Would you report this to the RSCPA?

[MsMitford]

Our neighbours have two dogs, both oldish, medium sized Staffie type breeds. They are only occasionally walked, and left to use the back garden as an open toilet. The poo is rarely cleaned up, to the extent that sometimes they struggle to find a clean patch to 'go' in, and I can see that they end up walking through it and spreading the muck around.

One dog has recently acquired a limp, the other has a sort of growth hanging off its hind quarters.
They are not spoken to nicely - lots of shouting and swearing at them.
They look like they are fed, and they do have access to shade and water.
My gut feeling is that are neglected rather than actively mistreated.
However, I have on a couple of occasions heard lots of shouting at the dog, followed by a horrible short silence, followed by whimpering - obviously I couldn't see what happened, but it sounded like one of the dogs had been kicked.

We are unfortunately not on speaking terms with the neighbours - they've got a terrible marijuana problem, which we've been reporting, and which has resulted in quite a lot of aggression directed towards us. I haven't contacted the RSPCA yet, partly because I am scared of our neighbours, but also because I am wondering if my feelings towards then re. the drug problems and abuse are tainting how I see their treatment of their dogs.

We had dogs when I was a child and would never have treated them like this. But maybe this now passes for normal behaviour? Would love some external perspectives from dog owners please.

Yes, definitely report them. Those poor dogs, it sounds like they aren’t getting vet treatment either, which is an offence, never mind the poor conditions they’re living in.

The lack of vet treatment is the thing to focus on here - given the general poor conditions it seems unlikely they're receiving vet treatment.

There's a possibility they are receiving active medical treatment, but a quick call from the RSPCA to their vet would sort that one out.

Because they have a limp and a growth the RSPCA probably will act; if they were ‘healthy’ and just being kept in dirty surroundings and not being walked but had food and water the RSPCA wouldn’t do anything.

That said, the RSPCA have a shockingly high kill rate, I would be prepared that two old dogs, of a breed with a ‘reputation’, that are sick, may very well be put to sleep by the RSPCA and if they aren’t, I wouldn’t expect them to find a new home quickly or easily tbh.

The neighbours will be absolutely livid aswell if they find out it’s you that reported them.

Basically, as horrible as the situation sounds, I would think very, very carefully about getting involved.

You can report them but be prepared for it to not result in any action being taken. The RSPCA are not well thought of in the animal rescue community for a reason. That said if you dont report them nothing will happen so its worth doing on the off chance it actually helps.

Definitely report them, poor dogs, what a horrible existence. The RSPCA does have a bad reputation for a high PTS rate, but sad as it is, PTS is probably preferable fir these dogs than existing like this. Obviously, being taken into a loving home would be better, but realistic...

Hmm, lots to think about, thanks everyone. I think @AdventuresDownRabbitholes has hit the nail on the head - I'm worried that the dogs are not getting proper medical treatment. I'm also worried that I'm putting my own wellbeing over that of the dogs (for fear of the horrible neighbours).
But on the other hand, it sounds like if I report them and the RSPCA ends up 'rescuing' them, it's unlikely that they'll find a good new home, and they might even get put down. Plus of course the neighbours will hate me even more than they already do.

Surely they are in a living hell and pts would be a blessing? Living in shit is against rspca welfare guidelines..
Take photos if you can.

If the dog's aren't getting treatment it's very possible that as well as living in horrible conditions and being badly treated, they could be in pain; they certainly will be if they're being kicked.

You can report this to the RSPCA anonymously, and even if you don't do it anonymously they shouldn't be told who reported them.

Yes, they might not be rehomed and they might be PTS.

Sometimes PTS quickly and painlessly is not the worst thing that could happen to an animal.

Not a dog owner but have reported my neighbours. Constantly shouting at them and swearing at them. At first I just kept myself to myself until I heard one of them scream that they were going to kill the dogs so phoned RSPCA. They've still got the dogs and the dogs still get shouted abuse at.

Report them for sure. Not necessarily the RSPCA though(sometimes they don't care), try dogs trust or other charity's if this is the case. I hope they get a good home soon

OP can you maybe ring RSPCA and just tell them your situation and that you are scared of what will happen if they know it is you so they can maybe say a passer by has heard them shouting at the dogs and sounds of whimpering. Does your other naeighbours have view to their garden aswell? I would definitely ring RSPCA so they can do a check on the dogs.

I phoned the RSPCA about an elderly cat who was being left out overnight in the middle of winter with no access to any shelter except a couple of bushes next to the road.

The only action was a phone call a few weeks later asking me for money.

The RSPCA are your best bet. They are the only charity with (limited) powers to seize the dogs.

When reporting them to the RSPCA, I would emphasise the suspected lack of medical treatment and beatings. Although your neighbours aren’t providing a suitable environment, the RSPCA are limited in what they can legally do if your neighbours are providing water and shelter.

I also wouldn’t worry about them being put to sleep just because they are staffie types. That isn’t my personal experience of what goes on in RSPCA rehoming centres. Though legally, they wouldn’t be allowed to rehome them if they are a banned breed, which is true for all UK rescues.

Have you phoned the dog warden in your council? I bought a house with similar neighbours and got a death threat for ringing them... I didn't actually contact them at all. Didn't have to. About 10 families reported them. In the end, dogs disappeared and the neighbours ran overnight from the police, but that's another story😂

You can report the filth in the garden to the council if you can smell it in your garden. A friend's mother had to do this, again dogs left out in the garden, never walked. The council dealt with it and now everything up in the garden is lovely!

Yes I actually think dog warden or other council department, simply because RSPCA are known for being pretty useless these days.

Horrible situation and would break my heart.

Hi just thought I would say I had an experience like this , well it's still on going . Neighbour had two dogs in garden . They live in the garden . He beats them , you can hear him kicking them and then crying . I have phoned the Rspca so many times . And nothing had been done . It's been months ! Me and a few neighbours have all had a go at him but he just gets aggressive and still carries on . My daughter heard him beating one of them two nights ago early hours of the morning so screamed at him through her bedroom window and started filming him . So she phoned the Rspca again the next day and said about video evidence and all they said was they will put it down on file !

@Spanielsarepainless

You can report the filth in the garden to the council if you can smell it in your garden. A friend's mother had to do this, again dogs left out in the garden, never walked. The council dealt with it and now everything up in the garden is lovely!

We've been reporting the filth about once a month (with photographic evidence), but the tenancy manager won't address it with the tenants unless we are willing to be identified as the complaints. We're not willing to risk that, because the tenants have been so awful to us we don't want to attract any more ire.

Rspca don't care. Please find a more independent animal welfare charity local to you. Please help these dogs.