Whippet you do?

[Decemberstartsonsunday]

My neighbour has a whippet which is being neglected. I either ring the RSPCA or take the whippet myself, my worry with calling the RSPCA is that she is being fed intermittently by her owner, so I'm not sure if they could do anything? I'm feeding her too.
I took her in a couple of nights ago as I knew my neighbour was away for the night and it was so cold. I know that sounds crazy, but it's what happened.
I'm not an experienced dog owner. We have a small garden. I
She put her paws on my shoulders and her head on my chest. I just fell in love.

The RSPCA will do nothing if the dog has adequate food, water, shelter and no obvious unmet medical needs.

Every dog owner starts off inexperienced and dogs don't need a large garden.

Do you want this dog, and would the neighbour be willing to give you the dog?

Why do you think it's being neglected?

PiggieMcPig
She's on her own, the owner is gone somewhere, I don't know where or when they will be back, one of his friends or someone is coming every 2 or 3 days to leave out food. I've been feeding her.

ProbablyDogNappersHunX
Her shelter is a dog box, basically like one of those plastic cat carrier boxes but bigger.
Yes, I think neighbour would let me take her.
She is absolutely gorgeous, but hyper or maybe just so excited to have company.
When I've taken her into my house I've had to put her on a lead as she just goes flying around the place, but reading about Whippets on this forum that seems normal? She's under a year old.

It doesn't sound like adequate shelter, especially for a whippet in March as they really do feel the cold. Likewise - what would happen if the dog knocked the water bowl over and went days without water?

Of course if you do go down the RSPCA route you'll burn all the bridges. Best to go in on a collaborative approach at first. Perhaps the owner knows they can't keep the dog properly but still wants to see the dog; knowing it's next door might be a good solution.

Running around the house sounds like it's well within the boundaries of normal behaviour; an underexercised young dog, excitement at being indoors, and a consequential fit of the zoomies (plus whippets do love to run, and then sleep for most of the rest of the day).

ProbablyDogNappersHunX

Thank you, great advise and I agree a collaborative approach would be better.
It's really miserable here at the moment so I'm going to take her in and give her a bath, do they like baths? She's definitely controllable and is doing what I say so far, poor thing is just happy to have someone I think.

Whippets aren't known for liking water, but sometimes when they're filthy there's no alternative. My dog learned to like baths because he could take his favourite toy in - a ball that floated.

If the dog is just cold and wet but not muddy then a towel down and a warm comfy spot would probably be preferred.

She's really dirty, it's been raining non stop here for the last week and she's been in a muddy back garden, she also has diarrhoea, she broke into some black bin bags and was eating out of them.

If you want to be a dog owner then rehome her yourself. Our garden is tiny. We’ve had high energy dogs - they just need space for a mooch and the loo.

Her zoomies are normal but with company and training and stimulation if she’s put up with this much so far she sounds a laid back delight tbh.

Take the dog asap. I've a whippet (plus a Dobermann and two small mixed breed), the whippet is the easiest of them all, he has a big garden but spends a lot of time sleeping, zomies only last a few minutes and he hates going for walks. They do feel the cold and need a deep soft bed because they are so thin and love to burrow under blankets, you can even get special envelope type beds for them. Mine wears a coat outside this time of year, he's elderly now, and they are hugely affectionate, he lloves
to have his head stuck under my jumper. You probably never pee alone again though!!!

Newpeep

Thank you, I worried about not having a big garden for her, but you are right, she has been putting up with this so far. She even lets me lift her up over the wall onto a bench on my side.
I can't describe how beautiful she is.
OK I'm going to bring her in and try wash her, I will revert back later, wish me look.

Definitely a bath required then! Warm water and your gentlest shampoo - baby shampoo if you have it (I'm not expecting you have dog shampoo!)

It's no wonder she's got a dodgy tummy if she's been eating out of bin bags. A plain diet of boiled chicken and rice is usually recommended until poos are back to normal. She may or may not be toilet trained but even if she is accidents are more likely with an upset stomach. Don't tell her off if there's an accident, but do praise her when she goes outside (back to basics puppy toilet training really).

The garden really isn't a big issue; circumstances dictated that for about a year I had a dog and no garden - and for a further four years just a tiny concrete yard. Not ideal, but we both managed!

I think you have to be careful, as your technically taking someones dog without permission even though they are neglected. Is it possible for the dog to have escaped? If you can take videos of the dogs living conditions when you return it as evidence. It maybe the neighbour would welcome someone taking over the responsibility if having to ask favours from friends.

If they agree make sure you get written proof that change of ownership ( template forms online) took place so neighbour can't backtrack later. If you don't feel able to keep the dog long term could sign over to rescue and whippets are very popular being smaller so often snapped up.

Oh OP I so hope you end up with this dog. They deserve better than their current owner and you sound like you would be a lovely dog owner. I agree with a previous poster about a collaborative approach with the neighbour to keep on their side. Keep us updated.

Just been thinking OP and I would also consider taking some pictures/videos as evidence to save just incase you need it.

Just in case the original owner wants to keep the dog for the wrong reasons (like breeding) then you could have proof to go to the RSPCA with.

A Timelapse video of the dog in the garden showing nobody coming to tend to her over a long period of time would maybe help in this situation.

I hope it doesn't come to that though.

The five animal welfare needs are below:

	- need for a suitable environment
	- need for a suitable diet
	- need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
	- need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals
	- need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

So any evidence collected to show these are not being met could help if you do need to go to the RSPCA.

These are from here:

www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/endcruelty/changingthelaw/whatwechanged/animalwelfareact

They are lovely dogs. Mine has a run and sleeps all day but is always up for playing too. The best dogs :-)

The poor thing . I've had two whippets over the years and they're the most beautiful loving dogs but they really feel the cold . Mine is currently under his blanket on the sofa . I do hope the owner gives her up as leaving her outside is awful. They are skittish at that age but with love she will settle. You're doing a good thing trying to help her .

I really hope the neighbour lets you keep her. Please update?

I have a whippet and they do need comfort warmth and love so I really hope you can keep him
I agree they are mostly lazy and sleep so much during the day and of course the night :-)

Waiting for an update!

Update,
I took her in yesterday, she had a great time, I slept on the couch with her and she just cuddled up with me all night. I had to go out today so put her back in her garden, and when I came back she was gone, I'm heartbroken.

Bless her sounds like she had a lovely evening. Hopefully her being gone just means the next door neighbours have returned and she's on their sofa?

If you see her owner maybe ask if you can dog share or help when they are not home. She sounds lovely .

@Decemberstartsonsunday is the neighbour back?

Hi @Decemberstartsonsunday I know this is an old thread...What happened to the Whippet?

I hope she is OK. They are lovely, gentle dogs -This one ought not be living outside- they have as you know silky fur that is not remotely rainproof - when it rains the rain soaks straight to their skin and they get chilled really fast.