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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Abandoned dog...advice please :(

190 replies

ohbigdaddio · 14/03/2018 15:44

Our horrendous, criminals-on-the-run next door neighbours moved out yesterday and left their dog in the back garden. It lives outside the whole time and they never interacted with it or took it for a walk. I've no idea if they are coming back to get it but the dog has been alone and unfed/watered for 24 hours now. (Who moves out and leaves their dog??)

It's a small westie type dog, looks healthy (but bet it's never been to the vet) and is used to living outside so the RSPCA won't come out to get it I presume.

Sorry if I sound stupid but what would you do? Wait to see if they come back for the dog (I can see belongings still in their house)? Or just find some way of helping it?

There is a 6ft brick wall between our garden and theirs, I'd love to climb over and 'rescue' the dog but not sure how to do that as there is a soil border on our side so a ladder will not be stable/safe! Tried with a step ladder and it sank.

I have 2 cats so we can't really take the dog in (though I would love to!) and we have no car to take it anywhere. The local rescue centre is for cats only!

Any ideas as I'm not coming up with any great ones!

OP posts:
Original poster
ohbigdaddio · 17/03/2018 09:43

Thanks all we are doing all we can. Police advised us not to attempt to climb over - but might have to try this morning. Rspca and police due round today to get the dog. I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm not doing enough but it's very easy to say 'I would have climbed over days ago' when you are not in our situation.

Doing all I can. Just fed the dog (threw wet dog food over the fence) and managed to get it some water too.

OP posts:
Original poster
ohbigdaddio · 17/03/2018 09:45

It's a 6ft high brick wall, might sound easy to scale but it isn't! And what if we can't get back into our garden?!

OP posts:
TheJoyOfSox · 17/03/2018 09:49

Phone the RSPCA this morning, tell them the dog has been abandoned and has been outside for over 24 with no god, water, shelter or whatever the situation was s. The RSPCA will come today to an animal in distress.

NotAnotherNightIn · 17/03/2018 09:49

You're doing your best op. She's getting food, at least she knows someone actually cares! Thank goodness the police and rspca are coming, fingers crossed that common sense prevails with them and they get her what she needs x

Original poster
ohbigdaddio · 17/03/2018 09:50

thejoyofsox Police and RSPCA are already aware of the situation and due round today if you read the full thread.

OP posts:
missbattenburg · 17/03/2018 09:55

OP, have been following this thread with interest.

You have done a HUGE amount for this dog and s/he is very lucky that someone next door has taken such an interest in her/his welfare.

Scaling walls etc is trespass and - as others have pointed out - actually make the process of the RSPCA/police claiming this dog as abandoned more difficult. The process is shitty and it must be very hard indeed to be next door having to witness it, but it is also the best, legal way to get this dog to a happy, loving home as soon as possible.

You are feeding and watering the dog. You are watching out to make sure it is still doing ok. The dog is cold and bored and probably a bit worried but otherwise is not in danger. Later today the RSPCA and police will come for it. Things only get better for this little one from here on in and s/he has you to thank for that.

Well done OP. You deserve a medal.

marchonto2018 · 17/03/2018 09:59

Yes well done op. It's not fair that people are saying they'd climb the fence.

You've done everything you can and getting stuck or arrested for trespass are very real risks if you take the law into your own hands

NoSquirrels · 17/03/2018 10:00

OP you’ve done a great job. Please don’t get distressed by the posts here. You know the police and RSPCA are on the case, you have been advised not to try to break in yourself, and your neighbours are violent criminals!

I wouldn’t keep this dog. You really really don’t need a violent nutter with a vendetta coming up your house to reclaim their dog. She looks so sweet, but someone somewhere is going to give her an amazing home with lots of love far away from her horrid old life, do t worry.

RaynaJaymes · 17/03/2018 10:01

In tears for that poor dog
Well done op you are doing everything you can to help
Please keep us updated x

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 17/03/2018 10:07

arrested for trespass

On a slightly pedantic point, trespass is a civil matter not a criminal one, so you can't be arrested for it.

Of course, animals are considered property in the same way as your dining room chairs are, so shinning over and removing the dog could result in a theft arrest, but not a trespass arrest.

teaiseverything · 17/03/2018 10:21

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages I'm just chiming in to say kudos on your username Grin

FlyingMonkeys · 17/03/2018 10:26

Oh well done OP! Totally agree you've gone down the right path. It's all fine and well for others to suggest they'd leap wonder woman style over the wall to rescue. However an unknown dog that's probably rarely been handled, or exposed to strangers, is unlikely to enjoy being hoisted over a 6ft wall.

eloisesparkle · 17/03/2018 10:38

I can't believe that it has taken the police and RSPCA 3 days to come around and rescue the animal !!! Shock
That is not a criticism of you OP.
Hats off to you for showing concern and informing the authorities.

steppemum · 17/03/2018 10:46

eloise - if you had read the thread, the RSPCA has to follwo a legal path - they first had to ensure the dog was abandonded and then they had to get a court order to break in.

In the meantime they have provided food and checke dthe dog as water.

As the dog has been living outside for a while, he should be OK for a couple more days.

It is all very well saying 'jump the fence' but sometimes the better option is to do things properly.
In this case that will also inlcude ensuring that the owners are banned from owning another animal. Although as they are on the run form the police, that seems a bit unlikely to be enforced

honeyroar · 17/03/2018 10:47

Oh fgs FlyingMonkeys you don't have to be wonder woman to get over a 6' fence. And yes I would've done it, 100%. A dog died from being left out in the cold in that snow the other week - that's what waiting for the police/RSPCA did.. It's not some wild bloody wolf, it's a little dog in a garden that's probably scared and hungry. Guess I'm just a different type of person. I've got a house full of rescues, I've brought a dog that got run over on the motorway home because the police said it would be hours until they could get a vet and the dog was in pain. I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing that little dog was feet away from my house freezing and I was doing nothing.

But I definitely wouldn't keep that dog myself I'd have it as far away as possible so he never finds it?

honeyroar · 17/03/2018 10:49

I know what you mean about following the legal route, but unfortunately it needs changing and animals suffer and die because of it.

Original poster
ohbigdaddio · 17/03/2018 10:52

We managed to get over the wall!

Abandoned dog...advice please :(
OP posts:
longtompot · 17/03/2018 10:54

Well done OP for all you have done. Its good you have some dog loving police on the case too. I just had a though about getting some water over. Could you carefully as you can drop a cereal bowl or something of a similar size over and then pour some water in from a watering can?

Hope its taken away soon and starts a new life living with someone who will love it. As much as it would be wonderful for you to take it in, I would worry with people who are that aggressive next door to you knowing you have it and then deciding to take it back. Might be best for it to live miles away.

ANewDoll · 17/03/2018 10:54

Well done! She is a sweetheart.

longtompot · 17/03/2018 10:55

Ahh cross post. What a sweetie! How was it during its rescue?

FlyingMonkeys · 17/03/2018 10:56

@honeyroar and what would you have done if the dog went for you? The RSPCA will come with safety equipment if they need it to remove the dog. It may look cute in the picture but it could be highly distressed in its nature.

I've also had rescue dogs, and dd turned up at 2am a few years ago with a dog she'd found belting down the dual carriageway near us (he'd escaped from a garden when the owners left him in relatives care whilst on hols).

I doubt the owner is going to rock up asking for the dog back, but I think that's the point with the RSPCA doing it by the book.

LaurieFairyCake · 17/03/2018 10:57

Literally crying at him finally getting a cuddle. I hope that beautiful wee dog finds a loving home.

Well done for everything FlowersFlowersFlowers

FlyingMonkeys · 17/03/2018 10:57

Awww! Happy ending OP! Good show 😆

allthedogs · 17/03/2018 10:59

Oh he's beautiful. Poor wee thing.

Well done op and keep us updated Thanks

skippykips · 17/03/2018 10:59

Poor poor pooch! I am so glad you managed to get over wall and rescue her and get her warm!
Well done OP and OPs DH!

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