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The doghouse

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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:
honeyroar · 17/03/2018 12:53

I'm so glad you've got it. Well done. Large glass of wine for you. 🍷 No more suffering. Personally I'd get it to a rescue miles away from the area so he won't find it, although I doubt he'll care.

Flying monkey if th dog had gone for me I'd have dealt with it. I have these things called gloves and thick coats.. Also, from my experience most dogs suffering like that are pleased to come to you. It's a lovely theory doing things by e book, but it doesn't always work. My two cats were rescued by a lady that takes the ones that the RSPCA can't/won't take. They took the dogs from the house, but didn't have any room for the cats so they just left them. They would've died without the woman who rescued them. She said it happens a lot and doesn't have a very high opinion of the RSPCA. While it would be great to get a ban from keeping animals for him I doubt he would care - he's already on the run from the police..

Dodie66 · 17/03/2018 12:59

Oh well done. I felt so sorry for her. She looks comforable where she is. Will you keep her?

pigsDOfly · 17/03/2018 13:39

Totally beyond understanding why people get a dog and then leave it outside or just abandon it completely. Why would you bother to get it in the first place and if you can't deal with it take it to a rescue.

I suppose they see the cute puppy and buy it as they might any other new thing they fancy and when it's no longer doing what they want they chuck it away.

Completely heartbreaking.

eloisesparkle · 17/03/2018 13:50

OP
GREAT JOB Thanks

Original poster
ohbigdaddio · 17/03/2018 13:54

Hi all, the rescue went ok...DH climbed onto our compost bin and then got over the wall that way. Couldn't have done it during the week as it's always dark when he gets home. He passed me the dog and it was like a scene from a film! She was so happy to be rescued, wagging her tiny tail, licking my hands and cuddling up to me. We had some cuddles and I tried to dry her off with towels. She had a little lie down next to the radiator. She was so, so happy to be with (nice) people at last!

Rang rspca and got a mild bollocking from them. DH asked them if they wanted us to just throw her back over the wall then?! I came off phone in tears as the woman was quite annoyed we had interfered. I told her the dog could have died.

Rspca officer popped round and was much more reasonable and understood why we had done it. He has taken her now and will keep us updated. We can't have her really, as much as I adored her. Our cats are indoor cats and they were terrified knowing she was in the house. Have to put them first. I hope she gets a lovely new home, she deserves it. Thanks for all your interest and support xx

Abandoned dog...advice please :(
OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 17/03/2018 13:56

Teary again at the thought of her licking you, she must be so happy to have been rescued.

Hope the rspca take her somewhere warm.

Original poster
ohbigdaddio · 17/03/2018 13:59

Just to add, us rescuing her has slowed down the process as rspca now have to wait 2 weeks to see if original owners claim her back. If they step forward the rspca have to hand her over. This seems ridiculous. I think there's barely any chance of that happening - they left their dog to die as far as they were concerned and they are on the run from the police. They have probably never even heard of the RSPCA!

I'm so glad we could help at last, we've witnessed it being ignored the entire year they lived next door!

OP posts:
Original poster
ohbigdaddio · 17/03/2018 14:00

She was gorgeous Lauriefairycake and she will be warm, dry, fed and safe now x

OP posts:
Original poster
ohbigdaddio · 17/03/2018 14:03

Just seen your PM, sorry Laurie x

OP posts:
NotAnotherNightIn · 17/03/2018 14:07

The law NEEDS to change. Who in this world would hand that poor thing back to the idiots that abandoned her and treated her so badly. Things need changing, this is the first world and the 21st century! It beggars belief.
Well done OP x

brownelephant · 17/03/2018 14:07

you did the right thing, op. and lookkng at the beauty, she will find a new home in no time

Haffdonga · 17/03/2018 14:18

I'm delighted that she is rescued but I actually disagree that you did the right thing probably pushed into it by the sanctimonious posts on this thread.

The dog in your photo actually looks healthy and well cared for Cairn terrier(?). She has obviously been clipped or stripped fairly recently and is not under weight. Someone has been spending time and money on that dog. Although we all disapprove of dogs being kept outside, neglected, mistreated or abandoned there is a legal process for good reason. We can't all just go breaking in to other people's property and scooping up their animals because we disapprove of the way they are being kept unless we believe the animal is at risk. This dog was being fed and watered (by you and RSPCA) so was not at risk of dying in the next 24 hours. The RSPCA and police were rightly following the proper process to get it out legally for the dog's own long term well-being. Another day in the garden and then a legal removal would have been far better for this little dog than what you've done.

Cute dog. Glad it's in the warm but not well done, OP.

WeAllHaveWings · 17/03/2018 14:21

She is gorgeous, I'm sure she'll find a new home really quickly.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 17/03/2018 14:23

You just stole someone's dog and interfered in a legal process? Blimey.

KinkyAfro · 17/03/2018 14:29

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FlyingMonkeys · 17/03/2018 14:34

@honeyroar yep, turns out not doing it by the book hasn't worked out so well in this case then after all... 🤔

Sorry to hear that OP. On the brightside it's highly unlikely the owner will turn up to reclaim from the sounds of it.

JaneEyre70 · 17/03/2018 14:36

Well done OP.

honeyroar · 17/03/2018 14:37

Id love to make some of these cold hearted posters spend the next four days out in their back garden in sub zero temperatures and yellow/Amber snow warnings, see if they enjoyed it.

honeyroar · 17/03/2018 14:42

Flying monkeys it's worked out great in my book, but we're clearly very different types of animal people. He isn't going to claim it, he's on the run from the police, he's hardly going to pop over and register where he's living for a dog he didn't care about.

Well done op.

LaurieFairyCake · 17/03/2018 14:42

The dog has still been legally removed Holly - it’s just that she will have to wait 2 weeks for a home in case she is claimed

Lovesagin · 17/03/2018 15:00

Oh fuck the RSPCA op, I'd take a bollocking from that shitshow any day of the week. You did the right thing although it's a shame the dog had to go with them. Depending on its age, it will probably be PTS.

I helped a friend steal a dog that was being mistreated and RSPCA didn't want to know. Dog is now 10 and i see him nearly every day and can recall the day I helped rescue him like it was yesterday.

FlyingMonkeys · 17/03/2018 15:01

@honeyroar yes, clearly we are very different types of animal people...

I fully understand that the RSPCA is an organisation that has to adhere to legal requirements to remove animals. I also don't believe that 'popping on gloves and a big coat', is the best way to retrieve a potentially distressed animal. I also wouldn't drive a 'rescued' animal to a shelter far, far away - in the vain hope it isn't microchipped.

But I only wouldn't do these things because I'm a different type of animal person 😉

RavenLG · 17/03/2018 15:12

You just stole someone's dog and interfered in a legal process? Blimey.

You saved a dog from awful conditions, and ensured that for at least 2 weeks the dog will be inside in a safe and warm kennel with access for regular food and water. Blimey OP, well done.

There I fixed it for you, HTH.

ShiftyMcGifty · 17/03/2018 15:15

“The dog has still been legally removed Holly”

Like fuck it has.

ShiftyMcGifty · 17/03/2018 15:19

It’s horrid what these neighbours have done abandoning it. Absolutely. But the hysterics and pressure put on the OP in this thread about an outdoor dog being outdoor is beyond ridiculous. This isn’t an indoor pet thrown out into -3C weather. The dog will have grown a winter coat and been perfectly fine.

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