[doganjo]

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.

[egglady]

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?

[jameslindsay]

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.

[doganjo]

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!

[doganjo]

http://www.dogworld.co.uk/News/31-PSDA

PDSA might be interested too.

[CameronS]

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

[knightquest]

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

[Hardfeather]

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.

[doganjo]

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!

[Mo]

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.

[dannidub2000]

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!!!! 

[Hardfeather]

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.

[egglady]

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!!!!

[doganjo]

Oh dear, how on earth did you get that mixed up?  Hope you didn't lose too much on it.

[BAKEWELL11]

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?