Enjoying the Sunshine whilst Saving for the Rainy Day

*Robin*

Hello DFw,
Yours is the first diary I've clicked on after a few days away from the pc; what a surprise to find you, once again, concerned about next-door's dog. And what a shame for the dog; no shelter and no water, locked outside alone for hours at a time. Presume muddy paws & possible conflict with small kids are responsible for the latter, but the first two abuses would be enough for me to get shouty. :mad:

But. The RSPCA have already failed once by placing this dog with the people [or was it just the Dad who wanted her?] next door without doing a home-check, so am not too hopeful of their response now (unless you also call out a film crew).

A snow-dog rescue centre would be a better bet.


Yay to new hoover, I felt just the same when my first D7son arrived - it was so amazing to see stripes of clean carpet emerge behind the thing, after years of simply having to accept that the combination of loads of kids and dogs meant floors were never the colour they'd been when installed! :rotfl:

Good luck with DPS. Have you confirmed ex-tenant's current address to pass on to her creditors (ie. utility companies, catalogues)?

debtfreewannabe321

Thanks Robin I didn't think of a rescue such as that. Do they have as much power to take away a dog as rspca if they suspect/see neglect? Dog is still out there, dh came back from work and told me the dog was out there at 6am when he left so much earlier and colder than I thought. That's 7 hours now in the cold with no provisions. I went out with Duke and was going to slip her a treat but the neighbour was stood glaring out of the window at me?! My friend called the rspca and they've told her they'll be out within 28 days! Seems a long time to me. The wife was the one who wanted her as she told me when we were still talking! Now she seems to be having a change of heart once she realised the mess and hard work that's involved

I've given the dps all the contacts I have for ex tenant so hoping it's straight forward x

*Robin*

..Hope you gave glaring neighbour a big beaming smile?

Not sure whether the private rescues have as much legal clout, tbh, but they do offer a friendlier knowledgeable face, and advice, as well as the option to re-home.

http://saintssleddogrescue.co.uk/index.php/about-us

As Wifey is having second thoughts, then a chat with a local volunteer about the dog's needs should either result in improved conditions for the dog, or a foster placement if the woman is prepared to sign over the dog voluntarily.

However, as you now know the dog has been locked outside without shelter or water for at least seven hours, perhaps it's worth calling the RSPCA again?
In defence of the dog, I would tell whoever is on the end of the 'phone that a 28 day response time is beyond incompetence. If one of their officers hasn't been to visit before Monday, my next call would be to the Dai!y Mai!.

Meanwhile, can you sneak some kind of water container into the garden for the poor dog?


Yesterday a US friend commented that she couldn't persuade her three dogs [huskies & a malamute] to come in out of the snow - she put up a 'photo showing them all cuddled up on her picnic table; just a huge mound of snow with six eyes peering at the camera (gorgeous pic!). ..But those dogs have the option of going into their kennel, and they always have fresh [non-frozen] drinking-water available.

debtfreewannabe321

My friend popped over for a cuppa before the school run and wasn't happy to see dog still there. She's angrier than I was about the fence (and I've never seen her angry! :eek:) she called the r$pca there and then. Still same response. The dog actually was taken out for a walk but then put back into garden immediately afterwards. She's out there now but I've no idea if shes been inside to be fed (hoping so) as I was looking after the kids.

It was a nsd today in other news and I made two trips to the dump to empty rubbish from garden. Pretty uneventful day, calm before the storm no doubt ( when neighbours suspect what I've done)

debtfreewannabe321

*Robin* wrote: »

Yesterday a US friend commented that she couldn't persuade her three dogs [huskies & a malamute] to come in out of the snow - she put up a 'photo showing them all cuddled up on her picnic table; just a huge mound of snow with six eyes peering at the camera (gorgeous pic!). ..But those dogs have the option of going into their kennel, and they always have fresh [non-frozen] drinking-water available.

This is why I wanted some advice as was unsure if perhaps she was 'asking' to go out all the time. But after seeing her curled up bored by the back door I don't think she does enjoy being out there that long! And as you say she should put food or water down and a shelter. Its so hard I don't want to cause rows but I can't look the other way when the dog looks so depressed

*Robin*

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

This is why I wanted some advice as was unsure if perhaps she was 'asking' to go out all the time. But after seeing her curled up bored by the back door I don't think she does enjoy being out there that long! And as you say she should put food or water down and a shelter. Its so hard I don't want to cause rows but I can't look the other way when the dog looks so depressed

All snow-dog breeds are much happier with company of their own kind - my friend's three dogs were keeping each other warm by cuddling together, and they had the choice of going inside her house or in their kennel (which is of such a high standard - including under-floor heating[!] - that in the UK, she would probably have a queue of Roma trying to squat it!).

Withholding water and shelter from a pet is abuse in the UK.

Good on your mate for trying the RSPCA again - their response clearly illustrates why they have such a poor reputation amongst the animal rescue & re-homing communities, doesn't it?

As your DH appears to be on better terms with the neighbours than you are, would it be possible for him to suggest that they approach a breed-rescue such as Saints, and ask for advice?

Tbh, snow dogs are so different to 'normal' dogs that there is no shame in any novice discovering they cannot meet the dog's needs. The shame is in not dealing with it to find the best solution for both dog and family - before something disastrous happens.

A bored, thirsty snow-dog who feels rejected by his/her pack [in this case the human family] will, sooner or later lose their innate good nature and become unpredictable.

When that happens, the dog might take matters into her own paws and demolish the fence - hopefully to survive traffic hazards and find her way to another snow-dog household (they have amazing hearing; once, we fostered a very vocal Samoyed. A few days later an unkempt male Husky turned up in our front garden - he'd escaped from a house about twenty miles away; obviously lived rough for weeks during which he'd managed to cross a busy motorway safely, then wandered within hearing of the Samoyed's distinctive bark (apologies to our neighbours at the time). That story had a happy ending; by the time the owner arrived a week later, we'd cleaned up his dog and DS2 discovered he liked to run with the Samoyed. Husky-owner's son took up dog-running too, which meant he met other snow-dog owners and learned from them).

If your neighbour's dog is too depressed to try and escape, she'll become more and more manic when she gets any attention at all - a scenario which could lead to tragedy and Dai!y Mai! headlines.

Apologies for lecture. Doubtless you can see the bees zooming around my bonnet?
There is still time to find a good solution for your neighbour's dog - poor poor girl because she's already been rejected by at least one owner to have ended up with the RSPCA - but I can't help feeling, she hasn't found her forever home yet.

ps. Am not suggesting escape is a good idea - snow-dogs generally don't have much road sense (we were amazed the Husky in my anecdote above, survived crossing all the roads between his home and ours).

debtfreewannabe321

Afternoon all!

Robin, I agree with all that you said. The r$pca have been in touch with the neighbours and told the neighbours who made the complaints :wall: we used an alias but at 8pm last night we had them banging our front door down demanding to know why we've said what we did and why we lied. :eek:. It didn't go as far as a fight thankfully but it looked like it might for a while. We think the DW from next door has been locking the dog out whilst he's been at work and he knows nothing about it. He genuinely thought someone was just trying to make trouble by lying. Urgh. I'm staying well out of this from now on. I can't believe the r$pca either telling them names & addresses of people that complained?! I thought it would be anonymous. Funny that our name wasn't given but we still had the blame given to us........just as I imagined!

This morning we have popped to tatco for a quick top up. A quick top up that cost £32 the kids picked up treats and so did DH! Next time i'll go alone it should have come to half of that! Never mind...! We then went to b&q to get some sand. We are putting it under the patio that is already out there as there are lots of loose tiles that keep holding lots of water under them so when we stand on them we get splashed and end up soaked. I assume it will get worse as the winter goes on so thought the £15 was money well spent and should hopefully be enough maintenance until we leave here for good . It wasn't budgeted for so will have to come out of another fund.

That should be all the spends we need this weekend. I will put petrol in on Monday when I go to get the weekly shop.

This afternoon the two smaller kids and I are cuddling up on the sofa with the croods and other films and hot chocolate whilst DS1 & DH do the patio for me . I'll clean later...;)

LAM2011

Gosh what a situation - poor dog - must be so lonely. How awkward them coming over too.

I too am on the sofa with the dogs though watching telly and hoping I wont fall asleep - feeling a bit knackered this afternoon lol.

shinner

Fingers crossed the call will Help the husky in the long run. Was it the Husband of next door that came round ? He may well get things put in place to help dare i say it probably a stressed out partner. Young children and big dirty is not an easy combination. I need a patio laying if you want to send them to me next :rotfl: Although i am up north.
Enjoy your relaxing.

debtfreewannabe321

shinner wrote: »

Fingers crossed the call will Help the husky in the long run. Was it the Husband of next door that came round ? He may well get things put in place to help dare i say it probably a stressed out partner. Young children and big dirty is not an easy combination. I need a patio laying if you want to send them to me next :rotfl: Although i am up north.
Enjoy your relaxing.

Well they've emptied the shed out and put some water in there. Ta-da. New dog's kennel :wall: I still feel very sorry for it as it spends all day alone but the r$pca are now saying that they refuse to come around now they know the dog has shelter as they are so overwhelmed with requests at the moment.

Don't ask about the patio. Still "under construction" argh!