What can I do?

[Somethingbloodyclever]

Sil and bil have gone on a free holiday for a week and have left the puppy (don't know exact age but he isn't 1 yet) at home alone with Mil popping in once a day.
Is that acceptable? it seems cruel but I don't know not a pet owner.

It's not right.

It's a baby, which needs looking after.

Is there anything I can do? I've offered to go down and look after him, my work hours are pretty good so I'm free for large chunks of the day. No answer yet. I feel sorry for the poor little pup.

100% NOT acceptable.

They are not fit to own an animal if this is how they behave. Either they know better and don't care, which makes them scum, or they don't know better and are wholly unsuitable as pet owners.
Please go get that poor puppy out of there and look after it this week if you can, or arrange someone else do so if you can't

I've told Mil that I'll look after him, havnt got keys to Sil so can't just walk in and grab him, I've checked the prices of kennels in my area and it's really reasonable so not sure why they havnt used them.

Get that puppy out asap. It's terribly cruel leaving it all alone.

Well done OP, that's lovely of you.
Without wishing to add further to your worry list, if they can do this, the poor puppy is very unlikely to be well cared for generally. Not a lot you can do personally if they won't listen and of course you might not have the knowledge really as a non pet owner to know what to look for. in your position I would be considering a complaint to rspca once they are home. I think you can do it anonymously. The rspca are unlikely to act if the dog has food and more particularly water, but will at least visit and give the owners the riot act and check the general health of the poor pup.

If you need advice in the next few, holler on here. Lots of experienced people around to help.

I know he gets food and water, and I'm assuming fairly often he's a little bit chubby, but he's not very friendly so I've not got to know him. He growls and nips a lot.

I'd be very surprised if their home is not destroyed by the poor pup being left for that length of time! Please don't say it's in a crate for all that time.

Definitely not right poor puppy.

Well, people who can't be bothered to make proper provision when they go away are highly unlikely to have bothered to get the puppy used to new people and things in their environment, or to teach it not to bite (which all puppies do to start with). The growling may well be nervousness. Take it as a warning sign to back away from him and manage it as best you can for this week. Trailing a light lead so you don't have to get too close while manoeuvring him may be a help for both you and the pup to start with while he gets more used to you

also (sorry if I'm stating the obvious to you) don't give him direct eye contact or approach him head on. Sidle in sideways and avert your gaze. Ideally crouch down too and let him come to you.....all these are perceived as less of a threat in body language terms

Thank you for the tips, I know nothing about animals. I've always loved them from a distance. Never had the opportunity to own a pet, so I've never put time into researching everything.

What absolute bastards.

They don't deserve animals.

Do they usually leave him home alone all day - do they work? And do they leave him alone evenings? I know some less than ideal dog owners, but none would do this!

An adult dog should not be left like that, never mind a puppy.

If he's not used to people, try taming him with food bribes. Scatter a few near you and slowly progress to offering them from your hand. But as a pp says, no eye contact, at least to start with.

What sort of dog is he?

He's a sausage dog, Mil has not answered my offer so still no keys to go see the pup.

Poor dog, could you hold onto the toilet once a day ? My dog pees for England

Did you text MIL? I think it requires an immediate phone call tbh, so you can get an answer then and there.
Tell her you will report it to the rspca a if she doesn't sort it out right now......that poor dog has been on its own for another 12 hour stint since you contacted her last night!!!! She's as bad as they are, ignorant,cruel woman

Oh no! I know a 9 month old sausage - he'd be distraught at being alone that long and overnight, and no way would one pee break be good enough. Are you sure MIL isn't having him at her house? One visit a day is what you do for cats, not dogs!
If nothing else he'll presumably be barking? Poor poor dog.

Are SIL and BIL in this country or abroad? Can you text them and offer direct to them?

They're a couple of low life, ignorant, despicable shits. No dog should be left alone like that, especially not a puppy.

If they can do that, they're not fit to own a dog and you can be certain that they don't look after it properly the rest of the time.

No!! That is not at all okay. Poor little thing will be so lonely and distressed.

Hi everybody! I'm back from work and on my way home got to pick up little pup, he's nervous as hell so I'm letting home roam the garden and kitchen, doors open so it's up to him. Trying to be as small at not threatening as possible hopefully he'll start to like me soon.

Photo is now essential!

Oh good! Give him time, he'll probably come and investigate you for a fuss soon enough.