How to respond to my neighbours snotty letter?

[Cloudygreydaysahead]

They got a puppy at the start of lockdown. The poor thing is out in the garden alone in all weathers with only a towel and some water until recently when they made a small kennel. It cries all hours of the day from 6-7am onwards. Our main concern is the puppies welfare as it’s clearly distressed. My husband went round the other morning as we wanted to be upfront and just asked to make sure they didn’t leave the dog out for extended periods of time and it is waking us and our children up. They apologised then this morning we received this. They clearly like letters as they also wrote us an anonymous letter about some of our recycling blowing onto the street but we have ring doorbell and saw it was them!
What do I do from here? Leave it? Reply via a letter seen as that’s the way he likes to speak clearly?

*write back

Either ignore it or simply reply 'Thank you for your letter dated ... We have forwarded it to the relevant authorities.' Then ignore them. They'll be freaking out about where it's gone.

And report them.

So they say they don't have time but they have time to write these nutjob letters? Please report them

That letter is the most bonkers thing I've seen in ages! Very sorry that your neighbours are being difficult OP and wish I had some helpful advice - but thanks for sharing, it's cheered me up no end

That is one hell of a pompous letter written by someone nowhere near as bright as they think they are.

It's all about noise and nuisance and nothing about the welfare of the poor dog. One thing though, they have said they leave the dog when they go out. I'd report them on welfare grounds. People like that shouldn't have pets.

I wish I could read the letter - or maybe I don’t, judging by the comments. Poor, poor dog. It’s almost unbelievable that animal cruelty charities wouldn’t consider that treatment bad enough to remove it. It’s definitely not a child substitute, ours is and she’s treated like a princess!

Poor puppy, how horrible!

@dadshere

If your cat does indeed foul in their garden, then you are reaping the seeds of poor neighbourly behaviour that you have sown.

Cats are legally wild animals - what is OP supposed to do to prevent it, if the cat is not confined to the house?

Report them to the RSPCA.

In other words they are a pair of silly arses who thought if they sent a legalish looking letter they would frighten you off reporting, pathetic they are, report to the council and RSPCA poor puppy doesn't need them it needs a decent and loving home.

what a pompous tosser! poor little dog

I used to have a neighbour who wrote grandiose, nonsensical and nasty letters like this. As a solicitor described them, 'letters to frighten little old ladies'. I've also had batshit neighbours decide that out of the countless cats that go into their garden it had to be my cat (who uses a litter tray) who was pooing in their garden You have my sympathy. Pointless waste of time trying to reason with people like these. I hope that your dog warden, council and local RSPCA can help that poor little dog. The only advice I can give is to record and report everything and don't let them rile you, they're not worth it. Good luck.

Time they’ve taken to undertake their noise assessments, google stuff to put in letter they could have taken the poor dog for a walk.
Get onto council and get ball rolling for noise complaint. The rspca might come out for a puppy, I reported a neighbour for something similar and they came out and the puppy was removed. Although these neighbours probably didn’t have the artifice of yours. Alternatively, I will happily come out and dog nap. Poor puppy.

I would report them because it’s a puppy. Far too long to be left alone. Poor thing.

www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/environment/livingoutside

Batshit crazy! Call the RSPCA they shouldn't have gotten a puppy if they don't have the time for it. It's just cruel

Poor puppy.

Just to be clear-are they leaving the puppy outside all day when they are gone or in the house all day when they are gone?

This sounds like another of the lockdown pups that will end up in a shelter.

I’m the same as other pp’s. Only read a few lives and realised they were annoying neighbours. ‘Know it alls’

Poor you OP. I’d just report them to the council etc if you have concerns for the pup

Utterly ridiculous letter overstating their assumed intellegence. Sadly the situation will only escalate and the puppy will develop trauma & behavioural issues. It is cruel and neglectful of your neighbours. The owners are dim to see their actions are selfish. Should never have brought a puppy.
Report to RSPCA with video evidence & diary. Give the RSCPA enough support to give the puppy a loving home.

To misquote Top Gun, they're 'writing cheques their brains can't cash'

You need to report them to animal welfare

What a dick!
Report them!
Poor puppy! - you get a dog to look after and treat properly not to shot it outside all day. Poor thing must be terrified. Please report this! I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing it's alone every day. The barking ontop of that is also just inconsiderate whether it's below noise levels or not, he should have some respect for his neighbours!

I'm sorry OP, no advice reading that letter makes me think of a John Cleese-type character asking his wife if she would like to have sex.

it’s usually outside from 6am-8pm. I think they shut it in either the garage or conservatory at night
This is the only part that matters. The letter seems to imply that it is not the case and that they are only at times both out.

So either they let the dog out for say 10mns every hour, when they are in, and then for a couple of hours after times a week, which would be acceptable. Or they really leave the dog alone for 14h a day which clearly would be dog cruelty.

I expect it is something in between that. Recording the barking is the best thing to do. Their wording sounds like they have legal experience or pretend they do!