Rspca

[An0n0n0n]

Someone is keeping a pet in an unsuitable condition. The person is nice but i don't feel confident enough to approach them. My partner wants us to stay out of it. Should I phone rspca? I'm worried that if I summon the courage to talk to them and nothing changes I will need to report it but then they will know it was me.

Does anyone have any idea how to approach this?

Honestly, does the pet have access to food water and shelter? If so the RSPCA are unlikely to do anything

They only seem to do anything in the case of very serious cruelty

Dogs being kept outside in the rain and cold are of no concern to them as long as the dogs chain is long enough to allow it to shelter under a bush, other pets in ramshackle or too small housing are a similar story

Report anyway in case you get lucky but don’t expect change I’m afraid. Just phone the RSPCA anonymously and see if you get anywhere, don’t talk to the neighbours until you have tried the RSPCA first but don’t go into this expecting a big rescue operation from them

Is it a neighbour? What is 'unsuitable' the setting? Treatment?

It has food and water and is loved but in terms of housing it is well below minimum levels. Think guinea pig in a hamster cage.

Why not have a word with the local council? They will have an animal welfare department and can appoint inspectors with all of the powers of the Animal Welfare Act. Even speak to the dog warden who might be willing to go and have a chat with them?

RSCA is a bad idea. If they decide to do anything it is likely to lead to a dead animal and a prosecution.

I would report it. At the very least they can check on the animal and work with the owner to improve the living conditions

Talk to the owner first. The RSPCA have high rates of euthanising animals so it’s best to try to get the animal’s situation sorted out with the owner first of all.

If they love the pet, and this is someone you know fairly well, would they not respond well to a kind approach and advice? If it is purely ignorance that is leading them to mistreat the pet, not malice/laziness, that is?

You don't have to accuse them of anything, could you not tell a white lie and say you were thinking of getting a guinea pig yourself (or your Mum/sister in law/friend delete as appropriate is) and you were surprised to find out how much space they need, or something like that to trigger a discussion? Or if they are the kind of person that would look at something like that, share links to a guinea pig forum or MN's small pets board or something, if they read through almost any thread the first thing that will come up is space requirements? Or can you 'come across' a guinea pig care book or suitable large cage on ebay/freecycle/facebook/charity and ask if they'd like to have it?

I think personally I would try the softly softly approach first and hope to get through to them that way rather than going striaght to the RSPCA, even at the risk of them getting upset with me because in my experience of the RSPCA (admittedly not to do with small pets) they don't do much except in cases of extreme cruelty/neglect and because they look and dress like the 'police' a visit from an inspector can really upset/frighten vulnerable people. But of course you know this person best and if what's needed is a shock into action then ofc you should do it...

I really would like to try the softly softly approach but we are more acquaintances than friends and while i know it's not malice I think it's just a difference of opinion on standards. Which is partly why im not sure how much difference I can make softly softly because there are so issues. My main concern is the houssing is so unsuitable but i know that the animal isn't getting a proper diet either and the other occasional thing.

My big worry is making a suttle suggestion on housing and that person not sorting it out because then that person KNOWS it was me and they are just a normal person, not what you imagine an 'animal abuser' to be. The good thing about an animal enforcement person is that that they can make a full assessment of the situation and hold them to account. But then I feel like a real shit because the person doesnt deserve the drama of a scary visit.