Dog left for hours and rarely walked

[BeKhakiRobin]

I’m very concerned about a neighbour whose dog is kept in a small 4th floor studio without access to outside space. The dog used to howl frequently but now only occasionally. I think it is kept in a cage. I used to offer to take it out but this was ignored. It is also a dangerous dog and I know he does not have an exemption certificate. I don’t think the RSPCA will take action. Should I call the police?

How are you defining dangerous dog here and why would you want to walk a dangerous dog?

I think the RSPCA only have the power to take action if the dog is being starved/beaten/denied veterinary care. Sadly, it isn't illegal to leave a dog alone and unwalked, so the RSPCA can't step in.

If you believe the dog is a banned breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act, then you can call the police. They might consider it low-risk if it's not taken out of the flat, but it would still be worth reporting (be aware there's a chance it might result in the dog being put to sleep, though).

It’s an XL Bully. I offered to walk it over a year ago before it was known that this breed was dangerous and it was still a puppy. I would not walk it now. I am still concerned for the dog. Being confined, it is more likely to turn on somebody.

Perhaps the local safer neighbourhood team?

I feel very conflicted. I wish the owner could be taught to treat the dog well. I hate the idea of a defenceless animal being put to sleep. But it is very distressing to hear the dog howling with nobody coming to help it.

Thanks. The local safer neighbourhood team sounds like a positive move.

To be honest I just don't think you can educate some dog owners and this appears to be one of those. Often people take on dogs not thinking about the time they need to commit.

If it's an XL Bully the outcome will be the same
They will have to report it as an undocumented dangerous breed and it will be seized and destroyed. It's absolutely tragic, but just goes to show these owners don't actually care about their pets. If they had they would have run to get them documented before the deadline to avoid situations such as this. As always, the dog is the victim.

the owner has no interest in the dogs welfare either way & leaving it as it is would be cruel. It clearly has a poor quality life.

Whether it is it is too late to save the dog and it is already a danger to others, it cannot be left alone in a cage all day.

I totally understand - it's horrible to know that an animal's in distress like that.

Owner obviously couldn't care less. If the dog is miserable, and the choice is to say nothing and let the dog continue in misery for years yet possibly, or say something and risk the dog being destroyed, I'm really not sure what is best. How awful.

The local neighbourhood team will not be able to assist. I raised concerns over a n XL bully who was left off lead and no muzzle. I was advised that since the new terms re XL bullies came into effect, they are all dealt with by a government site specifically for XL bullies.

what a crappy quality of life - please report

imagine being stuck in a room your entire life

The howling does not have to mean it is being treated badly. It just wants the pack to be complete again. Meaning the owner back in the house. The fact it howls less now is a good sign, it means the dog learned the owner will return and no howling is needed.
Just commenting on that part of the story😄

Thanks all. The dog used to howl for hours because it was lonely. I think the only reason it howls less is because nobody came. I wish I could convince the owner that they’d get joy out of the dog if they took it out and cared for it more. But the owner is 22 and like my previous offer to help it would fall on deaf ears.

If it’s a banned breed and unregistered then the owner can never take it for any veterinary treatment even if it was ill or had an injury. The poor dog has zero life quality so putting it to sleep calmly and quietly as a vet would do is the kinder option.

Report it... but... don't expect anything to be done in a hurry, the police are swamped with dogs they haven't the expertise, facilities or boots on streets to actually deal with. So they'll be prioritising complaints where the dog is dangerously out of control and actual attacks rather than the poor dogs suffering behind closed doors.

Of course this is a folly as the dogs that are not trained, socialised, do not have their needs met, do not get veterinary treatment etc... are much MORE likely to end up attacking someone!

I would still report it however!

Is it possible that the owner is a drug dealer and the dog is there 24/7 as a guard dog?

Could you report him from the viewpoint that he's dealing drugs and then the dog would be noticed by the police?

More likely it learned that howling had no effect so now it's just quietly miserable. Honestly I don't know how anyone can justify this unless they leave their own dog alone for hours and hours at a time.

Poor dog, and kept in a cage just vile. Don't care about the breed the dog doesn't deserve that. RSPCA and just say it is bones and starved so they come out at least and I would walk it on a lead but that's me

The dog will be one of many X L Bully dogs that are left alone indoors all day and then when the dog attacks, the owners wonder why. We had one local, 2 young brothers owned it and got it just before the new laws came in. The poor puppy didn’t seem to even walk properly. They’ve said it’s gone to relatives up North, but local rumours are that the dog has been put down. It was living in a kennel in the small garden.

Xl bully dogs shouldn't be kept as pets. You should report the dog and the owner, but unfortunately nothing will likely be done. I was always of the opinion no dogs should be banned but after seeing a few horrific xl bully attacks I would never be near one, let alone take one for a walk.

I get what you are saying and I'm definitely not commenting on the rest if the story. It is just that my dog already started howling after 10 minutes (I waited as I was training her). But she learned that I returned every time, just like a baby.
It doesnt HAVE to be a bad thing.
Maybe he walks his dog secretely at nighttime as he knows he is not allowed to own the breed.
Does op know his every move?
Devils advocate, I know

Why do you think it's in a cage

I live in the same block of flats. I work from home so I am in a lot. I saw the box for the large pet cage in the rubbish, nobody else has a dog in the block. On the rare occasions that the dog is taken out, the noise on the stairs is very loud. I am a very light sleeper and I would hear the scrambling of the dog downstairs past my door, if it was in the middle of the night.