Page 2 | To be wondering about phoning the RSPCA

imnotmamagbutshelovesme · 08/11/2008 12:56

How can you say it isn't neglect, alardi?

Littleladyloulou · 08/11/2008 13:31

Alardi you have spectacularly missed the point.

I was painting a scenario that gave YOUR (minority) view the benefit of the doubt. (why did I bother).

I hope that the thread is pointless for the sake and welfare of the dogs.

Are you an animal owner?

MadCreamLady · 08/11/2008 13:57

I think you should phone the RSPCA, however, i would not be entirely surprised if there is very little they can or will do. This is mostly because very often, unless there are visible signs of severe abuse or neglect, their hands are tied. I could be wrong.

Has the OP seen these dogs like this on more than one occasion? If she has then yes, phone them. If not, maybe go back and "keep an eye".

We don't know anything about the owner of these dogs. I am a bit surprised there is wee and poo tbh - i used to have a rottie and, rightly or wrongly, used to leave him indoors all day on occasion - he always managed to wait til we got home. Most days someone took him out for a walk at mid day. There could be lots of reasons why these dogs are being left in the porch though.

Is there absolutely no access to outside? or even inside?

I would be inclined to intervene - it might be that the owner of the dogs is actually no longer able to take care of them due to illness? Unsure what to do for the best? In those circs, they might actually APPRECIATE a visit from the RSPCA and something can be done. If they are just shit dog owners, unless the dogs are showing physical signs of neglect there will be very little that can be done sadly.

MadCreamLady · 08/11/2008 14:02

Another, but not necessarily relevant point - the lastest trend, and a very effective trend it is too, in dog training is crate training. This does involve dogs being locked or put in cages for fairly long periods of time - i don't think that the dogs suffer any detriment to this. They don't tend to deficate in their own beds though, and should obviously be allowed out to do their business. The wee and poo is a worry suggesting that the dogs are not being attended to. If i had seen the dogs but there was water apparent and no mess, i wouldn't be overly concerned. So long as the dogs are not cramped or squashed up, i don't think they will mind really - big dogs are often fairly lazy animals and will quite happily sleep for most of the day.

OrmIrian · 08/11/2008 14:04

Yes phone.

Big dogs are hard work. If the owners aren't able to care for them properly they should be elsewhere.

Littleladyloulou · 08/11/2008 14:18

madcreamlady - I have never got my head round keeping dogs locked in cages all day.

Since when did this become OK? and why do people do it? (genuinely curious)

I can't see any benefit for the dog in crate training. I can only see benefit for the owner to keep the animal all day in one small contained space.

It might sound critical but I think it's selfish. I would rather not have a dog than have one in a cage all day, can't even walk two metres poor things.

souroldtrout · 08/11/2008 14:24

PROPER crate training has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with locking your dog in a small crate all day.

Done properly it is very helpful when training some breeds of dog, in certain circumstances. There are some posts on the pet forum about it. If you are going out to work all day and using your crate to confine your dog you're doing it wrong!

Millarkie · 08/11/2008 14:33

I would ring and report it.
When we have been out for more than 4 hours in a day, we have put our dog into our utility room (which could be considered a porch-type area) where one of her beds is. This is so that the dog-walker can come and pick her up easily without having to unlock the house and unset/reset the house alarm...but our dog has water and toys in this area (and a huge chew if she's in it for a little while) and she would not have to poo/wee there.... the fact that the dogs have messed inside the house makes me think that they are being left there a long time, since most dogs will have to be very desperate before they mess inside.

Original poster

dilemma456 · 08/11/2008 14:36

Message withdrawn

OP posts:

Littleladyloulou · 08/11/2008 14:47

Thanks for the info souroldtrout. I actually know of someone who put her dog in the cage for the full day whilst she was at work (she was a colleague and wasn't embarrased about it in the slightest. I was .

Obviously she had misunderstood/was selfishly using cage for her own convenience. I thought it was awful. Am glad to hear that it is meant to be used as a training tool for certain breeds rather than a prison cell to stop dogs "messing up" the house.

dilemma456 - well done. RSPCA don't want to have to remove animals from their owners (not least because it adds to the numbers awaiting rehoming and takes funds away from truly desperate cases), they will try to work with owners to help them.

souroldtrout · 08/11/2008 16:16

Glad you phoned the RSPCA dilemma - t'was the right thing to do, I think.

littleladyloulou - that is grim. Is she still doing it? Perhaps you should direct HER to the RSPCA?!

Littleladyloulou · 08/11/2008 17:38

I don't work there any more souroldtrout - twas 2.5 years ago

Or I would seriously consider it - colleague, friend or not there is no excuse for treating animals without the respect you would treat people.

Lovesdogsandcats · 08/11/2008 18:03

oh alardi you are pissing me off.
This IS neglect.
Would YOU keep dogs like this?
Yoy probably would.
It is CRUEL!!!!!!

OP, ring the RSPCA, how this must be affecting them mentally, well you can imagine.

bubblagirl · 08/11/2008 18:08

if theres no water or shade for the dog and no adequate space for 2 large animals to movea round with no fresh air then its neglect report it the worse that will be done is they'll geta slap on the wrists and told how to keep there dogs properly if this is abided which they will check then dogs will be taken away

you are not allowed to leave a dog in the car with no window open so why leave in a porch with no air no water and no shade

Lovesdogsandcats · 08/11/2008 18:09

dilemma, if people are not sure whether or not to report someone to the RSPCA, it is always better to do so because they are the experts and will tell you if your concerns are valid.

If RSPCA turn up to find animals well looked after, no prob - they can walk into my house any day or night, to see how I care for my animals and all pet owners should be able to say this...

wickedwitch81 · 08/11/2008 19:20

well said lovesdogsandcats I would be more than welcome to show any RSPCA inspector or anyone for that matter to come and see my 2 king charles, 1 cat, 1 budgie, 2 giant african land snails and rabbit, that they are well looked after

alardi · 08/11/2008 20:07

I'mNotMamaG-etc:
I did misread something in OP, didn't realise she said it was second time she'd seen them there like that.

It had seemed to me that the OP was saying that she had only seen the dogs in a porch for (at most) a few minutes on a single occasion, that she couldn't be sure there wasn't water in there with them, and that she only had a single neighbour's word for it that the dogs were left in there for long periods.

Evidence of neglect was not clear-cut.

I would be terrified if anyone with legal powers came around to accuse me of something, especially neglect or abuse, on the word of someone I couldn't confront so I couldn't understand or explain what they had seen or perceived, whether or not I was guilty. But it would be much worse if I knew I hadn't actually done anything wrong. It would upset me deeply that someone thought that badly of me. But guess I'm the only sensitive person around.