How can people not care for their animals?

[Sweetdreamsbeautifulnightmare]

We have a new neighbour who moved in a few months ago who has a guinea pig. I get on well with the neighbour and we have socialised. However, she doesn’t look after the guinea pig. I can see it from my garden and it’s never fed nor cleaned out. I’ve hinted at it and she says she doesn’t care about it 😔 she’s basically waiting for it to die! I offered to look after it myself and she skirted around it.

I said again how we would love a guinea pig shall we take it for you and she just kind of ignored me!

However, over the last two weeks it hasn’t been cleaned out and I hear it squealing. When I know she’s gone out to work (she works in a care home and leaves the same time every day) I sneak in and feed it! However I only give it greens and veggies etc.

I’ve now noticed its food bowl of pellets is empty and it has no hay at all either and hasn’t for days. I then went and got some hay and food and have been sneaking that in too! I feel so sorry for it as I’d give it a lovely home and let it run on the grass etc.. this one never comes out at all.

I don’t know what else I can do though? I know he has some annual leave soon so won’t be leaving at the same time for me to sneak in the garden! What would you do?! I genuinely feel so upset for the poor baby!

That’s a good idea, say that the vet recommended it. OP sounds like a good fit for this guinea pig, two would be happy together.

Even the animal whose "offal" you suggest buying?

Some people just do not deserve the privilege of owning an animal!!!! @Sweetdreamsbeautifulnightmare OP @Saddm has made a really good suggestion of offering money & I agree money talks. Your neighbour will probably bite your hand off & if her son would like to still see the guinea pig then at least you are showing him the perfect example in how to look after a pet. Thank you for caring OP ❤️

I can tell you really care about the animal and understand your reluctance but please report it.

@MyDailyCake synthetic blood then.

It would be just my luck that they’d hate each other 😂

This. If she asks where it is say you reported her to the rspca and they took it away.

I think rescue the guinea pig but find someone on a guinea pig Facebook group who can adopt him/her into an existing group. Then the neighbour won't see her stolen guinea pig at your house! People are so cruel.

This would upset me so much I would have to take it, I would then take it to a rescue.
we did this once with a neglected kitten and rehomed it with family where it had a long happy life, the neighbour didn't give a shit just assumed it had run away.
I cant bear animal cruelty and Im with you, I would despise the neighbour

Don’t do that. Piggies need matching up. Stealing it and leaving the door open is the best way. Contact a local piggy sanctuary.

I had the same issue and I tried everything. She died before I managed to get her (but I got the other pet finally)

You are spot on it is the whole ‘idea’ of having a pet and how amazing it will be without thinking through the practicalities of it and the impact of that on day to day living and let’s not forget it is not cheap either!

People just do not think through what it involves when taking on a pet.

I'd take it and wouldn't ever apologise for it. If she ever asked about it, I'd tell her I rescued it since she what she was doing was animal cruelty and I won't tolerate it. Then I'd suggest we call the police and see what they have to say about it, if she's that bothered. She'll back down. Vile bitch.

The dog next door is left on its own for days on end. It howls and barks in distress. It’s never left the house in its life. They also have birds locked in a cage the size of a small fridge, who screech angrily all day. RSPCA say they can’t do anything.

Please intervene in some way, it will be suffering. They are grazing animals and need a constant supply of food. Hay is essential to keep their digestion working and stop their teeth from overgrowing. They also need food with vitamin C as their bodies can’t store it. Its potentially already very poorly.

@Gowlett agree. We rehomed a little terrier dog from dogs trust. He was 3 years old when we got him. He shook all the way to our home when we were driving home.
For 3 years he’d been locked in a room, only allowed out to toilet. He was stick thin.
We had him for 11 fantastic years - we even moved house to give him better dog walks lol.
He passed away on Monday. Very suddenly. I miss his little face.

DO NOT REPORT TO THE RSPCA!!!

I did exactly this re my neighbours - I was promised anonymity. They TOLD HIM IT WAS ME and he started a hate campaign that lasted until we moved. Worst 2 years of my life, truly awful. The RSPCA are mainly focused on the RSPCA and it's 'campaigns' and not helping animals in the UK ime.

So sorry about your dog ❤️

Animal cruelty breaks my heart. I hope she changes her mind and lets you have the Guinea Pig. What a shithead she is.

It absolutely enrages me when morons treat animals this way - what the fuck did they buy it for in the first place if they couldn't be arsed to look after the poor thing? This has always baffled me, why do people do it?

Regardless of what others have said I would ring the RSPCA anyway and see what they say - they might do something. If not they are better placed to advise you than anyone on here. Ultimately it doesn't matter if the guinea pig goes to you or to another loving family, so long as it is rehomed with people who love it.

I’d take it home!! Take it home, clean it, feed it and tell the neighbour that you hear the poor thing squealing and you can’t bear to see the animal suffering. Guinea pigs need friends too so you’ll need to get another one. It’s illegal in some countries to keep them alone 😞

We had a similar situation with a neighbour and a tiny kitten. In the end I catnapped it. Cost me a small fortune in kitten formula milk (she was only about 7 weeks old!) and vet bills but she’s now a thriving house cat living a happy life.

… be nice to them neighbour when you tell her, but be clear that it’s really suffering. If she complains then I’d be inclined to let the RSPCA KNOW

It’s sounding like the best option is to steal it and rehome it somewhere. She will be happy as she clearly doesn’t care. I think he was a birthday present for her son who now isn’t bothered. He’s so flighty as he isn’t handled so God knows how I’d catch him!

You've just answered your own question. You're 'so upset over the poor baby' but don't care enough to report it for fear of upsetting someone you don't like.

Scooping him up quickly into a tea towel and into a waiting cat basket might work.

She’s my neighbour and our sons go to school together. I don’t want to fall out with her but want to help the poor animal.