Thinking a distressed dog in a garden shed overnight is cruel.

[HellsBells67]

My next door neighbour has taken to locking her westie in the garden outbuilding/shed that adjoins her bungalow, overnight. I've no idea why as it's a fairly old little dog and no bother. Does bark a bit at cars when in the garden but so what? Neighbour must be late 70s at least and lives alone. The dog is trying to get out by repeatedly pounding on the door. I looked over the fence a minute ago as the racket made me fearful the neighbour had perhaps had an accident and was banging on the window but no, it's the dog trying to get attention. This has been going on for over an hour and shows no sign of abating. Is this even legal? And I really would have thought an elderly woman living alone would have wanted her dogs companionship overnight, not locking it up in a shed. AIBU to think this is cruel?

I’d go get the poor dog

I agree poor thing, how bloody heartless if he's used to being inside

Of course it’s cruel. Call the dog warden/police/RSPCA.

Your post confuses me.

is tonight the first time or had she been doing this for a little while?

Do you speak to her?
Know her family?

Dog would be on my dogs by now

actually I would go round to her house and tell her face to face that her dog is extremely distressed and should not be shut up on the shed. That might shame her out of it. If she gets argumentative contact the RSPCA. I could not live next door to this. I wouldn’t be able to sleep.

It’s perfectly legal. So long as the dog has shelter, access to food & water.

The dog may be incontinent or keeping her up at night in the house.

It will figure things out and settle down.

lol. RSPCA? How is what she is doing any different from what a kennel does that cares for pets during the day or while owners are on holiday?

And I really would have thought an elderly woman living alone would have wanted her dogs companionship overnight

It really isn't fair on the dog and it sounds distressed but if the lady is in her 70s and the dog is old , maybe it is messing in the house and she cannot cope . Maybe she is worried about tripping over it ?

Not a long term or viable solution to lock the dog in a shed but you don;t know what is going on in her house .
What are the overnight temperatures ?
Is your neighbour approachable ?
Family?

It’s cruel, especially if it has never been shut out before. Poor little dog. I would also go round and knock on her door. Or rescue the dog and take it home.

Sorry for confusing post. It's only tonight I've realised where the noise was coming from but I have heard it before four or five times. I'd previously thought it must be folk doing late DIY after moving in. But it's louder and more persistent tonight and so I suddenly thought I'd better look.

Anyway, am in Scotland and the SPCA says "Dog being kept outside
If you are worried about a dog that is being kept outside, we understand your concerns. However, if the animal has access to appropriate shelter, food and water, then welfare laws in Scotland state that if the animal is healthy then this is allowed, and so we have no legal power to intervene.

I've not had a dog since childhood, had no idea people kept them outdoors. I'll go round in the morning and tell her the dog is clearly distressed whilst she is comfortably asleep indoors. I barely know her, she keeps herself to herself.

I hope no one here goes to work and leaves their dog all alone and without their companionship all day long. That’s far worse than putting them out in a shed/massive dog house to sleep in during the night.

Definitely make her aware you can hear the dog is distressed. A bit of shaming might work wonders. And of course I wouldn’t leave my dog at home all day on his own. I love my pets.

Poor poor dog. So cruel - especially to a little dog like that who loves people.

It's a mild night but she's not terribly approachable. We had a new fence put in two years ago and she went wild about having to move her climbing roses that were growing on it at her side. It's our fence, hers had fallen down but even so, I placated her with flowers and chocolates but it was a slog. She's a little 'odd' to say the least. I don't really care if it's legal now, it's utterly cruel. The dog must have sky high cortisol from the stress now.

Just leave her alone. It’s perfectly legal, it’s none of your business and if she weren’t late 70s, I doubt you’d even dare to pick on her over this.

Quite a lot of working dogs are in outside kennels overnight. It’s really common round here. I have a working cocker and I’m pretty sure the breeder is slightly horrified he’s allowed on our bed… started crate trained then moved to bed in dining room but when we had work done on the house the bed moved to our room and he used it at first, then I had a life changing tragedy and he moved to our bed for cuddles. Dh totally blames me but we used to co sleep with dc so it’s more of the same. Essentially, I don’t like dogs in kennels but it’s still accepted in many circles. I keep seeing outside cat houses/cages being advertised on Amazon now too. So restricting but many mnetters will be happy cats aren’t roaming and God forbid entering their garden.

Maybe they're getting dementia or something get the dog if you can or call the police and rspca.

Are you my neighbour? It's been over an hour of banging and pounding about twenty feet from by bedroom, I couldn't sleep if I tried. I mentioned her age, not because I have a need to pick on older people (am no spring chicken myself) but because I know she lives alone and was concerned it was her banging for help. Pick on her? Dear god.

As an animal lover, I agree its cruel. However, there could be any number of reasons why she puts it in the shed. Even if she is unapproachable I would be knocking on her door and asking if everything is ok as the noise coming from her shed at night time is concerning. I wouldn't be happy listening to an animal in distress each night and would tell her so.

And far from picking on her, she is blissfully asleep and unaware. The household next to of her, not asleep due to the racket. So it may be legal to leave the dog out there but noise abatement may have a role to play here.

Poor dog. I doubt the shed has a bed for the dog or a water bowl. I would say something as it will get very cold in the winter months.

No. I’m much too young to be your neighbour.

Yes, you’d be picking on her if you went and knocked on her door as you said you had every intention of doing.

Now you know the banging isn’t her thumping S-O-S, you have no reason to interfere.

Is there a window of some sort in the shed or is it likely to be pitch black in there, just to add to the situation ? It probably stinks in there too if it has to pee or poo, poor thing.

eh???????? It’s a living fucking creature. Either have a pet or don’t. Animal abuse sympathiser

I have no reason whatsoever to 'interfere' now as she's gone and brought it in, finally.