Abandoned dog...advice please :(

[ohbigdaddio]

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!

We are looking for a terrier to adopt!

The fact that the dog wasn't chipped when it is now a legal requirement suggests its out of sight out of mind imo. Hoping Savoy can pick up the story and give us a happy ending!!

Just out of interest op will the rspca come back to you with any update? Or is it a case that it's in their hands now?

I can't believe anyone is actually slating the OP for rescuing this dog.
Well done OP, for acting when you did.

@honeyroar actually no I wouldn't have left it unfed, and in all honestly I wouldn't have looked over the fence and watched it being abused/neglected for apparently many months either. However I totally get that OP was in a horrific predicament with violent ndn, and I'd imagine fear was a massive factor in not reporting previously.

The dog is now safe which is the best outcome, but personally I don't agree with the notion of the RSPCA are basically shite, which could lead folk to think well why even bother reporting?

You are an angel OP.
Thanks for caring and doing something for a creature who deserves a lovely life.

Rspca are going to keep us informed about the dog. As far as the neighbours were concerned they had a left her to die (they had no idea I would be so caring as to report it and feed it!) And if me and DH had been on holiday we would have come back to see a dying/dead dog in the garden.

I'm happy with what we did. She was freezing, wet and desperate for affection. I also know how she was ignored and neglected by her owners and she definitely was not well cared for.

The police have tried to catch my neighbours 3 times this week so I highly doubt they will come back to the house.

You definately did the right thing OP. Poor dog should have been rescued months ago that neglect. I am sure she will find a loving home now

I bet she's woke up today warm for the first time in years. She will soon get snapped up and hopefully her old life will just be a memory.

You should be happy with what you did OP, more than happy. Many people would have ignored it and who knows what would have happened to the poor dog. Quite possibly she would have died cold, lonely, hungry and scared.

Yes I know there are laws but sometimes you have to break them. Too many people turn a blind eye when an animal or even a child is being ill treated/neglected etc. If more people got involved there would not be so many of the terrible stories in the newspapers

Well done op. If every person did an animal related good deed the world wouldn't be so shit.

Op you did what you thought was best, importantly as other pp have noted she will have woken up for the first time to food, warmth and someone who's shown her affection. Your neighbour, as you have stated, will not be concerned with the welfare of this creature and as you rightly pointed out they had no idea that you would be there to show concern and feed her. You've been an angel for that little gal. Seriously sod the law when there's a creature that's been left without care for days...if this were a child or elderly person an enquiry would have ensued to understand why the neglect occurred and how the state can prevent future neglect. Animals do not ask to be owned by anyone...and it's a cruel way to view a living creature as a possession that can be abandoned on a whim. Perhaps if humans showed more love towards vulnerable creatures they'd realise the value of everything around them!

Well done OP, you are a hero. She is a lovely little thing and hopefully will find a good home soon. If you hear back from RSPCA please update.

I’ve just read through this full thing and WOW! I’m super glad the wee dog is safe but saying at least she is safe and warm for 2 weeks makes absolutely no sense when a few hours more and she would have legally been safe FOREVER. There is going to be a case now and 2weeks have just been added onto the dogs time in kennels when these dogs already spend long enough as their cases are pushed back every time something else comes in which takes priority time and time again. Doing what made you feel good knowing it was wrong is of exactly the same attitude as the people who “rescue” Puppies from puppy farms. In the long run it wasn’t in the best interests of animal welfare. But it was in the best interest of that one dog at the time and probably made you feel good. Now the RSPCA have a probably impossible task on their hands in court and it could fall through and the judge could decide in the owners favour because it was technically stolen from them and award it back to them. Then it’s the RSPCA’s fault ....
I’m sure this was really tough for you OP and the dog is sorted for now that’s the main thing so well done but I just don’t think it was the best move