Neighbour keeps feeding my dog

arkonite_babe

My next door neighbour keeps on feeding my dog. I have asked her in the past not to do this as he's putting on weight. Now I have found out she's still feeding him and she's giving him rich tea biscuits!! Having already spoken to her and not really having had any success, can anyone suggest a tactful way that I can broach this subject again? Doggles is now turning up his nose at his regular food and I suspect this is all as a result of the neighbour giving him treats. We have stopped giving him treats at home and have cut his food back a little to compensate, but it's not really the issue. I just would like her to stop.

Thanks in advance for any replies

ab

frugallass

Tell her he is verging on diabetic and you have been prescribed a strict diet by the vet in order to regulate him and to prevent full blown diabetes developing - explain how expensive it is to treat and that the insurance company won't pay out if they find out he has been having rich tea biscuits

that should put the heebie jeebies up her

MaximumImpact

How is she getting access to your dog? Is it over a fence or through a gate?

arkonite_babe

She can reach over our fence at the back and drop a biscuit. Little beggar knows now when he hears her coming in that if he goes and sits at the fence, she will get something for him! I can't control this as he's outside during the day while we are at work. She finishes earlier than I do and it's only occasionally that I actually catch her in the act of feeding him. Usually by the time I realise what's going on, it's too late. He's got the treat and she's left for work again or gone inside.

MaximumImpact

Sneaky cow!!

Not sure what to suggest really. Other than making the fence higher and putting some sort of spike strip across the top. Perhaps you could consult the CAB and see if there is some sort of civil action you could take against her.

I think you have done all that is reasonable and perhaps you should advise her that if her behaviour doesnt stop, you will be seeking legal action as it is causing you and your family distress. It seems to me that she is doing this deliberately and is aware of the problems it is causing.

Perhaps she has some Mental Health Issues????

arkonite_babe

Sneaky indeed! She only talks to us when she's needing something! I'll speak to her sister who lives across the street to see if she can help too. But otherwise, I really don't know

Thanks for the replies so far

Paparika

Just tell her straight that she needs to stop feeding your dog and he now needs to go on a diet.

lowis

ask her nicely once again to stop. tell her that your dog has a condition which now requires that he has only one type of specialist food, anything else will make him poorly and ill. tell her that she will be liable for any vet bills if his 'condition' flares up due to being fed anything outside of his normal diet. point out that if she really cares for your dog then she is to stop endangering it's life by feeding him non-prescription foods.

sestina

Along with explaining to your neighbour that your dog is only allowed 'special' food (a white lie, but worth it for the end result) why not give her a small amount of this 'special' food. That way, she can still drop some food through the fence to your dog, and you can just give him less for dinner. If the dog decides he doesn't like the food that is now coming over the fence, maybe the neighbour will stop?

TBH, I know my dog gets all sorts of scraps from my neighbours (i.e. my parents who look after him during the day ), but if he starts putting on weight I will just adjust his meals. No danger of that at the moment as he is on the go all the time.

UKTigerlily

Hmm can the Dog not be inside during the time you're at work? If not i'd too tell her it's diabetic & needs only what you feed & if she continues you'll report her & she can pay the bills

foreign_correspondent

oh dear, I used to have the same problem with the old man next door - he enjoyed giving the dog a treat so much that I didnt have the heart to stop him!

Could you tell a white lie about certain foods upsetting your dog, (diabetes, IBS, whatever) and you having to watch his diet very vey carefully - and (maybe) give her a pack of suitable treats and let her give him one of them a day instead to maintain neighbourly harmony!?

As Tigerlily says - does he have to be outside? - it's one of the risks of a dog being in the garden is that people can chuck it allsorts to eat - I have heard of neighbours poisoning dogs, at least yours is kind hearted!