The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: egglady on August 05, 2010, 09:25:27 pm
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i live in a very small village - only 15 houses which is significant to this story.
one of neighbours has a dog, an ex-gundog (lab) who is about 2 and a half. he is grossly overweight, so much so that 2 people our walking their dogs stopped and commented on the 'lumps' on the side of his face....which are fat! A friend used to take him running but cant now as he cant walk very fast anymore, far less run.
personally i think his hips are causing him discomfort - hardly surprising eh?
anyway, the reason for my outrage is that his owners have just gone away for FOUR days. THey've left him in an outdorr horse stable and asked one of the local lads to feed him at night. they also put a note through another neighbours door (not even knowing if they were going to be around or not) saying that if they were going out a walk, then perhaps they'd take the dog with them......
i am so, so, so angry and not sure what, if anything i should do. there are a number of people who know about this but no-one is going to do a thing - small village syndrome and 'not my responsibility' kind of thing. these people are well educated and well off and i think people just dont want to get involved for all of these reasons.
i know if i report them, they will have some plausable story ready and i'll end up being the one that looks the plonker. but this isnt the first time they have done this - nor, i suspect will it be the last.
so what would YOU do?
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Call the SSPCA (despite my recent post, i still have some faith in them) , inform them of the situation, say if nothing happens you will intervien take care of the dog untill his owners get back,
then once they get back, offer to walk the dog for them untill his weight is more manageable, or phone the local dog wardens
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I would say exactly the same as Cameron. You can't let this go on. That dog will have a heart attack soon or at the very least a painful existence from arthritis.
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i cant walk their dog for them nor should i. he isnt my responsibility and all that does is just encourage their behavior
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You ARE right of course, it is not your dog, you ahve no responsibility to it or its owners. So why are you asking what we would do - you mentioned
the small village syndrome and 'not my responsibility' kind of thing
, you are agreeing that is what you should do too aren't you? If it bothers you about this dog, do something about it. Cameron and I have told you what we would do.
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Laura you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. Not an easy one as you say.
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This is neglect - the RSPCA shoudl intervene strongly. There have been cases of owners prosecuted for having obese dogs. It's cruelty.
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Difficult situation. Labs are prone to being overweight, and like their food. These people need "educating" about this. But ....if in England and the RSPCA get involved, their new heavy handed approach, will not be educating the people, it will be taking the dog off them altogether.
Maybe the cowards way, but perhaps a note pushed through the door saying certain residents are concerned about the dogs health, and the fact they have gone away without making proper provision for the dogs care? And if things carry on, it will be reported to the RSPCA. Some people do not realise they are killing their dog with kindness by overfeeding it.
A labrador needs careful feeding and plenty of exercise, that is what they are bred for - running about. Pehaps these people should seriously think about rehoming the dog, and in that case the RSPCA may be the answer. But I have my doubts about them finding it a home, and maybe having it PTS.
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The Dogs Trust won't put it down - contact them for advice. http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/
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Yes, Annie, thats a good idea, I would be happier going down the Dogs Trust route on this matter.
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Where abouts are you egglady, not only will it define SSPCA or RSPCA(should a rescue need envolved),
if you are in the fife area i can get the number for the Dogwardens from my boss for you if you want, or atleast find out what you can do?? any use
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Crikey, I hope your dog wardens are more use than ours. He's a useless tool - good potential Council saving though ;D
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i've had a really sleepless night on this one and fallen out with hubby intot he bargain, plus had a major rant to two of the villagers. his owners are clever people, extremely clever in fact if their occupations are any indication. they have a variety of animals and also a laminitic pony - surprisingly enough he is over weight tooo......
i've looked up what constitutes 'neglect' and think there is a fine line. i would imagine they would argue that they have made 'adequate provision' for the dog as the law states and certainly they aren't cruel to him - well not in the sense of the word we tend to use, but probably cruel by allowing him to get to such an obese state. and yes, i do think he will live a much shorter life than he should.
james, i think you are right, i am 'damned' whatever i do. perhaps i too suffer from SVS, but i have horses, sheep, cats, a dog, children, ducks, hens and a huge veggie garden, so have very little free time of my own, so annie and cameron, i honestly cant take anything else on or i would be the one ending up with the heart attack!
i doubt if a note, or even a few words will make any difference. the same thing happened previously and the villager who was asked to look after all the animals said she didnt agree with the dog being left, so they took him last time - clearly made no long term difference though! i think they like to 'have' things (as it demonstrated how well off they are) but not the associated responsibility that goes with it.
i also think the dog should be taken to vet, and i have twice asked them if they were taking him but they said no, he was fine and they were just giving him a rest till he was ok!!!!!!!!! in my view he will never be ok till he loses at least a stone and gets regular exercise..but what do i know, i dont have a degree!!!!
i am so upset about all of this, they are not the sort of people you have a 'quiet word' with sadly. i think saybe a phone call to the SSPCA but i doubt if it will make any difference as there are so many cases where true crueltly is involved that they have to intervene in. i dont know which is worse - starving your dog or allowing him to become obese and killing him that way........ >:( :(
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and i dont know why they dont just put him in kennels as they are really well off
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I've been keeping out of this as I'm a relative newcomer.
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I would definately have called R/SSPCA or the Dog's Trust by now. Indeed, I would probably have called them some time ago from what you have written. But that's me.
You don't have to report these people if that's what you are worried about. You can call simply for advice on what you should do, or indeed what you can do.
I could quote Codes of Practice & etc. but you probably know all that anyway.
I'd make the call.
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I understand how you feel about not having the time, but a simple phone call to either the SSPCA or the Dogs Trust or the dog warden would take the responsibility off your shoulders. Even if nothing came of it, your conscience would be clear and at least you'd have tried which is a lot more than some of your neighbours would have done by the sound of it. You wouldn't need to 'take on ' anything - once you make that call, you need do nothing else.
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well, i've just this minute come off the phone to the SSPCA. gave the lady the facts and asked her if i was just being ridiculous. she said she'd get the report to the local officer and he/she would be out and that what is happening isnt right. so no, i'm not being silly after all!
of course, i now feel sick to my stomach as these people live next door to me and it might get very ugly, but i have to be able to sleep at night.
i think they no longer want the dog sothe best solution is that the dog gets removed and goes to a home where he can be loved and cared for properly.
so why do i feel sooooooo bad?
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You were never going to feel good whatever action you decided to take Laura. Hopefully now the dog will get the care it deserves. Your neighbours need never know it was you that reported them. :)
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The SSPCA won't tell them, Laura, they have a policy not to, as have the dog wardens. Please don't feel bad, you have done a VERY good thing. Just think of the dog - it will be much better looked after, and they will investigate their other animals too. Well done!
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http://www.dogworld.co.uk/News/31-PSDA
PDSA might be interested too.
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if you didn't who would, i think you should be pleased, you may have stopped the needless suffering of a few unhealthy animals
good on you
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Well done, I think you did the right thing.
Remains to be seen whether the SSPCA do anything now though. You should sleep with a clear conscience :)
Ian
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The assumption that the SS(pca) will seize the dog and find it a home is incorrect. Until they speak to the owners the dog's ownership will not change. Unfortunately for the dog, it looks as if its owners have made provision for it in their abscence. The SS(pca) should be powerless to do anything. If the dog is being fed and watered regularly, and is in clean accomodation, they will establish those facts and disappear.
The SS(pca) are impotent if anyone at all is supplying feed and water on a regular basis. Most cases of such neglect are rendered un-policeable by the SS because there is always some sympathetic person who supplies the animal's needs and, by doing so, meets the criteria for non-involvement of the 'authorities'. Heartless as it may sound, it's better to make sure the animal is truly abandoned, by suppressing the urge to supply any sustenance, before calling the SS.
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Yup, dead right Angus. Just heard of a case like that yesterday - dogs all taken away as they'd been neglected but because they always had food (a 20kg bag split and left on the kitchen floor for them all to help themselves) and water, no jail sentence and only one year ban. At least the dogs will be rehomed - won't get them back thankfully!
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Well done, egglady.
The neighbours need never know you made the call. But, even if it did get ugly, it will be because people can vocalise - dogs can't. You have given the dog a voice.
I hear what AengusOg says and agree. But this dog not only had sustenance, it sounds as if he had too much sustenance. A healthy diet is also part of the Code of Practice, and something may well be done if the dog is obese.
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You dont leave your dog and just put notes around for him to be cared for.. what if no one had seen them, we would be talking neglect then!!!
Sure this in itself will be taken into account with the SSPCA!! Who in their right mind would do that?? Idiots.
The animal welfare act look at the five freedoms:
1. Freedom from hunger and thirst
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease
4. Freedom to express normal behaviour
5. Freedom from fear and distress
In a case brought forward to SSPCA/ RSPCA they look at these when assessing a complaint. From the obese side these are not happening. The dog may be in pain, obviously uncomfortable, may not be able to express normal behaviour and chances of illness and diseases relating to obesity are high!!
And for leaving the animal alone with notes passed around hoping someone will take care of it breaks all 5 if no one took on the task.
Right thing done, id do the same!!!!
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I agree that what these people have done is wrong, and I also think egglady was right to bring it to the attention of the SS. Unfortunately, though, the law is an ass.
I also happen to believe that to allow a dog (or a horse) to live its life in an obese condition is neglectful, and owners of such animals should be taken to task. Some people just shouldn't be allowed to keep animals.
1. Freedom from hunger and thirst
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease
4. Freedom to express normal behaviour
5. Freedom from fear and distress
dannidub...this is the point I try to make here. These five freedoms are not worth the paper they are written on. If the dog in question is in airy, dry, clean accomodation; has a reasonably comfortable bed; has regular feed and water; is free from injury; can walk around and bark; is in familiar surroundings with nothing to be afraid of, these criteria have been met. Therefore, the SS can do nothing about it. They may want to speak to the owners and give them advice on diets for healthy dogs, and may even give them a warning that if they do this again they will be recommended for prosecution.
By leaving notes and/or instructions, to 'responsible' individuals, charging others with the care of the dog, the owners have further strengthened their immunity from, and weakened the case for, prosecution or, at least, seizure of the dog.
I have long said that leaving the welfare of animals to a non-governmental, public-funded, quasi-authoratative bunch of individuals, arming them with a set of rules which take months of legal work to interpret, and furnishing them with the power to incite the police to support them, does very little other than alienate the public and leave animals open to abuse.
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sometimes i wonder, just sometimes, if there is any point at all in trying to do the right thing, when it appears it wont make a jot of difference.
and to top it all off, the holiday up North we were planning to set off for just shortly...turns out to have been LAST WEEK........maybe I'll just go back to bed and stay there for the week...how do i tell the children that they arent going away after all????? and i cant book anything else cos our money went on that one!!!!
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Oh dear, how on earth did you get that mixed up? Hope you didn't lose too much on it.
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Id call the rspca out or police and meet them there. get them to take the dog for safe keeping at least until the owners are home, maybe the vet checking the dog into kennels will do something when they see the dog is suffering?
Do the dog a favour and make the call?
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At most, I would offer to walk it for them when I walk my own.
I dislike when people try to get RSPCA etc involved without talking to the owners about it first. There may be more to it.
I did this for my neighbor when she broke her ankle last year. Barely knew her apart from I knew she walked past the front of our house daily, and one day saw someone else walking her dogs at lunchtime. So I asked what's up and he was her son, and said he could only get there at lunchtimes to walk them. So I offered to take them for their 3 walks per day when I take Eric out. He was grateful. She didn't expect the offer either.
Her dogs didn't get along with Eric at first, but they got used to each other and after a few months the lady was so happy, she offered to look after Eric and our chicken (Rocky) if we needed to get away for a weekend or anything. Nice neighbor.
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so what happened in end then? did they come out to see them?