Reporting dog for neglect?

We have a dog that pretty much all day will be out in the streets. When we first moved here we thought it was stray dog but upon trying to walk toward him, he ran off. He's pretty scared of people. We've been here 3 years now and he's still roaming around. We live in a residential area with a main road at the bottom of our street. Luckily thus far he hasn't been hit by anything but he has ran out in front of our car a few times. Recently I asked their owner to keep him on a lead in his backyard and apparently he digs and gets out. They refused told me to get a life and stop bugging them.

My main problem is we adopted a dog from dogs trust who is extremely anxious around other dogs. So when we walk him and this dog comes running up to mine (he hates people but loves dogs.) My dog gets anxious and barks. We've been told by dogs trust that we need to slowly and gradually socialise him but we should.never force the situation and if we see a dog we should keep our distance otherwise it could make him worse in the long run. But this tiny dog just runs up to him. His owners wont do anything about it, they think its perfectly acceptable. I've told them its illegal and the fact that he poos and they don't clean it up is also illegal but they literally just told me to stop being so nosey. So now I'm looking at maybe RSPCA but would they investigate or just tell me it's not neglect??? He's generally in good condition, sometimes he looks greasy but others he looks well kept. Its just the fact that he's out all day everyday unsupervised. He also waits on my neighbours step - who isn't his owner. For a long while in this weather. Any advice?

Comments

  • Red-Squirrel_2
    Red-Squirrel_2 Posts: 4,341 Forumite
    edited 13 December 2018 at 5:39PM
    The dog warden would be the people to report it to. Its illegal to let dogs roam, and they have more power to take action than the RSPCA.

    In terms of your dog's training to overcome his fear though, I would definitely get in touch with a registered behaviourist and get some better advice on how to actually go about the socialisation process.
  • @Red-squirrel gave spot on advice - I'd go to the dog warden and see what they say plus enlist some extra help for your newest family member to overcome the anxiety.

    However, I'm sure the love of your family alone will work wonders! :)
  • Katiehound
    Katiehound Posts: 7,513
    Name Dropper First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Post
    Forumite
    Check out what dog training classes there are in your area so that you can socialise your new dog. If possible go by recommendations.
    Local vets and pet shops usually have a notice board or even leaflets.

    Dogs Trust have dog classes too (but maybe you are too far away?)

    Another thing you could do is pal up with another dog walker because that way your dog would gain some confidence over time.

    The dog loose? Phone the dog warden. You need as many details as possible- not only of dog! but of owners so that they can follow up
    Being polite and pleasant doesn't cost anything!
    If you found my posting helpful please hit the "Thanks" button!
    Many thanks
    -Stash busting: 337 in 2022
    Stash busting: in 2023. 120 doggy duvets, 24 shopping bags, 43 dog coats, 2 scrunchies, 10 mittens, 6 bootees, 8 glass cases, 2 A6 notebooks, 59 cards, 6 lavender bags,36 crochet angels,9 woven bones, 1 crochet knee blanket, 1 lined bag,3 owls, 88 pyramid pouches = total 420...£119.50 spent- £114.50 earned= total spend £5. Total earned for 'Dogs for Good' £546.82

    2024:23 Doggy duvets, 24 pyramid pouches, 6 hot water bottle covers, 4 knitted beanies, 1 crochet angel= 58 £61 spent!!! already
  • Thanks for the advice guys gonna give the dog warden a ring and see what they can do. We got him from dogs trust and he is seeing a behaviourist with them. We have to bring him to dogs trust to gradually socialise. We do have a dog that he is best buddies with, it's just unknown dogs. Behaviourist also said he has huge anxiety issues due to being abandoned, so we are working on that too. But thanks for the advice
  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 18,869
    First Anniversary I've been Money Tipped! First Post Name Dropper
    Forumite
    Some things you can try

    Teach him to go behind you so when a dog runs up get him behind you. That way you're showing him you will protect him.

    A pop up umbrella can be a useful tool to deter a dog running up to you but make sure your own dog is not upset by it opening. You can operate it with one hand while holding your dog in the other.

    Throw a handful of treats onto the ground in front of the approaching dog and make your escape while he is busy eating them.
  • Soot2006
    Soot2006 Posts: 2,154
    Name Dropper Photogenic First Post First Anniversary
    Forumite
    Recommend you join Facebook group "Reactive Dogs (UK)". Super helpful for this sort of thing!


    In the long term it would be best if your dog and this little free running dog became friends. That way you don't all suffer the stress of maybe running into it. As the owner of two reactive dogs, you have my sympathy. Free running dogs can set us back quite significantly. There's one at my work that occasionally jumps us. Thankfully one of my dogs has now accepted it. The other not so much, but I live in hope.
  • sheramber wrote: »
    Some things you can try

    Teach him to go behind you so when a dog runs up get him behind you. That way you're showing him you will protect him.

    A pop up umbrella can be a useful tool to deter a dog running up to you but make sure your own dog is not upset by it opening. You can operate it with one hand while holding your dog in the other.

    Throw a handful of treats onto the ground in front of the approaching dog and make your escape while he is busy eating them.

    All of this would reinforce to the dog that other dogs are in fact something to be scared of and avoided.
  • Katiehound
    Katiehound Posts: 7,513
    Name Dropper First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Post
    Forumite
    sheramber wrote: »

    Teach him to go behind you so when a dog runs up get him behind you. That way you're showing him you will protect him.
    One of the major training techniques is to teach your dog(s) to walk behind you at all times - not pulling way in front. This teaches the dog that the owner is in charge.

    I'm wondering if a squirty bottle of water would be a handy 'tool'. Ever since my dogs took offence at a very loud small dog I have carried this in my pocket. They get a squirt if they start reacting, but it would be equally useful for keeping another dog at bay.-it's just water after all.
    Being polite and pleasant doesn't cost anything!
    If you found my posting helpful please hit the "Thanks" button!
    Many thanks
    -Stash busting: 337 in 2022
    Stash busting: in 2023. 120 doggy duvets, 24 shopping bags, 43 dog coats, 2 scrunchies, 10 mittens, 6 bootees, 8 glass cases, 2 A6 notebooks, 59 cards, 6 lavender bags,36 crochet angels,9 woven bones, 1 crochet knee blanket, 1 lined bag,3 owls, 88 pyramid pouches = total 420...£119.50 spent- £114.50 earned= total spend £5. Total earned for 'Dogs for Good' £546.82

    2024:23 Doggy duvets, 24 pyramid pouches, 6 hot water bottle covers, 4 knitted beanies, 1 crochet angel= 58 £61 spent!!! already
  • Some amusing (or maybe not funny at all considering the results can be damaging) outdated 'behavioural advice' on this thread! Make sure whoever you see only uses positive reinforcement and doesn't use any pack mentality theory stuff.

    Back to the OP's concern about the latchkey dog in the neighbourhood - if it is picked up the warden they will have to pay a sum to get it back (usually anywhere between £70-120 the first day, longer if they take several days to pay) assuming it isn't microchipped. Some wardens will charge you to get the dog back even if it is chipped. So in this case, maybe the dog being picked up by the warden will help the owner see it isn't a trivial thing to let your dog run loose. They won't usually come out to a dog running loose though - it needs to be contained somewhere first.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 342.5K Banking & Borrowing
  • 249.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 449.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 234.6K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 607.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 172.8K Life & Family
  • 247.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.8K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards