How long to leave a dog with daily visits - neighbour

diystarter7

Read the OP's post, the owners are away!
They won't be opening/closing curtains as they are not at home
One quick visit a day in this blistering id totally inappropriate.

The weather is only going to heat up.
It's suffocating inside if doors and windows left closed all day and even worse if the wrong window/s are open ie facing the sun.

OP, and anyone else here that sees a dog left alone like this, please consult the RSPCE, see their website they say no more than 4 hours is ideal and I guess its less in a closed house on an awfully hot weather day after day.

We open the windows at night and day the non-south facing but as drive is retaining heat they are open am only up until about ten as sun hits that as well - curtains are closed and we have those double layer light/heat block curtains, fans are on as well as that little air-con unit and soon as these are turned off the heat start to hit you within a few seconds.

If anyone sees something like this, call and seek help from the RSAPC and see what they say and or visit their site.

It is indeed incredible why these people did not pay more to have at least several visits a day for dog health and well being.

SallyDucati

MalMonroe said:

Honestly, with the weather lately, I don't think the dog will be suffering too much if left inside. It's not like it's in a car. But I would never do that to any pet of mine. Dog, cat, lizard, hamster, whatever. It'll be suffering from boredom, which can lead to depression in animals.

Our flat isn't hot in this weather and we fail to open windows wide because we are afeared of flying insects. Crazy but true. It's certainly not stuffy though. I don't think your neighbours' home will be either.

What surprises me most is the fact that you obviously don't talk to your neighbours. Wherever I've lived, and where I live now, I do. Plus you obviously keep a close eye on what's going on. I haven't a clue what mine are up to, although I know them all. 

When your neighbours get back it may be a nice thing to do to start to talk to them and eventually offer to let the dog out yourself if they ever need to go away again - maybe even have it visiting in your own home. Of course your neighbours will have to get to know you a lot better first but it'd be a neighbourly thing to do.

As you don't speak to them, you don't even know why they're away. They could have a family emergency, or anything which meant that what they've arranged for their pet was the best they could do at short notice. 

I do love dogs although I'm not an owner (cats) and if I hadn't introduced myself to my neighbours beforehand, I'd have done so as soon as I saw that little Malteser. 

Start communicating with them, and offer your services to them. They can only say no but they may say yes. Of course, that's only if you want to. 

As HampshireH says, the RSPCA won't care because they're too busy caring for animals who are maltreated, malnourished and abused. And there are far too many of those, sadly.

Hi Mal,

I do talk to my neighbours and speak to them but this guy can be a bit difficult to say the least.  I'm not the only neighbour who is concerned about the dog as they are obviously away (curtains closed) and the dog can be heard barking when any noise happens.

diystarter7

coffee_cake said:

I wouldn't, that's too long and not fair on the dog.

With our previous dog (when he was old and just slept most of the day), occasionally we'd go away for the weekend and leave him at home, but he was visited a few times a day by our neighbour to check he was OK and let him out / feed him.  Anything more than a weekend he was taken to a relative's house for his holidays, or we'd take him with us.

As I said I'm not dog lover but I know that dogs are a mans best friend. I've see nasty people mistreat their dog but like most dogs they look up to their owner and IMO more honest than most people

To leave a dog like this in heat like this is a big NO.

I am please to read your post and you are a credit to dog owners, thank you.

elsien

diystarter7 said:

Read the OP's post, the owners are away!
They won't be opening/closing curtains as they are not at home
One quick visit a day in this blistering id totally inappropriate.

The weather is only going to heat up.
It's suffocating inside if doors and windows left closed all day and even worse if the wrong window/s are open ie facing the sun.

OP, and anyone else here that sees a dog left alone like this, please consult the RSPCE, see their website they say no more than 4 hours is ideal and I guess its less in a closed house on an awfully hot weather day after day.

We open the windows at night and day the non-south facing but as drive is retaining heat they are open am only up until about ten as sun hits that as well - curtains are closed and we have those double layer light/heat block curtains, fans are on as well as that little air-con unit and soon as these are turned off the heat start to hit you within a few seconds.

If anyone sees something like this, call and seek help from the RSAPC and see what they say and or visit their site.

It is indeed incredible why these people did not pay more to have at least several visits a day for dog health and well being.

The RSPCA will not act unless there is clear evidence that a dog is distressed and at risk. Even then when it is fairly clear that a dog has been abandoned (which this one obviously hasn't been) they have to wait, monitor the situation and involve the police to force access.  Unlike yourself I am a dog owner. I am a good owner. I have also had occasion to report to the RSPCA in far worse circumstances than these and no action was taken.  
I agree that one visit a day is not enough. But it's not unlawful if everything else is in place. That's the bit you don't seem to be grasping. I'm not going to reply further, there seems little point going round in circles.
The OP is welcome to contact the RSPCA if they are concerned but also need to be realistic about any outcomes. 

diystarter7

"unlawful" or not in this blistering heat I'm surprised by your posts.
If we had a dog, trust me, we would never leave it alone for more than a couple of hours in this blistering heat and would enure there was an air-con unit.

If anyone here is seeing the same type of behaviour as per OP and where you live the weather is like it is here in London for almost the past week and set to go on for at least several more days and actually get hotter, please, please seek advice"

Would you leave your loving pet dog in circumstances like this, no you would not.  This is a heatwave and the standard advice
is not good enough. People are keeling over inside and outside, so see what you can do within the law.

I find it staggering and equally disgusting that someone can afford to go away and only pay for one visit. There should be a law
about leaving dogs alone for x amount of time, especially during a heatwave.

If someone I knew did what the OP is saying their next door has done, I'd call them and put them straight

Why do people own dogs, go away on hols in weather like this and by all accounts not that bothered re the dog during the very hot weather soon to be declared a 'heatwave'

Mnoee

diystarter7 said:

I find it staggering and equally disgusting that someone can afford to go away and only pay for one visit. 

They might be paying for more visits, but their dog is only getting the one. If I didn't have home cameras I wouldn't have known that my original cat sitter was doing bare minimum 4 minute visits instead of the half hour I was paying for! Thankfully found a wonderful one now, so I can holiday without worry. 

diystarter7

Mnoee said:

diystarter7 said:

I find it staggering and equally disgusting that someone can afford to go away and only pay for one visit. 

They might be paying for more visits, but their dog is only getting the one. If I didn't have home cameras I wouldn't have known that my original cat sitter was doing bare minimum 4 minute visits instead of the half hour I was paying for! Thankfully found a wonderful one now, so I can holiday without worry. 

Yes, could be true but I doubt it as people at work where out of the house for a good ten hours a day and I can't recall any of them having someone check the dog/s.

I dislike cats, sorry but I understand why people buy one and look after them like you do. IMO just from what you said, you are one caring guy. It was good to read your post having read I think possibly two posters here that have a dog and did not see the one visit as a problem is the way I read it.

In this blistering heat, it's not on and I hope the OP acts.

I'm not sure how much dog owners pay per visit but a lot of dog owners I've seen are selfish and I can't see them spending 40 pounds a day on their dog when they go on a hols.

With the UK being a nation of dog lovers, I'm staggered by the comments of some dog owners and the lack of support for the OP and what other dog owners do. If we had a dog and went on hols, we'd leave the dog with someone and if we could not afford to do that we would take the dog with us to a hol we and the dog could afford.

It's so hot here I'm glad I'm not a dog or going to work via public transport. The weather is just getting hotter.

Thanks again your post cheered me up and I hope others read your post and set up cctv etc to check that their dog/cat gets the visits you paid for and dogs imo should have a bare min of three visits daily.

Spendless

I've worked from home today from the summerhouse at the bottom of our garden. The back door has been open the whole time and the dog has been free to roam the downstairs and outside. It chose to sit in the garden earlier in the day. In the afternoon it moved inside and has been sleeping in the rooms that have hard floors rather than carpet.

With the curtains closed - exactly what I did. It will keep the house cooler. Certainly it's not an ideal situation and I would still try to establish what has happened. 

diystarter7

Any updates OP?
Here in London, even with the upper floor windows partially open and curtains closed from last night until about 8pm, its blistering hot.

What I can't understand is a dog may tip over a food bowl/s but would stil be able to eat off the floor. However, I'm certain dogs tip over water bowls and soon there would be no water.in this swelter of weather and one visit per day, just not right

If the OP situation was next door to ours I'd personally pull up the dog carer and ask them how many times they were supposed to visit in this heatwave and if it was once I'd demand they contacted the owners to arrange A-Sap extra visits. I'm glad I'm not a dog lover as I'd go off my trolley even thinking about this.

How on earth could one visit per day be lawful in weather like this just shows that the UK may be a nation of 'dog lovers' but
when it comes to care of these pets, I guess lifestyles come first for some.

Longwalker

diystarter7 said:

"unlawful" or not in this blistering heat I'm surprised by your posts.
If we had a dog, trust me, we would never leave it alone for more than a couple of hours in this blistering heat and would enure there was an air-con unit.

If anyone here is seeing the same type of behaviour as per OP and where you live the weather is like it is here in London for almost the past week and set to go on for at least several more days and actually get hotter, please, please seek advice"

Would you leave your loving pet dog in circumstances like this, no you would not.  This is a heatwave and the standard advice
is not good enough. People are keeling over inside and outside, so see what you can do within the law.

I find it staggering and equally disgusting that someone can afford to go away and only pay for one visit. There should be a law
about leaving dogs alone for x amount of time, especially during a heatwave.

If someone I knew did what the OP is saying their next door has done, I'd call them and put them straight

Why do people own dogs, go away on hols in weather like this and by all accounts not that bothered re the dog during the very hot weather soon to be declared a 'heatwave'

As you have stated, you are not a dog owner , nor lover

It is a well know fact that the RSPCA will not get involved unless there is definite case of neglect/abuse

The dog owners I know, and being a long time dog owner myself and move in dog ownership circles, dont have the time of day for the RSPCA

They are only concerned that the dog has access to food, water and shelter - thats it

I used to live in a converted flat, there was a "courtyard" between our house and the house next door ( also converted ) the only access to the courtyard was the ground floor flat window. The Tennent on the ground floor got a pup and chucked it out there day and night. I fed it by throwing food down. I called the RSPCA constantly . They finally appeared after 3 week, peering over the fence to the property behind us. They weren't interested as they saw a kennel, a water bowl and signs of food