Lonely looking dog

[NelAntartic]

I've started a new walking route lately and it takes me past a house with an attached shed, fenced in, where 2 dogs live - a lab and a large staffie.

Rarely see the staffie but the pan is always sitting, looking forlorn, always looking into the house. They're outside all hours. I passed today and their little yard (about 4x4m) is covered in dog mess, so hardly anywhere to pace. I paused at the fence today to talk to the lab but the staffie came hurtling out of the shed (has a make shift flap to it made from heavy clear plastic) - he wasn't friendly so I left.

I've contacted the RSPCA but because they have shelter, they're within the law. I've told them that it's filthy and that to me, it looks like they get no company at all. The lab just looks so defeated.

Why do people even have dogs if they don't want them as pets? I'm a big walker and there's a very popular track route in this area. Guarantees these dogs aren't walked ever.

What else can I do if the RSPCA don't want to do anything?

Autocorrect changed Dog to pan - not sure why that happened!

God I should proof read!

Pan =. LAB! I despair at my own typing skills.

I though it must be some rare breed I'd never heard of.

Have you tried the dog warden?

We've edited the title of your thread now, OP. Hopefully you'll get a few more replies now we know what you're talking about.

Haha I knew you meant lab !

If the rspca won’t get involved, and you really want to help, you are going to have to get the owners onside here.
Could you offer to walk the lab yourself ?
Of say how much you like their lovely dog and get chatting that way - maybe engage with them and see if they want to walk with you.
For a long term thing maybe tell her about websites that put people in touch with dogs that need walking so they can borrow them.

Don’t mention the mess. Maybe they can’t clean up when the dogs are in. Maybe things are just getting on top of them.

Engagement is the key here I think if you want to make a difference.