Leaving dogs at home and going on holiday.

pinkpig08

I once phoned the RSPCA about someone who had gone on holiday and left their dog in the porch. A family friend was going once a day to feed/let out the dog. They said they couldn't do anything because someone was going to see to the dog every 24 hours. Don't know if it's still the same but that's pretty poor IMO.

Titania777

There is the Animal Welfare Act that changed in the last few years (think it was 2007 England & Wales, 2006 Scotland) and basically owners have a duty of care BUT once again (depending on who you speak to) this can be interpreted in different ways.

As per Defra, the Duty of Care obligations include;

1. For a suitable environment (place to live)
2. For a suitable diet
3. To exhibit normal behaviour patterns
4. To be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable)
5. To be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease

I suppose in this case as they are (hopefully) being fed, watered and have shelter so some authorities may only be swayed to investigate by the 'mental cruelty' aspect of having no exercise and therefore not being able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns.

The laws should be stricter (as should the requirements for even being able to own an animal). It took many decades to change the law from the previous archaic ones so.....



Can you not get someone else to call so that you aren't actually involved? If these dogs get checked, then looking at their pads and nails it would show that they are never exercised and now to be left alone!


I'm mega over the top on animal welfare so won't inflict my views here but my dogs and animals come first. I chose to take on the responsibility for their care and for that I reap the benefits of their companionship!

Makes my blood boil when I hear of something like this and yes I know this isn't a worse case scenario (I pick up the pieces from those from time to time...) BUT it still should not be happening.

Hintza

I'm giving slightly the wrong impression generally speaking they probably get plenty excercise, just being out and about.

foreign_correspondent

Hintza wrote: »

Thanks for the responses, mrcol does raise a valid point about how much attention would they really get at kennels. In many ways i would like to call the SSPCA but with other (potential legal) issues I feel this would be just seen as vindictive.

I think what is making me more cross than anything is I'm being such a wimp on the issue.

No they are not walked but then again they never are!

You are not being soft, this really is not fair on the dogs... it is far too long to go between loo breaks, and I bet they are bored to death... also, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the dogs take to toileting indoors, which may be hard to train them out of later on.

MaximumImpact

When I go on holiday, I leave my lads with my parents. Due to the size of my 2, they aren't walked for that week but they have a decent sized garden to run in. I woukld be far more concerned if my Dad tried to walk them rather than them going without walks.

I wouldn't put them in kennels as my oldest boy pines at the best of times without me but he's not as bad when my parents are there.

As for my cats, well, they come and go as they please and their food is out down twice a day.

I work as does my partner and sometimes my 2 are left for 8hrs alone. On those days I put them in the outside kennel. I was reported to the RSPCA for doing that and I know who by! The RSPCA were angry for the wasted time that they spent coming out when it was quite clear how cared for my animals were.

It also has ruined a neighbour friendship, she stated to me after that it was for the best intentions. However my view was that she should have spoken to me first and I would have explained why my lads spend 2 days a month in an outside kennel. I told her that just because she had the luxury of spending all day with her animals, I don't and now despite apologies, I want nothing to do with her.

Now, when I hear stories about ''friends'' animals, I always make sure I have facts before I even think about sticking my nose in.

mrcol1000

MaximumImpact wrote: »

When I go on holiday, I leave my lads with my parents. Due to the size of my 2, they aren't walked for that week but they have a decent sized garden to run in. I woukld be far more concerned if my Dad tried to walk them rather than them going without walks.

I wouldn't put them in kennels as my oldest boy pines at the best of times without me but he's not as bad when my parents are there.

As for my cats, well, they come and go as they please and their food is out down twice a day.

I work as does my partner and sometimes my 2 are left for 8hrs alone. On those days I put them in the outside kennel. I was reported to the RSPCA for doing that and I know who by! The RSPCA were angry for the wasted time that they spent coming out when it was quite clear how cared for my animals were.

It also has ruined a neighbour friendship, she stated to me after that it was for the best intentions. However my view was that she should have spoken to me first and I would have explained why my lads spend 2 days a month in an outside kennel. I told her that just because she had the luxury of spending all day with her animals, I don't and now despite apologies, I want nothing to do with her.

Now, when I hear stories about ''friends'' animals, I always make sure I have facts before I even think about sticking my nose in.

If your dog whines when you leave it alone is it really a good idea to leave it outside in a kennel all day on its own? Surely it would have meant the dog was barking and whining all day? No wonder your neighbours fell out with you! The thing is if its only two days a month its not really something the local council can deal with but it would destroy friendly realtions with neighbours if twice a month they have to put up with the dog whining and barking all day.

Also dogs don't just need walks for going to toilet they need it for exercise and mental simulation. There was the story in the news a while back about the dog that killed the baby purely as it was left chained up in the garden 24 hours a day and was bored and the younger child brought the baby to show the dog and the dog thought it was finally being played with.

walwin

mrcol1000 wrote: »

If your dog whines when you leave it alone is it really a good idea to leave it outside in a kennel all day on its own? Surely it would have meant the dog was barking and whining all day? No wonder your neighbours fell out with you! The thing is if its only two days a month its not really something the local council can deal with but it would destroy friendly realtions with neighbours if twice a month they have to put up with the dog whining and barking all day.

MaximumImpact didn't say the dog whines, he/she said pines which is altogether different. A pining dog isn't necessarily a whining dog

sonas_baby

Hi Hintza, I would definately report them, being let out twice a day is not enough. I feel with the current economic climate more people will resort to doing this, rather than paying for kennels. There is already reports of far more dogs being abandoned, if the animal welfare societies don't have figures to prove the neglect they know is happening. How can they fight it, and make the public aware. If you personaly don't want to report it, try to find someone to do it for you. After all the dogs can't do it themselves.

tiamai_d

mrcol1000 wrote: »

To be fair as long as someone is going to see them then what is the problem? If they were left in most kennels they wouldn't get much more than that. When we go away we leave the dog with parents in law and couldn't bear to leave her in kennels pricesly as she would be locked up all day.

My dog is not locked up all day at his kennels. He is walked twice a day through the woods and has a good 2 hours in the 'play park' as well as a nice big kennel with indoor area that is heated or cooled depending on weather, horse style water troughs (always fresh) and his toys.

Not all kennels keep them locked up all day there are good ones out there if you take the time to look.

I would rather he went to his kennel than be left home alone with two toilet breaks and no interaction all day for a week!!! That is shocking!

MaximumImpact

If your dog whines when you leave it alone is it really a good idea to leave it outside in a kennel all day on its own? Surely it would have meant the dog was barking and whining all day? No wonder your neighbours fell out with you! The thing is if its only two days a month its not really something the local council can deal with but it would destroy friendly realtions with neighbours if twice a month they have to put up with the dog whining and barking all day.

Actually - they don't make any noise at all.......She only knew they were in their kennel because they bark when the posty comes at 1100hrs and she had to stand on a chair and gawp over the 8ft high fence ( I know because o've seen her do it)....She went to the RSPCA because as she said to me " you shouldn't really have dogs if you work...''.......erm....so how do I pay for their food then????

TBH, she's an interfering old cow and her dog is the one that yaps all day...I wouldn't dream of going to anyone about it...I'd confront her first...but ..well I can't be bothered because it's so petty.....

Also, this is the same neighbour who reported me to the Council for having a bonfire on November the 5th....for having a party for my nephews birthday that caused too much noise (he's 2 and it finished at 1700hrs)....the list goes on....I think that they don't even respond to her calls anymore as I am the least complained about by her...You should hear what the other neighbours have been subject to!!!