Worried for dogs' welfare - is this right?

[cinnamonandnutmeg]

A relative with a serious addiction problem was sent to prison a few weeks ago, and although the judge warned him to expect a custodial sentence before his final hearing, he didn't make any arrangements for the care of his dogs.

Yesterday my dad found out these dogs are without food or water and surrounded by faeces. He could see the awful state one of them was in through the patio windows. Apparently some of our relative's friends have been feeding them periodically, but because they're addicts too, they haven't been doing it reliably. The dogs fight each other, so they've been confined to two separate rooms. No walks, no enrichment, nothing. It's impossible to see the second dog from outside, but she's barking.

I live nearly 250 miles away and I drove over immediately to help out, because my dad was really distressed by the situation and he wouldn't be physically capable of caring for two poorly trained dogs even supposing he could get in. He'd phoned every rescue in the area and they were all full, so I rang the RSPCA emergency line. When the inspector phoned back, she said she'd been to the house and taped up the doors. If the seal is intact in 72 hours the RSPCA will take the dogs. If I try and break into the property to feed them the clock will reset and they can't act.

I'm a bit shocked by this. It seems dangerous to leave them without any fresh water for such a long time, especially as we already don't know the last time they had any. I don't know what advice I'm hoping for here. I just want the dogs to be OK. Is there anything else I should be doing?

Surely they must have left food and plenty of water for the dogs before they left? And its more to monitor if theyre actually being fed for regularly? If not then that's horrendous.

Omg. Phone the police for advice. They rescue dogs from locked cars so would be able to enter the house and get the dogs.

They haven't been inside the house as far as I understand it, so how could they have fed the dogs?

This cannot be right surely?

I know you said all local rescues are full, are the dogs a particular breed? As you may have more luck with a breed specific rescue.

I don't think I could just wait 72 hours !

Taping the door and leaving the dogs is standard unfortunately, but normally they come back within 24 hours rather than 72.

I just assumed since they are the rspca and they're leaving it 72 hours. Maybe they had managed to get in 🤔

But if not then that's awful, they could well be dead in 72 hours if there is no water 😣

OP, call the police and report 2 abandoned dogs without food and water, and in danger of death. Please don’t let them die, they can’t save themselves and if you don’t help them NOW it may well be too late. They don’t deserve this!!

The inspector said she'll come back tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday to see if the doors are still taped, and if they are they can force entry and take the dogs on Thursday. I presume it's some kind of legal requirement, but it feels like far too long. She said they always push food through the letterbox in this situation, but as the dogs are shut in separate rooms that won't do any good. I'm going to try police, but with how overstretched they are I don't know if they'll act when RSPCA is already involved.

One dog is a Staffordshire bull terrier, the other looks like a real mixture. I don't know where my relative got them from. Judging by the usual way he lives his life it won't have been from anywhere reputable that would be able to help now, but looking up breed-specific rescues for the Staffy is definitely worth a try.

if you think the dogs are possibly in danger of dying through starvation/dehydration, you don't fucking wait 72 hours, you break in and take the dogs yourself.
How can you sleep at night letting them die like that?
Use your instincts and your fucking brain.

Take them where? These are two frightened, neglected, badly trained dogs who have been living with someone whose first priority in life is his addiction, and they are going to need a very experienced home with a lot of attention and no other dogs. The local rescues are full. I have two dogs of my own and a full-time job. Considering I drove 250 miles to try and help when my dad discovered the situation, it should be obvious that if I could take them home with me I would. I can't. It's easy to cosplay the superhero on the internet, less easy to do it practice. Unless you're offering them a permanent safe home?

As for trying to break in, I considered it. I also considered that I only met the Staffy briefly about two years ago, and she won't remember me. The other dog has never seen me at all - and all I really know about the pair of them is that a.) they've been living with an addict who's now serving a prison sentence with very good reason, and b.) they're big enough to take a chunk out of me if they want to. Perhaps you wouldn't hesitate to force your way into a house with a pair of scared dogs who don't have a clue who you are and who are so aggressive to each other that they're kept separately, but I doubt it. Easy to imagine from behind a keyboard, but calling the RSPCA feels like the more realistic option when you're actually standing in that situation.

I didn't know the 72 hour wait was a thing and I wasn't expecting it to take so long, which is why I asked if it's normal for welfare inspectors to do that. I've now notified police. I'll continue to try the best I can to get them out. If people have practical ideas I'll take them on board, but save the keyboard warrior "Just smash in and rescue them!" bluster.

Is there any way to try to push wet food onto the rooms they are in? Maybe possible to open a crack or put a hole in the window through which food can be pushed in? Who has a key to the house?

unfortunately, this is the way RSPCA works I understand you have tried rescues who are local but what about further afield? i think that you will find a smaller rescue rather than a big name rescue may be more willing to help or be able to suggest something to help you? we have had to rescue dogs from situatons liek this and it is very distressing but please put your own safety first. sadly these dogs sound like they have a lot of issues and problems due to their home life so it may not be a good outcome for them i hope it is but just to warn you take care

Thank you to everyone who gave advice. The dogs are safely with the RSPCA. They were subdued and not aggressive with the inspectors. The one I've never seen before was wagging her tail slightly as they brought her out, and she seemed pleased to be patted and fussed, if a bit bemused by it all. I hope there are two kind homes waiting for them somewhere.

Great news, they will hopefully get better and find new homes.

I'm glad there was a good ending. Hope they find a nice home x