DO I COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT I REGARD AS NEGLECT...OR NOT?

[whispywhisp]

My neighbour has two guinea pigs living in a hutch in her garden. I am a guinea pig owner myself and hate to see any animal, especially guineas, being neglected. These two pigs are only about 6mths old. They're in a hutch which is, imo, too small. They rarely see the light of day due to a very soaked duvet cover being draped over their hutch - presumably to keep them warm/dry but considering the fact its soaked I hardly think it helps. About every 4 days the cover is lifted and then put back down again. Yesterday it was lifted and I noticed the pigs were both hanging off their water bottle and both hungrily eating from their bowl. I know that if the cover isn't lifted those pigs do not see a human hand. The neighbour rarely goes out into the garden unless it is to put her bin out and even then they get ignored.

I had to try and find an excuse to go into her garden today because I could see both the pigs were sat beside their empty bowl so I decided to put her wheelie bin back into her garden. I was horrified at what I saw...their hutch is a good two inches deep in soaked newspaper and absolutely littered with their waste. Their backsides are soaked and they looked so unhappy.

I gave the neighbour a bin liner full of lovely lush meadow hay only a couple of weeks ago and a big bag of food...she's a single Mum so I thought it'd help.

I went to her opened shed and found some hay which was wet thru (her shed roof leaks) but I put some in anyway and they demolished it. My DH re-felted her other shed roof so why on earth she leaves their food in a shed that leaks is beyond me. The garden is full with dog poo - she only picks the poo up when she cuts the grass - the grass is knee high and hasn't been cut since the Summer. The garden stinks. We have to sleep with our bedroom windows shut because it smells so bad.

So going back to the guineas...do I complain to the RSPCA or not? I don't want to fall out with her but surely this is neglect? She's just got two new kittens - to add to the two cats she already has - so I really don't think she gives a toss about the pigs. I'd gladly take them off her hands....but she'll probably say no....my DH has just said I shouldn't get involved but why doesn't she feed them? Laziness? Out of sight, out of mind? Makes me soooo angry.

Mine (I have 5) live indoors, they're cleaned out every other day, get given fresh hay and greens every day....these people should not have animals.

Vent over.

If I were you d go round and offer to take them off her hands. Is that an option ?

The RSPCA don't do anything.

Agree with Arsed, I'm afraid.

I doubt the RSPCA would care, they just don't sadly.

Tell her that you would really like to rehome them and see what she says. Or you could stage a fake escape.....

I've just texted her to say I've been into her garden to put her bin in and I put some hay in....

...she's just replied to say thanks and that she'll be cleaning them out this aftn - she obviously thought I'd be a bit peeved at the state they're in...I've just replied saying I'd gladly have them and they can live with my lot. Even DH, who I've just spoken to, has offered to clear out one of our sheds tonight to put them in....I doubt I'd keep them but atleast get them temporarily and find a good home for them.

I know she'll be miffed with me but I don't care.

Whispywhisp

I'm so glad people like you exist. I love gps too and this has must be so distressing for you.

Those poor little mites being on damp hay etc is bad enough but combined with the cold weather they will not be able to get warm and could die during the night.

Has she replied? If not could you clean them out when she is out and make an excuse that they were making so much noise that you were worried about them or some such rubbish?

If you can't do anything can you call up a gp rescue place and tell them? They have strong links with the RSPCA and I'd bet money that the RSPCA will do something if it comes via a gp rescue place.

My thoughts are with you....

Hoping your neighbour sees sense, Whispy.

Please keep us posted.

Bit of an update for you!...

She cleaned them out yesterday. Admittedly the bag of rubbish is still sat on top of their hutch but atleast they were cleaned out. I've looked over this morning and they have a full bowl of food and some hay. She has uncovered them too (which helps for me to see into the hutch) which she'd not normally bother doing for a good 3-4 days. I never rec'd a reply to my text offering to have the pigs so I'm guessing just me noticing has given her a kick up the backside. Stupid woman. She shouldn't have them.

Anyway I'm off to go and clean my 5 out...they're all squeaking for their dinner but I like to clean them out before I start chopping vegetables!

Aw - well they would clearly be so much better off with you

Glad they ghave been cleaned.

Next time you chat to her Id say 'hope you didn't mind me asking about them, its just we have been hoping to get a few new guinnies soon anyways and yours are so cute, i just got a bit carried away, But the offers still there if the kids ever get fed up of them , mine did (may be a lie!?) but i enjoy looking after them anyways so I wouldnt mind another couple'

i think that might difuse any tension but keep the offer there.

Great idea - DisElf.

Love your Christmas name,btw

Yes I'm glad she cleaned them out too...but I do half expect her to allow this to happen again very shortly...she's not one to keep up with looking after animals etc etc...her house is a tip and she has always been a very messy person...ie there's always bags of rubbish in her hallway, you walk over litter (empty pop bottles, wrappers) to walk into her lounge - that type of house so cleaning out a hutch is probably at the very bottom of her list of priorities.

If I did take them off of her I would probably get them rehomed. I have 5 of my own and don't really have room for another two - I could keep them temporarily but that'd be about it. I still have contacts with the RSPCA Inspectors (I used to work for the RSPCA) and I'm sure they'd be able to help me out getting them into an Animal Home, especially as they're such young gp's.

It sounds as though things have gotten on top of her.
Could it be that she's depressed? Does she go out much or anything?

I have to admit I had a REALLY down period where I didn't clean the cat boxes our or tidy my house for a week or so till I got a kick up the backside from my mum and now I'm back ontop of it all again.

Maybe the message from you was the kick she needed and now she just needs cheering up?

Yes she does go out a fair bit - she's often down the pub during the day during the week plus she goes to strip-clubs and local bars at weekend. She declared herself bankrupt during the year yet she seems to be able to afford to go out. I give her hay and food for her pigs but she simply doesn't seem to use it to care for them. I know she's on ADs (her husband left her just over a year ago) but she's always been on ADs for many years. She's a very volatile individual and we do find we have to keep ourselves to ourselves otherwise we end up being dragged into this and that. She has a very VERY angry temper on her and her kids, although they're nice kids, also have some pretty vile tempers and its quite normal for them all to be having a slanging match with some extremely unsavoury language being used!

Oh right so there isn't an excuse really then as long as all that isn't an act.

Personally I'd keep an eye on it, give her benefit of the doubt this time and if it goes anywhere near that again call the RSPCA

i posted similarly about next door's pet on here once.

I rang the rspca tho, and they came out. I cannot see an animal suffer. Who else have they got.

Animal has a bigger cage now, but barely sees the light of day. Makes me sick.

Can you pig-nap them?

@ pig-nap!!!

I have offered to have them from her but like my DH has said we wouldn't keep them cos she would beg to see them and would pester the life out of me to have them back during the much nicer warmer time of the year - ie the time of year when she spends all day out in her bikini, bottle of wine and packet of fags sunning herself in long grass full of dog poo...yes...she doesn't even empty her garden of the 100s (and I mean 100s) of piles of dog poo before she lies down on her towel to sun bathe.

Yes I am keeping a close eye on them. They are being uncovered during the day but because she is normally in bed till the aftns they don't see daylight until then - she knows I can be nosey when I want and she knows damn well I will complain to the EHO about the shit-state of her garden and the RSPCA re her guinea pigs.

And has she replied to my offer to have her pigs? No. She has avoided any contact since. I saw her this morning - she drove up the road as I drove down. She looked the other way whereas she'd normally wave. Fine by me cos she disgusts me with the way she treats animals.

I'd report her to the RSPCA anyway as she does not look after her animals. They will visit and make it official so she won't get away with it if she does it again. The RSPCA have more powers now and the dog mess in the garden is not ok for the dogs or humans health.

My main concern is she will give the pigs to someone unsuitable.

She's still got the same bag of dirty bedding/rubbish from last week sat on top of the hutch. It'll probably stay there for the Winter now. Her garden is littered with rubbish/poo. How she can live like that is beyond me.

I looked out at the pigs yesterday - only the once and they did have some food in their bowl. I doubt the hutch will have been cleaned out again tho - even tho there are two pigs in there. I have a cage with two pigs in and they have to be cleaned out every other day, not every other week/month which is pretty much what she's allowing to happen. Yeuck.

Please please call the RSPCA today and report her. You are the only person that can help them.

If she is not clearning them out regularly the bedding will be getting wet and with snow about to arrive the gps will be freezing in damp bedding.

It makes me sick to my stomach to think of two little pigs with inadequate soiled bedding.

I'm gonna talk to DH later on tonight about it - I think he'd also agree to report her but I want him to take the flack from her when it happens because she has a vile temper and he's better off dealing with her rather than me. I will offer again to have them. I have a spare cage so its not putting me out having them and can have them indoors to keep them warm over the Winter until such time as I can find somewhere for them to go/or keep them....but its persuading her to let me have them thats the problem...I don't think she wants to admit defeat.

You are doing the right thing as those little pigs really need to be looked after. People think they are robust and they just aren't.

There are cavy rescue places that would have them and if you are near me I'd gladly have them rather than them suffering.

She sounds dreadful and none of her animals sound like they are being treated as they should be.