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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder if I should do anything about the dog next door?

7 replies

Chefpig · 26/01/2026 20:13

They have two. Elderly couple. Gosh, they're bloody noisy. The woman shouts a lot at one of the dogs. One of the dogs, the one she shouts at barks almost all day with maybe 20 minute intervals, then barking for five minutes. It drives me insane. They do shout at the dog who barks to shut up but shouting at animals doesn't work and it's cruel. They also shout when the dog has an accident indoors. They're usually in when the dog is barking so they know it barks. They know I can hear it as I can hear them talking and so they can likely hear me, and when I've been in the middle of a work meeting I've shouted through the walls to shut the dog up. It's relentless.

Anyway, the quieter dog of the two was out in the yard tonight and it's the first time I've seen it and its obviously old. It was chunky, but it was frail as old dogs often are. It couldn't walk comfortably, had a real wobble to it and it's right side seemed bulky like it had a lump maybe.

My priority is the welfare of the dog. Is it ever ok for an elderly dog to be walking like that? I mean, it's walking like an old man or lady might be but I felt massively sorry for it. Can I take action? I wouldn't feel comfortable speaking to the couple. They've pissed me off massively with their antisocial noise, often waking me up at 11pm gone with their shouting and the dog barking.

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Chefpig · 26/01/2026 20:16

The man also makes moaning sounds from 8pm every night for about half an hour. I wonder if that's something medical though.

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Stickytoffeetartt · 26/01/2026 20:55

You could definitely report it to the rspca, it won't do any harm to get their input. The poor animals, do they ever get walked or are they cooped up all the time? No wonder they are going bananas by the sound of your neighbours.

Chefpig · 26/01/2026 21:22

Stickytoffeetartt · 26/01/2026 20:55

You could definitely report it to the rspca, it won't do any harm to get their input. The poor animals, do they ever get walked or are they cooped up all the time? No wonder they are going bananas by the sound of your neighbours.

Thank you @Stickytoffeetartt. I've never seen them walk the dogs at all. Both neighbours seem frail themselves. One walks with a stick.

I hope the elderly dog is on medication or pain management for their bones as they seemed so rickety when I saw them walk. Poor little soul.

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Placetobreathe · 26/01/2026 21:24

I think you should report your concerns to the RSPCA - if you are in England. In Scotland it would be the SSPCA but I dont know about in other countries.

They would keep your name out of it but should do a visit to check on the poor dogs and at the very least give advice to your neighbours

hiredandsqueak · 26/01/2026 21:45

I think you should ask the RSPCA to do a welfare check as they might be able to offer your neighbours some support. I have a 16 year old dog and she looks really scrawny despite my feeding her good quality food and her getting plenty of treats but at her last senior dog check 6 weeks ago the vet gave her a clean bill of health and said her frailty was nothing to worry about.

Stickytoffeetartt · 27/01/2026 16:37

That's awful, dogs need to be walked. Lazy owners should not be allowed. There's no excuse, it's easy to hire a dog walker if a person isn't able. Completely selfish owning a dog in those circumstances. Definitely ring the RSPCA or similar.

Chefpig · 27/01/2026 20:24

Thanks everyone. I suspect the elderly dog couldn't walk far. When I saw the dog the other day he/she was very wobbly walking just like an old person.

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