Dogs not being walked

k66yla

Just wanted a bit of advice about my upstairs neighbours dogs. My neighbours or the Clampetts as I call them moved in a couple of years ago. They bought a dog, Jack Russell not long after the move and it very rarely comes out of the flat. They have no garden and maybe once or twice a month they let it out the front door to run around.....it goes berserk when it comes out and charges around at full speed. They now have acquired a Staff pup which I have seen out on a lead once in the past couple of months.
I feel so sorry for these dogs. I hear the JR running round the flat followed by the 2 young children or vice versa and the Staff is always crying/wimpering. Other neighbours have also mentioned their concern.
I dread to think of the state of the flooring in the flat if the dogs are constantly doing their business everywhere especially with young children about.

Is there anything I can do or should I just keep my nose out of it?

Caroline_a

Unless the dogs are malnourished or sick I don't think the RSPCA will do anything, however if you are concerned about the children there's always Social Services...

Tropez

If you're concerned about the children then I agree, contacting social services would be the way to go.

I had a visit from a couple of animal welfare officers once after somebody had complained that they never saw me take my dogs for a walk. I actually do, but due to the fact there's no safe places to walk them in the immediate vicinity, they get driven to where they are being walked.

mountainofdebt

I think Tropez makes a very valid point - unless you are housebound are you 100% positive that they aren't taken for a walk when you're not around.

My next door neighbour has a dog and I think I've only ever seen her with her dog twice in the two years she's had him - but talking to her she seems to take him far more regularly that I would have put money on.

As for going mad when your neighbour's dog comes out, mine is walked every day yet to see it you'd think it was the first time he'd ever been walked.

Croatoan

I think it's a huge leap from concern that a dog's not being walked enough to believing the children may be in danger. I'd imagine that to avoid wasting the very busy Social Services' time - or indeed to have any chance of them investigating - you'd need far more evidence than this.

mondello

Do you know if they are private rental, housing association or home owner? If they are HA then you could report them to the HA as sometimes dogs are not permitted in flats where their is a communal area. If it was me I would need to be sure that the dogs are not being walked because if they are ceased then they will probably end up in the pound.

gettingready

mondello wrote: »

Do you know if they are private rental, housing association or home owner? If they are HA then you could report them to the HA as sometimes dogs are not permitted in flats where their is a communal area. If it was me I would need to be sure that the dogs are not being walked because if they are ceased then they will probably end up in the pound.

And how reporting them to HA (if this was the case) would help the DOGS?

Exactly, the owners would be forced to give up the dogs and they would end up in a pound.

NO idea what has one to do with the other - kind of place they live/reporting them to landlord and the fact they may/may not be walked.

k66yla

Dogs are allowed in the flats, so that not a problem. I was concerned that they were'nt being walked and yes I do know they arn't being walked. I'm not the only one that has commented about it, other neighbours have come to the same conclusion. I'm not too bothered about the kids, I guess they are old enough not to run in the dog s*** thats probably strewn everywhere up there.

Froglet

If they are not being let out to at least do their business outside then there has to be some environmental or animal welfare issue on the obvious state the place must be in.Especially with children there.And if there is a landlord I'm sure he'd want to know too!!

I would contact the council environmental health officer for advice,or even citizen's advice.Poor dogs.

http://www.problemneighbours.co.uk/pet-problems.html

yonk

http://www.rspca.org.uk/in-action/changingthelaw/whatwechanged/animalwelfareact

http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/dogs/environment

I've put a couple of links for you, the law has changed and dogs do need to be allowed to express natural behaviour, including exercise. I own a Jack Russell and they need to get out and run. They are very lively dogs and I'm not surprised he goes mad when let out. He won't be socialised properly either.

I won't even start on how important it is to socialise Staffies properly with day-to-day things like people, outside, other kids and dogs. People have "It's only a dog." attitude but this is an accident waiting to happen. Pent up, untrained dogs with irresponsible owners end up doing bad things and giving us responsible terrier owners a bad name.

RSPCA will come out to offer advice, even if they end up doing nothing, at least they can have a look from an anonymous report.

I'd agree with the other posts that the kids might also need some attention from social services.

scheming_gypsy

Although unless people are sitting watching 24/7 then they won't know how often they're being walked. One of the neighbours kids told me that her mum said I don't walk my dogs. No idea how she'd know unless she stands in her kitchen all day watching my front door. The kid followed it up to say that she knows I do because she comes over to stroke them when she sees me.

Sometimes I walk one while one's being fed and then swap over, or sometimes I'll walk them late at night (after 11pm). Sometimes I won't walk them, especially when it's very hot or the weather is very bad. Dogs need to be exercised, that doesn't mean thay MUST be walked every day, it means they need exercise and stimulation; and my two will play themselves to sleep.

So just because you don't see them getting walked, it doesn't mean they're not getting exercise.

yonk wrote: »

RSPCA will come out to offer advice, even if they end up doing nothing, at least they can have a look from an anonymous report.


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All they can do is knock on the door. Anything after that depends on whether they're invited in or not.