Urgent advice needed regarding neighbour

[littlemissmummyof3]

So I have a neighbour that lives in a 2 up 2 down with 4 dogs and a 3 year old. I did hear her talking to her dad that she's actually got 5 which is more than she's legally allowed in her property from what I can gather, Her garden is riddled with dog faeces and everytime she opens her front door (she's attached to me) the smell is of something I cannot describe. She has apparently taken on 3 of these dogs (XL bullies) for her "partner" who is never there, and I personally think (hate to speculate) is using her. The dogs are never walked, never leave the house and bark constantly. She leaves them all inside with her child while she goes outside for cigarettes and brags about how when they try and bite her she "throws a bucket of water on them". She said because she doesn't have the room for them she keeps 2 in the downstairs toilet, two in the cupboard under the stairs (of which she has cut the top third off and they chewed through much of it). The other week she asked me to come and look at her tv because it looked a funny colour. And while I know our houses can't be pristine all the time or tidy, you couldn't see the floor for pooey dog prints and you couldn't see through the back doors. I have never seen or smelt anything like it. This woman needs a lot of help, and to be honest I fear for her child. Who do I contact and what do I do? I feel like there will be repercussions if I report as I'm the only person she's told about the situation she is living. Currently she's gone away for the weekend, she said someone is coming to tend to the dogs and I haven't seen or heard anyone, all I can hear are the dogs barking and crying 😭

Social services, anonymously, ASAP. That poor child.

Op you need to report to social services when she is home.

Social services for child
RSPCA or local dog charity for dogs

This isn't about telling on her it's the welfare of pets and children. If the circumstances are fine nothing more will happen but if not she will be given support (for child) and likely have dogs removed. (Sounds safer)

Please do this today

Social services for the child. RSPCA for the dogs. Both are pretty useless. But it’s the best you can do

Social services and RSPCA

Agree. Social services for the child and RSPCA now while the dogs are left alone. They won’t care about the state of the home so long as they have food and shelter.

Who do I contact and what do I do?

Contact social services ASAP. That is an extremely unsafe living environment for that 3 year old. Do it as soon as you can. There have been too many tragedies involving powerful dogs and children. She sounds like an unfit dog owner and a neglectful mother.

This woman needs help even if she dosent recognise it. Agree social services and RSPCA. She may not thank you tomorrow but she will eventually when she is back on the right track

There's not 5 dogs living next door but sadly six. Ring the RSPCA dogs shouldn't be left all weekend.

RSPCA right now, and social services

As a retired SW I can say that SS need to be informed of this. From what you have said those home conditions do not sound appropriate for a small child to be living in. If they visit I would imagine they would be insistent on the dogs being removed and the home and garden being cleaned to an acceptable standard. They might even remove the child into either a family or foster placement until this is done if it is very bad.

Are the dogs ears cropped? (I suspect they are) Ring the police if so. It’s illegal and I know the police were asking people to report it. If they go round they’ll surely instigate a welfare check. Also, keep ringing the council, RSPCA, social services, on a loop. This is disgusting. Those dogs are a ticking time bomb and it will be the poor child that will pay the price.

she sounds a bit simple.
however sorry you may feel for her, that child is at real and continuing risk.
that needs to be your priority. how would you feel if the child came to harm ?
his/her health may have already been compromised.

please act now.
let us know how it goes.
good luck.

If she's gone away and left the dogs on their own I would call the police now. If its a suspected banned breed they should be interested. Even if they aren't banned this sounds like a tragedy just bound to happen.

The person coming to feed the dogs might be the partner ( owner of three of them) or her Dad .
I'm guessing you don't want to be interacting with partner ( I don't think I would either TBH)

Unfortunately there will come a day when a bucket of water will either antagonish these poor animals into reacting or she steps up the punishment and hurts one .
there will be a casualty here

Social services (re child safety) when she comes back,

meanwhile, RSPCA ASAP re dogs mistreated

Thanks for your responses everyone, I will be contacting the RSPCA and Social Services. Will keep you updated x

Poor dogs. And poor kid.

Good luck OP. It's the right thing to do.

Jesus the poor child! And those animals.. I love animals and that’s a level of cruelty that I cannot abide. Dogs need to be walked and have good care. They don’t want to be surrounded by faeces either.
As for the more pressing issue of the child- accident waiting to happen with the dogs. Serious illness from the filth.
phone every conceivable authority

Go to a phone box, ring emergency Social Services and they will send the police round. This child is on borrowed time already.

Good idea ❤️

Have reported to the RSCPA, nobody has been as of yet. Will contact SS when her DC is home x

I also contacted police who told me they couldn't do anything, it is a matter for SS and the RSCPA. Broke my heart hearing those dogs crying lastnight.

Your local council Dog Warden too.