General Chat

Well yes Rose but then you could say that about any thread on the boards , just guess work , because I doubt that we are ever given the full facts .

LOL Amy well I WAS going to say that applied to all threads on the board ;) but I thought 'better' of it and went and had a coffee instead :) I fear I am not in the mood for taking 'middle ground' today , a wee bit 'scratchy' in temper lol.

Ice Ice baby, I can see yours ( and Mildred's ) point in speaking to the owner first, but also see that sometimes that is not an easy thing to do?

Maybe most of us try to keep a low profile when it comes to dealing direct with neighbours on potentially difficult issues...falling out with a neighbour, however well intentioned the approach to them , can make ones life absolute hell.

That is why I would often advise getting a 'neutral' party in to sort things out?

It would depend on how well I knew my neighbours and what sort of people they were as to whether or not I'd knock and try to sort things out. first.....

My next door neighbours jack russell drove me batty ...they had laminate flooring fitted in their hall and his barking echoed loudly into my living room and the babys bedroom whilst they were out at work all day...disturbed the baby as she was a really light sleeper.

I was very lucky...my neighbours were lovely...so I knocked at the door explained the situation and offered to *dog sit* the dog at my house while they were at work...my dogs played happily with him and the baby got to sleep..dog got socialised...everyone's a winner Rodney..lol. the ones I reported were ...*coughs delicately* as rough as wotsits...and I wouldn't have put myself in the firing line as I probably would've ended up with a brick through my window !!!! Their dog WAS clearly distressed as I could hear it howling so I did want to get the situation checked out of genuine concern for it's welfare.

..having said all that I wouldn't take anyone's cat in without at least dropping a note through the door.......even if it was anonymous...and I would expect the same courtesy back in return x

I think it's important to find out (and perhaps offer help if needed) to the owner of the animals.
So speaks someone who, for the past 4 years has waited with baited breath for the RSPCA to knock on her door!
Why? One of my cats is a midget, another looks like his tail is broken and the 3rd, in the summer looks like he's starved!!!!
The 'midget' Betty has never been without food, isn't particularly bullied (any more than she bullies) by her 2 brothers.

Mr Miu - we first noticed hs tail was 'cock-eyed' when he was about 4 weeks old - when kittens first put their tails up. He was taken straight to the vet, who said it wasn't broken - it was a congenital defect - as are the other 'problems' he has, along with being overweight ,that make him look bog ugly - but he's very affectionate - which, with his unretractable claws can be quite painful!. However it has never held him back - he's the best mouser around.

George looks okay in his winter coat, but in the summer, looks (compared to other cats around) like a Belsen case!
All 3 cats are fed the same, from different bowls. However, if any one leaves anything George finishes it up! (and no, he hasn't got worms).
George is, in fact, the perfect weight, but is about 2 inches longer than the averge cat - hence the ribs (though not the backbone) showing - and he fidgets all the time!

All 3 are open to someone thinking they may have been neglected. Instead, the once or twice I have been asked by 'concerned' people, and have explained about their 'problems' - these 'concerned' people have suddenly noticed their shiny coats and eyes - the first sigh of a healthy animal!!.

I would imagine, If RSPCA get involved through an anonymous caller or otherwise, suspicion will likely fall on the nearest neighbours, those who can see into the back garden & to the front of the house to be able to report this man & his dogs every move.

I really hope Carol thinks hard if that dog is truly suffering or not.

I would hate this man to be going through a challenging time to then be copped with accusations of mistreatment. :o((

why dont you offer to look after the dog in
your own home Carol

be neighborly
that's what i would do if i was really concerned
though i know my neighbors so well
i am sure they would of asked me to do that anyway

you never know
you and the neighbor could become real good friends

I do know the circumstances. They do not excuse the owner leaving their animals alone for this amount of time.

I have been feeding the animals for the owner at times over the last 18months, bringing the dog round to my house if she keeps barking, thinking that the cause could be loneliness. I do not have a cat flap for her to go out of at night & have an old dog of my own (who objects to sharing), so I cannot have her round here over night.

I do feel that this Jack Russell should have company, the cats have each other.


The now fully grown cats were kittens when I first fed them & their mother. They very quickly realized that if they came round to my house I would go round & feed them. I have never fed them in my house or garden, but lean over & put food in a dish in their own garden. When I said they had moved in I meant that if I leave window or door open they come in & curl up in my warm sitting room, making themselves quite at home.

my neighbours cat took to my house when i first moved in, altho i told them it came in n if it was ever missing and lilman was playing out so the door was open chances are it would be on my bed, and it usually was, altho i dnt encourage him as stray doesnt like him, but wen the door is open in summer i dnt notice him sneaking in, till i go upstairs n spot him,

as for the lil dog, as long as he has food, water, shelter and access to the outdoors, and company, then i wouldnt ring the authoritys, unless the dog looks neglected ie, hes thin loosing hair tht sort of thing,

if its just a case of for the past 4 weeks somthing has changed and the owner had to be away but is making adiquete arrangments fort he dog, then id maybe have a word n offer to help if you could, or just keep an eye out to make sure the animal doesnt get to distressed, or to thin etc.

"No Bob, the cats have moved in with me & the owner has yet to notice."


......so...... if they dont live with you, why should this man notice they have moved in with you...if they haven't ???

If the dog keeps barking (which you forgot to mention in your earlier posts) then maybe let this man know, so he has the chance to make his own decisions on the matter.

Well Carol your story has changed somewhat since I last looked , is it you that is feeding the dog this time ? or has he someone else doing it?

I feel that if the dog is able to exit the house, that means it is outside without a leash and could become a danger to either people passing by, or, even traffic.
If it is constantly barking it is a nuisance as far as I am concerned, and should be reported to the local dog catcher who will take it to the pound and contact the owner.
This person should not be permitted to have a pet if he or she allows it to become a nuisance to neighbours.

In the words of the wise old woman: at the end of the day

"no good me saying, you'll do what you want to do".

It's pretty good advice (though it was annoying at the time lol) we all have to decide what feels right to us individually. replies here can throw up a few options to consider and that's all.

Thank you all for your replies.

She is such a lovely friendly little dog, who up till a few months ago had the company of her owner & children most nights.

Why is Carol being made to feel bad - whether it's misguided or not I think she's only trying to do the right thing by the dog.

S

Well seriously Ice I do not think we need to go down the road of speculating that the owner MAY have depression , nor should you be telling Carol to lie and say the dog barks all day ..in all honesty Carol talk to the owner see what is happening , etc , if nothing done well then you can take it from there.

I agree Amy. In the long run I think Carol will know exactly what to do. Perhaps Carole is just airing her thoughts.

Ooh - this speculating about a person's mental state:-(

S

No Ice , Carol said she takes the dog to her house IF it keeps barking ... and I have no idea where this depression bit comes from , pure speculation on your part.

What is the point of giving an example ? we dont need to know WHY the owner is not there ,and why depression , ?? there are loads of illnessess, have you learned nothing from the other day about discussing peoples mental health on the internet ? people that you know nothing about .

Ice - you really need to not take every comment made in reply to your posts as a personal attack. In no way am I having a go at you - I have just replied to your comment with a comment of my own. That is what chat is and it can become very difficult when someone is so touchy they feel they are being questioned, ridiculed or attacked.

S

Oh I would not say I know nothing about you , medical history , scared of dentist lol