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Original poster

Neighbours on holiday and left dog in house

238 replies

PrimaryBufferPanel · 19/08/2024 04:20

And the poor bloody animal has been crying and barking for 24 hours. She has the occasional rest but it’s pretty much constant other than that. They have form for this: worst before this recent episode was leaving the poor dog crying for 12 hours straight when they went out one time. That wasn’t the only time but was previously the worst.

They were reported and notified so they know their dog has separation anxiety. Yet this morning in the early hours the entire family fucks off on holiday - must be a holiday as they all had suitcases - and since they left, that poor dog has been crying.

Someone came in for around twenty minutes earlier today to let the dog in the garden and presumably to feed her. But then they fucked off and since then just non stop crying interspersed with barking. it’s honestly NOT annoying me - it’s making me feel so sad for the dog.

Given they had suitcases this has got to be for at least a week, I know the dog will be fed and let out for twenty minutes a day but it’s so clearly in distress! What would you do? Anything?

OP posts:
WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 19/08/2024 08:14

Blingu · 19/08/2024 08:13

PM the person above. It might be someone like my old dog walker who was forever pinching neglected dogs and rehoming them. The old Alsatian that lived chained in a yard now is found lounging on luxury cushions and is partial to rotisserie chicken. The cockerpoo that was a matted mess who was regularly left over night in the garden with a few manky bowls put down has had quite the glow up and looks like it should be titled. There is a bit of a group of like minded people and there is a horse division too. They buy neglected pets where possible but where it isn’t…

I feel like I’ve stumbled into an alternative universe.

Cockerpooslave · 19/08/2024 08:15

HoneyLimesBlossom · 19/08/2024 05:08

I volunteer in this field and sadly RSPCA do nothing! not because they don’t care but they don’t have the ‘rights’ to do what you’d think they should and could

please PM me ASAP and i’ll deal with it OP

And thank you for being pro active by posting this - the first step is something not many bother to do but you have because you CARE ! Please PM me

@PrimaryBufferPanel just making sure you’ve seen @HoneyLimesBlossom ‘s post

Reallybadidea · 19/08/2024 08:17

Blingu · 19/08/2024 08:13

PM the person above. It might be someone like my old dog walker who was forever pinching neglected dogs and rehoming them. The old Alsatian that lived chained in a yard now is found lounging on luxury cushions and is partial to rotisserie chicken. The cockerpoo that was a matted mess who was regularly left over night in the garden with a few manky bowls put down has had quite the glow up and looks like it should be titled. There is a bit of a group of like minded people and there is a horse division too. They buy neglected pets where possible but where it isn’t…

They sound like an amazing group of people!

3rdtimeinflorida · 19/08/2024 08:29

This has made me so sad and angry. Please OP follow up all avenues of help that you can. These ‘people’ don’t deserve to have a dog. The poor mite. My blood is boiling.
Thank goodness you care.

Blingu · 19/08/2024 08:33

They are all bonkers but brilliantly so. Some appeared on Facebook on a do you know these people post, they were accused of stealing a pet but locals knew how it was kept and updated the post and no one dobbed them in which I think proves our general dislike of pet poor treatment.

Blondiebeachbabe · 19/08/2024 08:34

Someone I know adopted a beagle. He was telling me how the previous owners had also got this dog as a rescue, then promptly went away for a holiday and left it alone in the house. He had access to a large bag of food. No idea how they sorted the water situation. Anyway, when they got home they took him back to the rescue centre, because they were angry that he had shit all over the house. Even though he had been locked inside the house for the duration of their holiday. Some people really shouldn't be allowed to have pets.

Anyway, back to the Op, I would speak to the feeder at the next visit, get contact details for the neighbour and send them a message about how distressed the dog is. Ask a family member to collect it.

DBSFstupid · 19/08/2024 08:43

LunaNorth · 19/08/2024 04:41

I’m not sure if you are able to do so, but I’d be following the feeder into the house and taking that dog home with me.

Then I’d call the RSPCA.

Bastards.

This is EXACTLY what I would do. ASAP.

DBSFstupid · 19/08/2024 08:44

3rdtimeinflorida · 19/08/2024 08:29

This has made me so sad and angry. Please OP follow up all avenues of help that you can. These ‘people’ don’t deserve to have a dog. The poor mite. My blood is boiling.
Thank goodness you care.

Oh me too. I'm livid. Please do what you can and must OP.

Starlight1979 · 19/08/2024 08:44

WTF?! I thought those "pet feeder" people who come on holiday were for cats or small animals?! You can't leave a dog on it's own all day and night with just someone popping in to feed them and let them into the garden?!?! Surely that's illegal?!

StuckOnTheCeiling · 19/08/2024 08:46

In a situation like this you start to think: am I the weird one for finding the dog’s distress distressing if nobody else seemingly gives a shit?

Unless you’re also shouting this post out loud, as far as all your neighbours are concerned you also don’t appear to give a shit.

Fairyflaps · 19/08/2024 08:47

Our neighbours did this regularly - buggered off overseas for 3 weeks at a time, and were too tight to pay for proper dog boarding. I ended up making arrangements for the dog, because they would dump this on me the evening before they left (& because I couldn't bear to see the dog suffer).
I took it to the vets once because it was getting lots of bald patches & the vet told me the dog had a pet passport so there was no reason they couldn't have taken it away with them. The bald patches were due to stress, unsurprisingly. This contributed to the break down of any friendship we had with the neighbours.

That dog died a few years ago, and I hoped they wouldn't get another dog as they are bad owners in other ways - walks only at weekends, inconsistent training, but they did a year ago. And this summer they have buggered off again leaving the new dog at home. There is someone going into the house daily and walking the dog - so at least it is getting walks - but it's far from ideal. I don't live close enough to know if the dog is crying. Some people should not be allowed to own pets.

Sorry, from my experience and conversations I had with the vet at the time, I don't think the RSPCA will be any help in this situation. But because the dog is crying, it may be worth trying the council dog warden.

Starlight1979 · 19/08/2024 08:49

Jesus this has made my blood boil and my heart break for that poor dog. I can't even imagine leaving my dogs for a full day, never mind going on holiday!!!

We have two dogs and one has severe separation anxiety so he doesn't ever really get left on his own apart from maybe a couple of hours from time to time. Even then I have the camera on him and ready to go home if I see he's not settling! I also tell the neighbours (on both sides) if we're going out so they can text me if they hear him barking / howling as it's not fair to subject them to that either.

I would ring the RSPCA, the local council and the police. One of them will have to do something.

DBSFstupid · 19/08/2024 08:51

Why the fuck is the 'someone popping in' not giving more of a shit about this poor, poor dog???? I would have that Dog out of there and staying with me pronto. Or I would stay with the Dog all day, any which way I could. I could not leave the little one there alone like that, my conscience wouldn't allow it. Evil fuckers doing this to their pet.

WonderingWanda · 19/08/2024 08:51

This is awful, that poor dog.

I have a cat which is a lot more self sufficient but I only leave him for a couple of nights, any longer and he goes to the cattery, he hates it but gets a bit lonely on his own and then starts wandering and getting into trouble. I cannot fathom leaving a dog locked up like this, even if it had a dog flap. I really think there needs to be a better system to ensure irresponsible pet owners lose their right to look after animals.

Sixpence39 · 19/08/2024 08:52

Even if they are being fed once a dog they obviously need to go out piss every few hours (not to mention the loneliness). This is heart breakingly cruel. Please be brave for this poor pup!

ThinWomansBrain · 19/08/2024 08:53

report to the rspca - and don't mention the 20 minute feeder, just say the owners left with large suitcases and the dog has been crying ever since.

Ginnnny · 19/08/2024 08:53

I tried to report something similar local to me, and was told that although annoying, nothing illegal is happening - WTF!
Report it every day and record the noise too.

SoInLuv · 19/08/2024 08:55

PrimaryBufferPanel · 19/08/2024 04:53

I’m certain though that everyone can hear that dog crying. In a situation like this you start to think: am I the weird one for finding the dog’s distress distressing if nobody else seemingly gives a shit?

You're definitely not the only one...;((

lololulu · 19/08/2024 08:56

The RSPCA won't do anything if it's fed and let out unfortunately.

WonderingAboutBabies · 19/08/2024 09:00

Poor poor dog! Definitely call the RSPCA and also leave a note on the door for the 'sitter' to explain the dog is crying 24/7 and the neighbours need to be notified in order to find another solution. Take a photo/video of you putting this up, and date it. Make a copy and post it through the letter box too.

TheUsualChaos · 19/08/2024 09:02

PrimaryBufferPanel · 19/08/2024 04:53

I’m certain though that everyone can hear that dog crying. In a situation like this you start to think: am I the weird one for finding the dog’s distress distressing if nobody else seemingly gives a shit?

Isn't it more likely that everyone is feeling the same as you and not speaking to anyone about it. Speak to the person feeding. Speak to other neighbours. Report to RSPCA although they won't do a lot. Get people talking. Put a letter in the owners door telling them.how you've been listening to their poor dog crying in distress the entire time they were away enjoying their holidays. Shame them.

Youmeanyouvelostyourkey · 19/08/2024 09:08

I really don't know how people can do this. Our dogs have gone to somewhere where they are fully looked after (in a home, not kennels) with people they know and I still feel flaming guilty.

We even alternate every year so they come with us in the UK and only go to boarding if we are going overseas. I would also feel so guilty for the noise to the neighbours. Oh and I know it was a generalisation upthread but our dogs are "lockdown" dogs so not all lockdown dogs are afterthoughts or badly treated. Ours are more pampered than we are and one of us WFH everyday

Starlight1979 · 19/08/2024 09:11

lololulu · 19/08/2024 08:56

The RSPCA won't do anything if it's fed and let out unfortunately.

Makes you wonder how much they actually care about animals.

Fanlover1122 · 19/08/2024 09:13

Please please please call the RSPCA, this is beyond cruel.

TwinklyAmberOrca · 19/08/2024 09:16

The owners are confusing cats with dogs!

20 minutes a day is not enough stimulation for a dog!

We went away for 1 night and had a friend walk the dogs during the day then sit with them for 4 hours in the evening, then another long walk the next morning!

I'd keep an eye out for the person coming round, let them know that the dog is howling in distress and ask if the owners are back shortly as if not they need to make alternative arrangements. Make it clear that the RCPCA will need to be called otherwise.