PUPPY IN GARAGE

[JasperBoo]

My nephew and his wife are keeping their new puppy in the garage, because they don't believe that dogs should be allowed in living areas.

The garage is at the end of the garden, not attached to the house, and currently contains all the usual rubbish you fill your garage with.

The plan is to empty it, add heating etc, and make it into an office space with the dog in, rather than a dumping ground, but they've been saying that for years.

They say that he will always live outside, and that they will get someone in to train him as a guard dog.

I am really upset at the thought of this puppy being left alone and scared, in a cold, dark, garage, when he could be living inside with the family.

The family will be with him outside when they have time, but they have 2 young kids, 2 cats, and a busy online "influencer" business.

(They have time to use him for their Instagram posts mind you!)

I have sent them info about the RSPCA campaign to change the law so dogs can't be kept outside. I have flagged the risk of getting someone in to train the dog to be a guard dog, rather than taking time themselves to train him to just be a loving family dog. (He's a doberman type).

But right now, I'm mostly just in bits that there is a little puppy being left outside on his own in the garage when he could be having a loving life inside with the family.

They bought him to be a guard dog, and an Instagram tool.

It breaks my heart.

My sister and mum have completely turned on me, because I put a message on their Instagram post of the puppy, asking for a photo of the garage he was living in, and asking why he couldn't live in the house. My sister went as far as to say I'm no longer part of her family if I'm "going for" her son like that.

I did ask them on a private what's app message when i first heard they had a puppy, and they outright lied to me saying he wouldn't be left outside, when this is what they had planned all along apparently. (I live 3 hours from them, it was my sister, his mum, that told me initially, then I saw messages on the Instagram post confirming he wasn't allowed in the house)

Am I being unreasonable to be so worried about this puppy? I honestly am not sure what to do next.

Heated kennels are fine for dogs with others for company but generally for working dogs. Not fine for puppy on its own to be left in the dark and wheeled out as an online accessory/toy.

RSPCA might not do much. I agree I’d out them on SM - fucking ‘influencers’ they sound utterly selfish. Dogs are animals with emotions not a fucking show pony toy to be trotted out for likes!

Yes that's my point. A loved family dog in one culture where it's respectful and kind and also needed for protection is a world away from an overbred designer dog who is simply being expoited for clicks and probably breeding. My colleague was heartbroken, genuinely, because the dog was such a big part of their lives. Unlike these bastards who just want to get it out for clicks. Same with farm dogs, loved and respected in the main even though they sleep outside. This pup isn't an outside dog, it's a neglected, abused, expouted puppy and my blood is boiling just typing.

100% this.

There are circumstances it works but not what the OP has described.

Selfishness of the highest order. Wanting the dog for clicks and likes but not getting in the way of life by being cared for or bothering them, and god forbid it might shed a little fur in the house that they’d have to hoover up.

My blood is equally boiling typing this!

Just wanted to thank everyone for taking the time to respond. I've reported to the RSPCA.x

Keep reporting it and ask others to do so also. Rspca are slow to respond unless a camera crew are following them. I speak from experience. I would also report to local authority dog warden and 101. We've often got a better response from the latter, who can lean on Rspca.

I doubt the RSPCA will do anything because the dog has shelter, bedding, food, drink - these are the bare basics but if they're provided, the RSPCA stand no chance of prosecuting an owner.

Whilst our welfare laws do go further than this, I don't believe there have been any successful prosecutions for failing to socialise a puppy or failing to provide them with company so they don't experience distress, and until there are (and so there is legal precedent) the RSPCA won't go for it. They privately prosecute, they can't 'waste' money attempting to bring weak cases to court when there are plenty of easy wins to be had.

I had to sit and listen to an explanation as to why they could not take action against a trainer who was picking dogs up off the floor by their ears, hanging dogs by slip leads, hitting them in the face, tricking the dog into making mistakes specifically so he could hang or hit (or both) them...

He claimed he 'didn't know it wasn't appropriate'... yet there was and still is, a ton of evidence that this is his training method and always has been. He of course promised he wouldn't do it again... went away and carried on doing exactly as he always had.

What a good idea!!!

They are usually with other dogs and the mum, not just dumped alone.

Op you're right. They're evil for doing that. Puppies in a warm home cry being left alone never mind a garage. Why people want dogs and treat them like this is beyond me.
Don't count on the rspca. They're shit. I reported something similar years ago ans they did nothing.

I agree there RSPCA won't do anything here, sadly.

I'm really hoping that the RSPCA do complete a welfare visit, because I'm not going to get someone to steal him, so the only other alternative is that I'll need to use their business to put pressure on them to do the right thing. They have kids. I've no desire to make them penniless. And that will be the final nail in the coffin for me with my whole family.

I'm giving the RSPCA time to get it done.

But every single night it's breaking my heart to think of him being cold on his own in the garage. He is so little. I need to make sure something is done soon.

The RSPCA won’t do anything and won’t be in any rush to visit.
If they are using the dog on social media you can share the username/ page so pressure can be put on them … it can’t be traced back to you - that’s what social media is all about right? They what to be seen ? … only on this occasion it will be for the wrong reasons 😏
More worryingly this dog won’t be a puppy forever and it will be a traumatised, unsocialised big dog - more likely to attack and dangerous … but that’s what they want it for 🤷🏼‍♀️
Have you said anything to them about their cruelty

….. sorry, just read your first post again and can see you have challenged them.
Outing them on social
media is the only way that I can see to make a difference for this dog. Your sister is a dick

OP, I had similar once with some people in a house I was renting out, I only found out the dog was being kept in a garden house because the neighbours complained about the barking.

DO NOT LET THEM DO THIS.

Call RSPCA repeatedly until action is taken. In the case with my tenants, the dog was rehomed.

Also call Dogs Trust, and any other animal charities. I would also call the police.

Inform all their neighbours via signs through their doors that a dog is being kept outside all winter. Get everyone to complain to the RSPCA, police, anything that there is animal cruelty in their vicinity.

Also - 100% take to their social media and shame them far and wide. They deserve to be ruined. You are not responsible. What matters more - a poor shivering / maltreated dog or their 'followers?' They have brought it on themselves. You have no choice.

If all else fails, go and take the dog yourself. Go to visit and just sneak out with it..

Do you know who the breeder is?

As I said before, if you do, contacting them is a good option. They may well have a contract in place with every home that they sell a dog to, and they won't want one of their puppies being treated like that. They will likely act straight away, unlike the RSPCA, if other posts on here are anything to go by.

Call the RSPCA every hour until action has been taken. Please don't be passive about this. Animal cruelty is not something to wait around about.

Also, OP, as a pp has asked - can you post their SM on here?
Or, just PM me and I will let everyone on their SM know. Nobody will know it's connected to you.

As others have said the RSPCA won't be able to do anything. The puppy has shelter and will no doubt have clean bedding and be fed etc.

It isn't nice to leave a puppy in an out building but I bet it's very common. It'll be how all guard dogs start out I'd guess.

I wouldn’t hesitate to out them. They want to make money from this dog, then they are going to have to deal with the consequences. I bet it’s a monster dog breed that they’re going to tout as being “safe when trained responsibly” (by someone else that they take credit for too).

RSPCA won't do fuck all. He needs to be "stolen" by someone who will care for him

Hateful bastards

You need to go round there and demand the puppy or you'll out them on social media. Something? The RSPCA are not like social services, they don't get government funding so they've had to raise the threshold rightttt up so that now, even abused dogs are not rescued, provided they have food & shelter

It's not illegal if they're feeding it and has blanket and bed, but it is unfair and rspca don't do much,when had a neighbour who would live the dog for 3 days no food just the same water bowl but as it wasn't 4 days and 5 nights wasn't classed as abuse or neglect as wasnt long enough, they also never walked the dog and trained it to be a guard dog, as are druggies. Dog ended up getting run over and the owner was laughing with the guy who hit it and they ended up getting a new puppy. Not much you can do, you can try and report again see if you have any luck, if not I think stealing the puppy is the best idea.

I don't actually condone stealing I was joking but if you can get video evidence if you can does help.

What nasty people. I’d go round there for a cuppa and leave with the poor little puppy .

I called the RSPCA in similar circumstances on relatives and they did come out to inspect. I fell out with the relatives so not sure what happened afterwards, but know they came out. Shocking. Poor little pup.