Our neighbours' were gone all night, and left their two dogs on their own (I think they're Staffies), one of which barked until nearly 5am (we share a wall so that was a fun night...). They're still not back this morning, and I have no idea if they went away on holiday, had an emergency, or what. I'm worried about the dogs just being left on their own for this long, and also not happy on a selfish level because of the lack of sleep. If they're not back again this evening, what do you think I should do? The dogs have no free access to the garden, either, so they must be desperate to go bathroom, or else doing it in the house.
Oh how awful , for you and for the poor dogs ! I wouldn't hesitate to ring either the RSPCA or your local council dog warden, or even both , as this is not acceptable , at all .
Are you sure that your neighbours aren't home? They could have fallen ill and are unable to get to the phone? Even if you know for sure that they aren't home I'd actually call the police and frame it like you thought they might be home and dead or sick. Police can check it out and then call animal control or the SPCA from there.
I'm with Kate and would go the Animal Welfare route. They will call police/emergency services if necessary or need to make entry.
I'm 100% sure they weren't there last night because at least one of the cars was gone (the other parks elsewhere down the road). They are a family so I normally hear the baby crying and the kids yelling, last night it was totally quiet other than the dogs. Same with this morning. Right now I don't see either car, although I can't be 100% sure about the car that parks elsewhere, although I don't see any nearby. The dogs are totally quiet right now. I'm going to get ready and ring their doorbell to make sure no one is home, and then call the dog warden. Sigh this is really awkward because one of them is rather...shall we say...difficult, and we already have a tense relationship. And I'm not the confrontational type AT ALL, but I'm worried about the dogs.
Keep us posted. It's an animal welfare issue and you're correct to call somebody. I hope that they can come over asap.
Animal welfare are usually happy to keep callers IDs confidential to try and prevent problems Good luck and let us know how things go
If they left the dogs they may be unaware that the dog were barking all the time, it would be helpful for them to know so that they can avoid it next time.
Knocked on the door about a dozen times, no one home, and no dog barking at the loud knocking :/ We didn't hear anyone come home this morning but it's possible they came and picked them up, but no way to know. That dog barking I heard earlier this morning was my lab wanting to come in by the way So I haven't heard their dogs since early this morning (around 5am). I'm calling the warden now but I've been on hold for about 15 minutes without talking to a living person yet...
Sigh...finally got through and they said they only deal with lost or stray dogs, and to call the RSPCA
This is very intriguing. Please keep us posted! We had a similar experience. People who live down our road went away for the ENTIRE Easter weekend and left three spaniels alone. Someone came to feed them every day. Dogs barked NON-STOP. Very distressed. EVERYONE in the neighborhood got involved. SPCA were called but they said if dogs have shelter and food then they don't get involved. Police must be phoned cos law says dogs may not bark more than 6 mins/hour (how's that for a weird number of minutes!). After numerous phone calls from me to the owners, they eventually got a couple to move into their house - AFTER the Easter weekend. They were intending to leave their dogs alone for 2 weeks!!!!!!! And then they had the audacity to complain that people were telling them what to do. They are awful people and often leave their dogs an entire day alone and dogs bark non-stop. To prevent legal action from their neighbors, they had two debarked and one unfortunately died on the operating table.
DEBARKED???????????? Wow no vet should be allowed to do that, that is disgusting! Our neighbours' leave their dogs all day alone. And if they ever take them for walks I've never seen it. Well I'm thoroughly annoyed at this entire situation. Basically, there is nothing I can do. I have no idea whether the dogs are even there or not since it's completely quiet...I hope the neighbours did somehow spirit them away early this morning and they're alright, although it's a bit odd for a Wednesday at 5am to do that.
Ok, since the animal agencies are no help I'd call the police if you hear the dogs again. I'd frame it as being concerned about your neighbours' welfare "no sign of life and the dogs have been barking non-stop". That should be enough for a human welfare check.
I agree. I was very upset when I heard about the debarking because it does not address the fact that the dogs are distressed for being left alone. And then they blamed the neighbors who complained for the dog dying.
I've heard about cats being declawed but not dogs being debarked. That's absolutely disgusting. Your neighbours are total sausages and shame on any vet who does that surgery.
