I'm growing increasingly concerned about a dog which is kept in a neighbour's garden. 24-7 it seems to be tied up to the fence. It's not on a particularly long lead and has worn the grass away as it paces up and down.

It isn't excercised, never goes anywhere, isn't stimulated (no toys) and the enjoyment it has is to bark at passers by and scramble at the fence at them.

The dog has no quality of life. At night it just barks at the house where it 'lives'.
The owners pay it no attention and have told their children to leave it alone.

I've reported it to the dog wardens and Sheffield Homes who I understand have visited but as it is fed and looks healthy, they'll do no more.

If it's an unwanted dog then it should be rehomed, shouldn't it? But the authorities are happy to leave it in situ. I wish someone would just come along and rescue it.

So much for having an Animal Welfare Bill! Any joy if you report it to the RSPCA?

The dog wardens told me they'd pay a joint visit with the RSPCA. So if they went up and found the dog to be healthy then I guess it was a write off.

I genuinely feel sorry for the dog. What kind of life does it have?

That is really sad.Is there nothing anyone can do?I know it is healthy but it is neglected.

Precisely.

I've tried all the avenues I can think of, but they all seem reluctant to take any action.

Does it have shelter and can it reach a bowl of water at all times? As part of the animal welfare act they have to have access to food, water and shelter. That's the only thing I can suggest you might catch them on.

Otherwise, if it's not microchipped steal it and rehome it - they probably won't even bother looking!

The only thing you can do that would get some action is to keep complaining to sheffield homes about the dog barking all day and night, they will definately do somthing about the noise and sooner or later the owners will either rehome the dog or start taking it into the house to cut down the barking.
Good luck I hope your able to help the poor thing.

do you talk to your nieghbour? if so could you not politely ask if they really care about the dog .If they arnt then suggest rehoming it , the wardens must be satisfied that the dogs needs are being met otherwise they would do something ,if you was to steal the dog & rehome it you could be prosicuted for thieft , I find it very disstressing that dogs are tret this way ,know there are reasons sometimes why dogs are kept like this , 1 of them being the stupid laws we have in britain, Be carefull if you decide to do anything at all,What type of dog is it ?would you know if its chipped?, please keep me informed of any developments . thanks

do you talk to your nieghbour? if so could you not politely ask if they really care about the dog .If they arnt then suggest rehoming it , the wardens must be satisfied that the dogs needs are being met otherwise they would do something ,if you was to steal the dog & rehome it you could be prosicuted for thieft , I find it very disstressing that dogs are tret this way ,know there are reasons sometimes why dogs are kept like this , 1 of them being the stupid laws we have in britain, Be carefull if you decide to do anything at all,What type of dog is it ?would you know if its chipped?, please keep me informed of any developments . thanks

Sorry... I should have actually made it clear that I didn't really mean this... please don't steal the dog.

pmsl,Lotti

Sorry... I should have actually made it clear that I didn't really mean this... please don't steal the dog.

The thought of stealing the dog had crossed my mind before I read what you put so you're not alone! :suspect:

Talking to them about possibly re-homing it might be a good root if you're not up to stealing or letting it go. (THEN phoning the dog warden, reporting it loose, unfortuantly it will go to the pound but fortuantly if they don't want to collect it then it has a chance of finding a better home) I just don't understand why people like this have a dog :loopy: What type of dog is it?

pmsl,Lotti

:D

Jess, we're not allowed to advoate illegal activity on here :lol: I don't think I'd be upto stealing it in case I got caught...

if it's a pit bull type (for instance) there's a whole jar of worms associated with it, so rehoming just wouldn't be an option

I'd pursue the path of noise nuisance having had no joy from the animal welfare people

I think I've seen a bowl there sometimes, but there's certainly no shelter.
I don't know the neighbour to speak to, I've no real desire to start to get to know the family.
I don't really want to give away the breed of the dog, in case it's picked up by someone who reads this who knows the family and dog, but lets just say it's a medium sized pedigree.
I don't want to steal the dog, good Lord! I'm no good at that sort of thing, I'm no good at being a vigilante or a Born Free follower. No idea if it's chipped (how on earth would I know that???)

It's out there now, destroying something which has been left in the garden. It's obviously bored.

If there's no shelter, the RSCPA/dog warden may have warned them to get the dog some shelter, in which case you can contact them again and tell them the dog is tied up without access to shelter.

In the recent warm weather and showers he really needs it but it's part of the animal welfare bill anyway.

Just out of curiosity - where is the dog ?

I can't really say on a public forum in case the owners read this. I'll PM you (if anyone else wants more detail or thinks they can DO something, pm me)

I hope this isn't going to turn into another vigilante thread :suspect:

Stealing dogs is illegal, and I don't like what it does to this group talking about it

If somebody's telly was blasting out at all hours of the day and night would 'the team' on SF be organising to steal that?

I was only kidding! I don't advocate stealing anybody's dog!

I think the reason it crosses people's minds though Strix is because a tv that's blasting out all day and night isn't actually suffering. Dogs who are kept tied up, bored with no shelter are

Anyway, like I said Classic Rock if the dog warden has already been they could've advised the owner to get it sorted as opposed to deciding all is ok. Try contacting them again and stress that the dog has no shelter.

nope - but a blasting tv may cause you and your children to suffer :(

Yup...

I better not mention what my dad told the police he would do to the students' stereo when they were having an all night party across the road when my sister and I were kids. But it did get the police to intervene!

i have PM'D classic rock as i would have no issues with going to the house and having a polite word and see if that would help.

I replied, I don't think the family would 'appreciate' such an approach. They may turn on you as you aren't there in an official capacity.

I hope this isn't going to turn into another vigilante thread :suspect:

Stealing dogs is illegal, and I don't like what it does to this group talking about it

If somebody's telly was blasting out at all hours of the day and night would 'the team' on SF be organising to steal that?

Chill Out Strix, nobody is condoning 'Stealing' a dog. People are just concerned.

nope - but it's been mentioned, and I don't like what it does to people's emotions here

it gets them fired up and that transfers to other threads

it's not nice

nope - but it's been mentioned, and I don't like what it does to people's emotions here

it gets them fired up and that transfers to other threads

it's not nice

I agree but an eye is being kept ;)

on the dog or the thread? :confused:

on the dog or the thread? :confused:

Lets not get silly - the thread.

I wasn't being silly - I thought it needed clarification :thumbsup:

lol lets look at this rationally why not buy him a bone or a toy yourself and just pop it over , if the owners don't notice him they won't notice you have given him a bone or a toy. alturnativly you could say to your neighbour you have this going spare could you give it the dog or maybe even offer to walk the dog for them

............................

lol lets look at this rationally why not buy him a bone or a toy yourself and just pop it over , if the owners don't notice him they won't notice you have given him a bone or a toy. alturnativly you could say to your neighbour you have this going spare could you give it the dog or maybe even offer to walk the dog for them

Isn't that just sticking a plaster on a bigger wound?

If I go in and start walking it and providing it with toys and bones, then that's not making the owners have any responsibility for their pet. Giving it the odd bone doesnt help with the longer term situation.

Isn't that just sticking a plaster on a bigger wound?

If I go in and start walking it and providing it with toys and bones, then that's not making the owners have any responsibility for their pet. Giving it the odd bone doesnt help with the longer term situation.

No but it could lead to a good relationship with your neighbour and then you can work on their pet care skills , i have to admit i would be concerned if it was next door to me. I had a neighbour like this in wakefield but started the way i told you and then we became friends and now she looks after her dog alot better.

It's not my next door neighbour, it's quite a few doors away and I don't think they even would recognise me if they passed me in the street. I'd like to keep it that way. The family are often heard shouting vulgar abuse among themselves and to the dog (when it barks). I don't really fancy taking on a do gooder role with this family.

I've posted my concerns in this thread to see if anyone has any ideas as to how to go down an official route which I've not yet tried in order to find a better solution for this poor dog, not for the onus to be bounced back to me to turn into a local hero and save the day. I've got a dog of my own which is more than a handful, I'm not in a position to tackle someone else's pets or problems as I dont for one minute think I'd be thanked for it and it could backfire on me and I could be seen to be an interfering neighbour.

In an ideal world I'd happily put on my Doris Day dress, go round with a basket of cookies and sprinkle happy dust everywhere and we'd all live happlily every after through bursting into song and dancing with the dog, but that's not going to happen. I'm more likely to be sworn at, told to mind my own business and then they see where I live and trouble comes my way.

Ok Classic Rock... I understand what you're saying completely but teeny was only trying to help with her experience of what has worked for her.

You never actually specified that it had to be an official route, hence Teeny felt it appropriate to respond with her experiences. :)

Dont get me wrong, I'm not having a go at anyone. This has turned into quite an emotional thread hasn't it?!

ANY route which helps solve the problem is worth considering, but approaching the family has to be a no go. It would probably start a war.

I will say again that you should contact sheffield homes, they will do somthing about the noise and believe me its no fun having the council visit your home about a dog barking day and night.
If you continue to complain they will keep visiting until the owners do somthing about the dog.

I will say again that you should contact sheffield homes, they will do somthing about the noise and believe me its no fun having the council visit your home about a dog barking day and night.
If you continue to complain they will keep visiting until the owners do somthing about the dog.

Been there and done that and got little help. They passed it on to the dog wardens to deal with. I'm keeping a diary about the barking for them, but Sheffield Homes have shown little interest, mainly, I think, because another department can deal with it on their behalf.

Ok Classic Rock... I understand what you're saying completely but teeny was only trying to help with her experience of what has worked for her.

You never actually specified that it had to be an official route, hence Teeny felt it appropriate to respond with her experiences. :)

I should add where I lived in wakefield the estate was very exceptionally rough and animals and children weren't treated right ,

I just was rather worried about reporting a neighbour as you were more than likely to get you home set alight or burgled etc but its not a case of being Doris day, i had 2 dogs of my own who were a handful but what hapend made a real difference to the dog concerned.

i used to take her to pound land to buy toys and kept telling her about my canal walks so evetually she came down with me one day and now even when i am not there she is still walking him, she also went to a dog class without me telling her too so sometimes all is needed is bit of encouragement , also the family next door were the kind like you refer too!!

That's so good that you were able to do that. Your neighbour evidently wanted the dog. I don't believe that this dog is wanted. I was told by the dog wardens that it belongs to another member of the family who is absent and it's just being left there supposedly 'looked after' by the family.

I don't feel my approach would be welcomed - maybe I'm just not as brave as you were, you were skilled and lucky that your experience turned out positively, I'm not willing to take that chance.

When you contacted someone about the dog did you do it over the phone? Would it be possible for you to write to Sheffield Homes or the RSPCA so that they have it in writing. A phone conversation can easily be forgotton, notes not taken down properly etc but that's not so easy to do with a letter! Put everything down that you can think of, how long at a time it is left tied to the fence, the fact that you have only seen a dish on occasion and what kind of shelter, if any, there is. Put down how long this has been going on for. You don't even have to put your details on the letter if you are afraid of a come back. Explain the reason you aren't giving your details.

I hope someone does something because that's just not fair to the dog.

Something is certainly not right here if there is an animal that doesn't have shelter or access to clean water. Let alone the other things he is missing.

If this has been reported to the council - you have a right to ask what their view is on it, and if anything is being done about it.

How many times have you phoned the dw's? Are there others in the neighbourhood that are concerned enough to report it? I always feel that people will act if you report an injustice - but thats not always the case - nor is it the case that many people will even report it - as you have already tried to do.

Thats why they brought out the Green Stop with the NSPCC because naturally the majority of people say its not their business - nothing will get done about it, surely its not happening - and just ignore neglect or abuse.

What you have done is correct - reported this to the proper authorities and you expect them now to do theirs. Please keep chasing and ensure you get an official reply as to what is being done.
pm'd you

In situations like this maybe everyone coming together may help, one persons voice sometimes isnt enough, I know you are reluctant to broacast details of this dog is case of a comeback, but how about pm'ing people that would like to help with the details so we can ALL make a phonecall or write a letter? Id be more then willing to write and keep chasing this up..and maybe asking some neighbours to do the same?

When you contacted someone about the dog did you do it over the phone? Would it be possible for you to write to Sheffield Homes or the RSPCA so that they have it in writing. A phone conversation can easily be forgotton, notes not taken down properly etc but that's not so easy to do with a letter! Put everything down that you can think of, how long at a time it is left tied to the fence, the fact that you have only seen a dish on occasion and what kind of shelter, if any, there is. Put down how long this has been going on for. You don't even have to put your details on the letter if you are afraid of a come back. Explain the reason you aren't giving your details.

I hope someone does something because that's just not fair to the dog.

Yes, did all that in writing to the dog wardens, they then phoned me for details and I went through it with them. They said they'd pay a visit with the RSPCA. Whether or not they've been I don't know, but the dog is still there today looking thin - its ribs are quite prominant now.

In situations like this maybe everyone coming together may help, one persons voice sometimes isnt enough, I know you are reluctant to broacast details of this dog is case of a comeback, but how about pm'ing people that would like to help with the details so we can ALL make a phonecall or write a letter? Id be more then willing to write and keep chasing this up..and maybe asking some neighbours to do the same?


Sounds good. If anyone is willing to PM me, I will provide details but will ask you to go and have a look for yourself - just do a drive past, so you can see first hand.

hi could you pm me more details i will ring and rant at the rspc and dog wardens but would like to see for myself.