Should I phone the RSPCA...... would you?

[zephyrcat]

When we first moved into our house 2 years ago we were looking into getting 2 Alaskan Malamutes. We spent a good couple of months learning about them and we now have a folder full of info on them! We decided it wasnt the right time as they need alot of space and exercise. Anyway - I noticed that a family down the road had a similar dog in a cage at the front of their garden but couldnt see properly as it was dark. The next time I went past I saw it properly - it was so skinny you could see its ribs. It loked miserable and was standing in its own excrement. I nearly reported them then. I assume that dog died because the cage disappeared and they now have two new Alaskan Malamutes. They've had these ones for almost a year and they dont seem to be growing any bigger. Their garden is over-run with rubbish - an old car, bits of bikes, old matresses etc and a couple of months ago the whole lot caught fire including the kennel! Quite often the dogs are tied to a pole in the front garden, I've never seen them out walking with them.
Do I call someone or mind my own business??!!

I'd call - let them check on the situation. Fortunately you know about dogs so have recognised a potential prob.

Definitely call!

Yes, call the RSPCA.

I would definately phone the RSPCA.

Call....

I would and have called in the past in the case of a neglected dog. They will defo check it out and you can be annonymous if you want.

what are you calling them for? the rubbish in the garden?

how do you know for definate that they arent walking the dogs?

I only ask because we got accussed of not walking our dogs when my husband was walking them before and after work IN THE DARK. It really got my goat.

As for the rubbish, report them to the council/environmental health

I would call.
If you're wrong and they're looking after the dogs properly, well they might be annoyed, but it won't kill them. On the other hand, if you're right but do nothing....

thats what I'm thinking - i dont want to report them and end up looking like an idiot over nothing! My biggest concern is the state in which they kept the previous one and the fact that i know these dogs need an awful lot of space - they're house is as full as the garden lol
I was just wondering if the rspca would go and do a check just in case or if they wont because the dogs look ok other than being very small.
Also if they go and check do they let you know the outcome?

zephyrcat - call.

A friends partner who has dogs, goes to work all day, and they dogs are left in the garden, in a large run with a fantasic kennel, better than some homes , (he always walks them at least twice a day if not more if he can) yet because they bark occasionally (and one day for a long time)(prob cause the Nbour was inthe garden allday) the neighbours reported him for cruelty.

When the RSPCA came round they were astonished on how well thse dogs were looked after. The neighbours complained once more and the RSPCA told them to stop wasting their time, these dogs were excellently looked after etc.

Also my sister was reported for letting her cat out all hours, the fact she couldnt get the bl**dy thing to come in.

The RSPCA, came and inspected the cat and went away satisfied

Last one honest.

The dog my sister had from the dogs home, was an alastian and she was soooo timid she would cower & tremble when anyone came near.

We learnt that she had been tied with a chain to a post, the chain was about 1 metre long only and she had no shelter, she had to eat sleep & sh*t in that space, she was fed once a day on not a lot, and beaten regularly.

She would cower more with Men than women, but if you so much as raised your hand to your head to scratch etc, she was tremble and back away.

She lived to a very long age, as she was loved soo much by my sister and us.

It was dreadful, she would also cringe etc at large lorries going past in the street.

If I could have got my hands on the b*stard who had done this.

Ronnibaby, same here. We fostered a fantstic little Jack Russell who had been previously mistreated. Initially she was terrified if anyone went near her but gradually improved a huge amount, although never a 'normal' dog. Somebody anonymously called the RSPCA coz they obviously saw her and assumed we had been the ones that had cause her so much distress. They turned up, met us, met the doggy, looked around the house and gave us a completeley clean bill of health. We now also foster abused dogs for the RSPCA.
I'm very pleased that somebody cared enough to call the RSPCA but I just wish somebody had done it to the previous ba*** owners.

Call and report them anonymously.

I have a cat from a rescue centre who had been mistreated. It took me 3 weeks to coax him out from underneath my bed and he wouldn't so much as come within 6 feet of me or my partner for almost a year. Almost 5 years later and he is still quite jumpy although he is now incredibly affectionate and trusting towards me, more so than any pet I've ever known. It took 2 years for him to warm to my DH who is a real 'cat person' and almost 3 years to be affectionate with the kids. Whoever abused him, really did a nasty job

I'd deffinetly call just to put my mind at rest. You've got nothing to loose, if anything you might save the dogs if indeed they are being mistreated.

You should definately call. If there is nothing wrong then the rspca will just go on their way but if the dogs are being neglected or abused in any way you will be able to ease their suffering and maybe even save their lives (especially in the light of the dog that 'disappeared').

please call!

KEEPING A DOG IN A CAGE???? call the rspca absolutly.

CALL THEM PLEASE!!!

I will definately call them - i've got the reassurance i needed now to stop me feeling like a 'nosey neighbour' !! Once they have been and checked out the house and the dogs will they get back to me or once i have passed it to the rspca is it just their business? (Not that it matters - i'd just be relieved to hear the dogs are safe!!)

i would call them as well, I can't stand any one mis treating animals esp dogs. that breed needs at least 3 miles a day so i've heard as u prob know.

My friend has a lovely collie, and she is allowed to run around the whole time, but as they have friends who have kids (like) and the kids are frightened, they put her in a cage, but it is in the house, and in full sight of us, almost like a kennel, but at least she can see them and isnt out side

dd1 friend has a GSD who gors i na cage when new people come round. when dd1 was asking about getting a dog she thhought all dogs went in cages.

If their last dog was in such a state, it doesn't sound likely that they've turned into animal-loving saints since. I'd call the RSPCA.