[egglady]

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?

[CameronS]

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

[doganjo]

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.

[egglady]

i cant walk their dog for them nor should i.  he isnt my responsibility and all that does is just encourage their behavior

[doganjo]

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.

[jameslindsay]

Laura you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. Not an easy one as you say.

[Rosemary]

This is neglect - the RSPCA shoudl intervene strongly. There have been cases of owners prosecuted for having obese dogs. It's cruelty.

[Roxy]

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.

[doganjo]

The Dogs Trust won't put it down - contact them for advice.  http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/

[Roxy]

Yes, Annie, thats a good idea, I would be happier going down the Dogs Trust route on this matter.

[CameronS]

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

[Rosemary]

Crikey, I hope your dog wardens are more use than ours. He's a useless tool - good potential Council saving though

[egglady]

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........

[egglady]

and i dont know why they dont just put him in kennels as they are really well off

[Mo]

I've been keeping out of this as I'm a relative newcomer.
But

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.