How long to leave a dog with daily visits - neighbour

Spendless

diystarter7 said:

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.

Do you live in a house? Have you got an attic? If so open the loft hatch, it will allow the hot air which rises, somewhere to escape to. Also when you are in open 2 windows that are opposite each other or as close to as you can get, in order to create a flow of air. You are describing somewhere that is far, far hotter than my own house.   

I agree with speaking to the person visiting to establish the situation but the OP isn't in a position to demand anything, the person calling in isn't obligated to do what is  asked or even to provide an answer.

OP - It did occur to me to ask if this home owned or rented? If it's rented to a private landlord, some don't allow pets. If it is a private landlord and you know who it is, you could contact them and say you have concerns for your neighbour's dog that seems to be left there whilst the owners appear to be away. 

SallyDucati

Well the neighbours are still away, so getting on for 2 weeks now.

Another neighbour did call the RSPCA, and they did came out.  Left stickers on the door and a letter through the letter box.  This must have been seen by whichever family member visited to feed the dog as she has been taken somewhere else, hopefully to be looked after a bit better.

diystarter7

Longwalker said:

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

That alone does not disqualify me from making a sensible statement that involves the health and safety of an animal/dog.

EG - I don't own a gun but I know what they can do in the wrong hands and if not stores properly.

About common sense, you don't need to have or own something to see what is right and what is clearly not.

I was thinking about this dog all last night and today, I just hope the OP has been on to the person visiting/etc.

Have a nice day

diystarter7

SallyDucati said:

Well the neighbours are still away, so getting on for 2 weeks now.

Another neighbour did call the RSPCA, and they did came out.  Left stickers on the door and a letter through the letter box.  This must have been seen by whichever family member visited to feed the dog as she has been taken somewhere else, hopefully to be looked after a bit better.

Thanks.

I was right all along re contacting the RSPCA even when others were saying the "RSPCA" would only act in certain circumstances but not this.

This needs to be highlighted to the local media I'm sure they will report it and I hope this may stop some would be holiday makers that fail their duty of care for their dog when they are out for a couple of weeks having a great time as the poor dog swelters in this heatwave.

Spendless

SallyDucati said:

Well the neighbours are still away, so getting on for 2 weeks now.

Another neighbour did call the RSPCA, and they did came out.  Left stickers on the door and a letter through the letter box.  This must have been seen by whichever family member visited to feed the dog as she has been taken somewhere else, hopefully to be looked after a bit better.

Thanks for the update. Glad the dog has been removed from the unoccupied house and hope it's being cared for too. 

Brie

Glad the dog is safe.

Glad too that the people holidaying will be coming home to a very very doggy house with the windows all closed during the heat.  I imagine the smell will be delightful when they walk in the front door.

Unless of course it was a real emergency in which case I would feel sorry for them getting home to a mess and no idea where their beloved pooch is.

diystarter7

elsien said:

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. 

I hope you've read the OP's update and good news.

The RSPCA did act and I just knew they would as it is sweltering and I am shocked that people leave dogs alone like this with one visit a day, just not right on any level.  

To see, hear about a dog being locked up in a property in this weather for so many days, I will always say contact the RSPCA  as per my previous posts. Your scenarios were not relevant as we are clearly talking about a heatwave and things will heat up.

If anyone is aware of a similar situation please, please as I've said seek guidance from the RSPCA.

I am very glad the dog has been removed from the dangerous situation and people like that should be investigated to see what they had arranged, who with etc etc.

Have a nice day.

SensibleSarah

Glad that the dog is no longer on it's own - hope it's being better looked after now. 

My last dog was routinely left for 12 hours while I was at work with no visits and was perfectly happy with that (she had garden access via a dog flap) - she just slept all day. I used to hire a dogwalker but eventually realised it was actually making her far more stressed than just being left on her own. My current two dogs can't be left more than a couple of hours without them making it clear they are starting to be unhappy about it. Thankfully I work from home permanently now so that's workable - I wouldn't have adopted them if I wasn't prepared for this to be a possibility.

My point is that some dogs are perfectly happy with little interaction (especially from someone who isn't their owner) and some are not. When adopting a new dog, I always plan for the worst case scenario just in case, until I get to know them.

On the RSPCA, there are many many flaws with them as a national organisation. However, they are the only real course of action in cases of potential cruelty etc. They are limited somewhat with the powers they have (or don't have) and most of the money you donate at a national level to the charity absolutely doesn't make it down the chain to help animals in need. The local centres all have to raise their funds themselves and are essentially a different entity. But if you suspect a pet is being kept in an unlawful situation then they are the only option if it's a potential prosecution issue. The police will assist them in removing animals if needed - that's not something that other animal welfare organisations can usually make happen. 

OhWow

Only just seen this. This is shocking!

I've called the RSPCA on a Christmas Day and they came out to access the situation. They are the experts. In this case, they came back with the police and forced entry to take the dogs. Those owners  too thought it was ok to go away "just for a few days" and leave their puppies shut up in the house. And I felt guilty because I too hesitated after being told by others that the RSPCA won't do anything. The RSPCA even came back to give me a progress report.

My mother called the RSPCA once (without hesitation) and they came out to access the situation. They took the dog to a vet, where the dog was fed before they put him to sleep.

I'm a dog lover and had many dogs over the years. I can't believe that people go on holiday and don't arrange for their dog to go to a good kennels, or pay a house sitter to LIVE in their house. And in this heat too!

If you don't want to pay for kennels/pet sitter when you go away, then don't get a dog.

Well done OP for being concerned

Undervalued

diystarter7 said:

SallyDucati said:

Well the neighbours are still away, so getting on for 2 weeks now.

Another neighbour did call the RSPCA, and they did came out.  Left stickers on the door and a letter through the letter box.  This must have been seen by whichever family member visited to feed the dog as she has been taken somewhere else, hopefully to be looked after a bit better.

Thanks.

I was right all along re contacting the RSPCA even when others were saying the "RSPCA" would only act in certain circumstances but not this.

This needs to be highlighted to the local media I'm sure they will report it and I hope this may stop some would be holiday makers that fail their duty of care for their dog when they are out for a couple of weeks having a great time as the poor dog swelters in this heatwave.

I am no fan of the RSPCA but any organisation like them has limited resources and they have to prioritise. Likewise the police, which is why the vast majorities of minor crimes are not investigated, much to the dismay of the victims and the anger of the swivel eyed muppets who read the Daily Mail!

Obviously such organisations' workload varies from day to day so it is possible that the call happened to come on a fairly quite day. Sadly too, they can sometimes be harassed into taking action if they feel the complainant is likely to go to the press or involve local councillors or their MP. Ultimately this is wrong, as more urgent cases are then neglected, but it is a fact of life.

Despite what is claimed to have happened in this case, the majority are right to have said that this kind of situation would have a very low priority in most circumstances.

The RSPCA have no statutory powers whatsoever. To take any action at all in such situations, without the owner's cooperation, they have to involve the police. How far this would have been progressed, had a note on the door apparently leading to the dog being removed by a relative or dog sitter, we will never know!