and neighbours reporting it was distressed and being left.

This is what the prosecution hinges on - they told me they need to prove the dog was left for more than 24 hours at a time.

You did the right thing, I’m amazed they came round though. I’d be amazed if our local force had the recourses to

I only say that as it’s what an RSPCA chief inspector and inspector have told me recently re a neighbour’s dog who was neglected (eg left alone for very long periods in a rundown empty house)

That’s a different scenario from saying “the law says that”. There is no law about leaving dogs alone, just as there is no law for leaving children alone, but it comes down to whether doing so constitutes neglect.

The oldest child (he's 13) came home yesterday so he mustn't be on holiday with the parents and younger dc.

No more barking thankfully but am now convinced a 13 year old is there on his own overnight. I can't be sure though and I know there's no law about leaving dc on their own so will be keeping an eye on who's coming and going. The uncle and granny have dropped in a few times yesterday so maybe they've all decamped.

I always thought the dad was a loveable rogue type, now I just think he's an irresponsible dick.

Can you call the local dog warden? The number is usually listed on the council website.

Aren't guidelines under 16's shouldn't be left overnight?
Maybe ring the police back. They may suggest a call to Ss?

That is shocking. It is so hot at the moment, the dogs will get very little fresh air and could easily become frustrated with each other and fight.

Totally reasonable to call the police.
But no dogs would not be better looked after at kennels. They will be fed, taken a walk, and left alone the rest of the time.

Poor dogs !

What if there was a fire?

the neighbours are completely out of order, but if you live a normal life and are at work, or gone shopping or whatever, there still could be a fire.

If you think the 13yo is there alone, go round and say is mum/dad in? He'll say no. Then ask who's there and try and find out subtly what's going on. You can use the ruse of hearing the dogs barking and checking all is ok.

If it seems he's alone, call SS.

I have a neighbour who leaves her little jack Russell home alone every weekend (Friday afternoon to Sunday evening) while she goes to visit her boyfriend,
She also regularly goes on holiday and leave the dog for a week or two home alone.

She has a friend who walks the dog most mornings and then comes back to feed it and let it out to go to the toilet in the evening.

The dog is quite yappy and will bark when someone knocks on her door or a neighbours door or if it hears any noise in the gardens, it’s very irritating but not constant so there’s nothing that can be done about it.

I think it’s cruel to leave the dog alone but as long as it is checked on and fed every day and it has fresh water leaving it home alone for extended periods is perfectly legal and acceptable apparently, I know because we have tried to report it to every organisation possible.