Interfering, or responsible?

stencilface

stencilface

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There is a family up the lane, although think the kids have left home, who have a dog who barks all the time, more at night.

It's a huge pyreenian mountain dog and can't be much more than a year old. They can't control it on a lead - at least she was unable to control it when it was 6 months old or so, so I think it rarely gets out. I haven't seen it walked for ages, and neither have other neighbours. AFAIK it's kept outside in a run, and last summer escaped a few times onto the neighbouring property which is a campsite.

I can't see the dog as it's a big house with large gates so I don't know of its condition etc, but think it's well fed and otherwise looked after. My question is, would you contact the rspca and see if they can do a visit? I don't think they're cruel as such, but imho it's not a life such a big and young dig should be leading.

I feel like a telltale for this, but I don't know them despite living here 8 years, as I never see them out and they don't socialise as such so it's not like I can pop round, I know all the others up the lane, but by all accounts this family aren't friends with anyone.

So is this a reasonable thing to do, or would I just be a complete pita for doing this?
 
I doubt if RSPCA would be interested, many dogs unfortunately never get out of their gardens, there are two in neighbouring houses
gardens only patio sized.
 
Snuffles said:
I doubt if RSPCA would be interested, many dogs unfortunately never get out of their gardens, there are two in neighbouring houses
gardens only patio sized.
Click to expand...

I know, just feels really unfair. He barks when I walk up the lane at 6.30, and apparently the neighbours opposite complain regularly as he barks all night. Poor sod, gorgeous dog too
 
Unfortunately the Animal Welfare Act does not include exercise requirements ...

The five welfare needs to be met are :

need for a suitable environment
need for a suitable diet
need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals
need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

Also, unless you are at home 24/7 you cannot possibly say for certain that the dog never gets exercised off the property. As a Livestock Guardian Dog, the breed needs less exercise than his size might suggest. However, they are an intelligent breed and so hopefully the owner is providing some kind of mental stimulation. Training is also obviously important in a dog of this size and with the natural instinct to guard. It also doesn't surprise me that he barks a lot - it is, after all, their job. However, away from a flock guardian situation (and with no neighbours) this is clearly not desirable.

I doubt the RSPCA could do a thing about the situation as you describe it, but you could complain to the council about the excessive barking, especially if it is disturbing you or your neighbours.
 
Yes, it's not like I sit outside their drive monitoring their movements. But from seeing the small 60+ lady walking it last year and how she had to stand on the verge and cling on for dear life as I went past with my dog, I can't imagine they take it out much.
 
They may not walk it from the house but is it possible they take it out in the car to somewhere it can run round off lead? Or maybe a dog walker collects it for walks in a van?
 
Despite your understandable and well intentioned concern, from here, any attempt at the involvement of any authority, I would view as interference. Sorry.

Alec.
 
I'm afraid I have to say that it is not your problem. At least it isn't being beatenor tortured. I would complain if the barking annoys you but on the whole it is sadly better off than many dogs.
 
I'm pretty sure the dog, other than escaping, doesn't leave their property. It would never fit in their cars for starters! It's definitely kept as a guard dog, and doesn't run around the garden as it's not secure.

I guess I knew it's interfering, it's just depressing isn't it? I'm sure my dog would love to play with it, if he wasn't scared, sometimes being a big dog himself he's shocked when he meets anything bigger :D

Still if it goes to run riot around the campsite again this summer the owner of that may well report it to someone. It's a big enough dog to do harm without meaning too.
 
It is depressing - and even more so when you consider that this dog may actually have a better life than many others :( I guess you could try and befriend the family and offer to walk the dog (in such a way as to not cause offense! Which is tricky in itself).
 
You could put a note through their letter box saying the barking is very annoying to be going on for so long and can it be sorted.If it does not stop you can get in touch with the local Council about it.
 
I think you have to consider the alternatives...

- If the dog is uncontrollable out and the owners are told they must take it out some other dog or person could get injured and this one PTS
- If they sign it over to a rescue who is going to want it (large, untrained, maybe other issues such as the barking...)? Probably ends up PTS...

If you happened to know (or be!) anyone who could and would give it a different lifestyle then there might be some pint intervening. Otherwise I expect either nothing would happen or something potentially worse would happen.

I've once taken a dog on from similar circs (smaller mind...) but that I walked, as suggested above, and arranged the new home for myself.
 
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