Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Flip

Original poster

Is it normal for a dog to be kept in a cage for more than 24 hours? Please help, considering calling RSPCA

21 replies

angelene · 03/05/2009 09:14

You'll have to excuse my ignorance as I am really not a 'pet' person at all.

Next door there is a dog (smallish, unsure as to breed) which is often kept in a cage and I never see it outside. The owner is what my mum would call 'a few sandwiches short of a picnic', she does work every day as a chef, she goes out early and I rarely see her.

I often hear the dog kind of yelping/wailing, but it was going on ALL DAY yesterday, and started again at first light this morning - DH had been up watching the boxing and when he came back upstairs I woke up and heard the dog again.

I think I really should call the RSPCA. I can see through the back sort-of-porch thing (really dilapidated, window frames have rotted away etc but that's another story) that the dog is in a cage, I can't see very well but there doesn't seem to be any water there.

My plan is to knock loudly on the front door and if she answers to say that I'd heard the dog for a good long while and was just checking that she was OK as she lives on her own. If I don't get an answer I'll call the RSPCA - it may be worse than just the dog to be honest.

Do you think this is fair enough or am I interfering? I don't think there'd be many reprisals as such, she would probably just grumble about me which I could handle. Apparently another neighbour has called the RSPCA in the past.

What do you think?

OP posts:

DoodleFluUseATissue · 03/05/2009 09:18

Knock on the door and if she isn't there, make a more concerted effort to see what condition the dog is in. The dog might be in the crate but the door could be open and it could have access to water etc. Check your facts before you act.

If you're sure the dog is locked in, call the RSPCA immediately.

Bollocks to who thinks what about you. Look out for that dog because he won't be making any judgements about you!

morethanyoubargainfor · 03/05/2009 09:20

i would call them, it better for the dog if it is being mis treated, if the RSPCA don't find any cause for concern your mind will be at rest, IYKWIM.

I would alos keep a note on what you hear and when regarding the dog.

Original poster

angelene · 03/05/2009 09:23

I think if anything it's neglect rather than mistreatment. I'll see what I can get to see but it is a bit tricky because these tatty venetian blinds are down and I have to peer through the gaps.

Come to think of it, I haven't seen the cat for a few days either.

OP posts:

morethanyoubargainfor · 03/05/2009 09:24

neglect is mistreatment. How ever you look at it.

KingCanuteIAm · 03/05/2009 09:30

If the dog is locked up, the cat is missing and you have not seen the owner then yes you need to so something. The RSPCA tend to come out quicker than anyone else so I would go with that.

Original poster

angelene · 03/05/2009 09:30

I know, I think she probably doesn't realise though IYSWIM so it's not really deliberate. Not phrasing this very well, sorry!

OP posts:

TrinityIsLovingHerLittleRhino · 03/05/2009 09:32

If it were me I would call

good luck

Original poster

angelene · 03/05/2009 09:37

OK, thanks all. I will knock on the door at 10 and will let you know what happens.

KingCanute you have put it very clearly - thanks.

[gulp]

OP posts:

FairMidden · 03/05/2009 09:51

The RSPCA are better placed than you are to determine whether the situation is acceptable or not.

While I wouldn't generally advocate calling them in at the drop of a hat, if it becomes clear to your neighbour that it was you who called them then it is unlikely to improve neighbourly relations. If the RSPCA do turn up and find there's no problem then great and it might give your neighbour some food for thought. If they do find a problem then they can deal with it for the dog's benefit.

bella29 · 03/05/2009 09:51

You can call the RSPCA anonymously. They can come out and leave a note for the owner to contact them. If they don't get a response then they can act.

Regardless of the owner's motives, animals left without water (if that's the case) can die, so you need to act.

Much better safe than sorry. You could, quite literally, save an animal's life here.

purpleduck · 03/05/2009 10:10

"Ithink if anything it's neglect rather than mistreatment"

Neglect is maybe not taking the dog out for a walk as much as needs {etc}
This is mistreatment, and worse (abuse? Is that the next "step" up?). Please do something - if that dog has no water it will die

Original poster

angelene · 03/05/2009 11:13

OK, well I've had another look and there is a bowl in there, I can't see if it's full of water or anything.

I banged on the door and there was no answer, however as luck would have it I saw the neighbour on the other side at the same time.

He saw her son there yesterday and said that she is doing her usual 12 hour shift at the nursing home and will be back about 6. Her son is back around though and will probably be back later - so I will try and look out for him.

I think I'll keep an eye out for them and have a word later. It's obviously good news that they have been back in because I hadn't seen or heard anything for 36 hours.

Incidentally her son is a nightmare - last time he lived with her there were about 3 dogs, 4 cats, some birds and various small animals - this is in a small terraced house! He appeared to be going through a crisis of sexuality which was played out via the medium of the garden, you have never seen so many gnomes, garishly coloured plastic butterflies and, erm, fairies in one place. The animals would all go out and crap in the garden and they wouldn't clear up, I had to have a word because the stink meant we couldn't use our garden. He has also been reported to the RSPCA about the dogs.

I will try and have a word later and see how that goes, and then maybe call the RSPCA anyway. At least the people there are alive and well!

OP posts:

edam · 03/05/2009 11:16

"He appeared to be going through a crisis of sexuality which was played out via the medium of the garden." ROFL!

Saltire · 03/05/2009 11:22

At least someone has been in, I would just say to him, if you see him "is everything ok, I heard the dog yelping" or words to that effect.

Madenwurm · 03/05/2009 11:42

It's still much too long. I would call RSPCA I'm afraid. Leaving a dog occasionally for around 4 hours would probably be the maximum that the RSPCA would recommend.

junglist1 · 03/05/2009 11:49

Call them and hopefully they'll take the pets off her and they can go to the loving homes they deserve. If you speak to them first they'll definetely know it's you. The dog is wailing because he's scared, lonely and probably ill.

Original poster

angelene · 03/05/2009 18:19

I've called the RSPCA and they have passed the details on to an officer, they didn't say when they would be doing anything. They won't be passing details on or anything, if the worst comes to the worst I suppose I would be prepared to be a witness.

We're also periodically banging on the door and if we do see them then say that we were worried for the owner's safety as much as anything - which is true to be honest.

We're trying to do all this without letting on to the eagle-eyed DD, who would be very upset if she had any idea what is happening.

OP posts:

bella29 · 03/05/2009 18:22

Well done, Angelene. Given that the RSPCA have been involved previously I think it's essential they are kept informed like this.

If you want to you are entitled to request to know the outcome, which is usually within a month.

KingCanuteIAm · 03/05/2009 18:29

Well done angelene, as you say it is gret news that teh owner has been seen. It is also good that you still called the RSPCA, if they have previous involvment then, hopefully, a door knock will be all that is needed to get tehm to buck their ideas up a bit!

Original poster

angelene · 03/05/2009 18:33

Thanks - we'll see what happens.

I'm having a cup of tea and then going off for a run as I've got that kind of nervous fluttery feeling in my stomach. Just hope it all turns out OK.

OP posts:

wotulookinat · 03/05/2009 18:33

Really if the woman does 12 hour shifts, then a dog isn't the best pet for her. I hope the RSPCA come soon.

Flip