Not your usual how do you/ advice needed post...

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Jake10

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Not sure I should post this in AAD if at all... but here we go... My aunt and her OH have severe learning difficulties (very obvious when you look at/ talk to them) so why to pet shops and private sellers sell them animals. They only just remember to feed themselves... So far they have had:

4 guineapigs (not all at the same time) - rarely fed/watered/ cleaned out - died (starvation) after 3 weeks.

6 budgies (not all at the same time) - rarely fed/watered/cleaned out - either died or I found home for them in friends aivary (told aunt they had escaped).

1 cat - ran away (very smart cat!)

2 dogs - again rarely fed/watered/flead/vacc/wormed - I took them to RSPCA

4 mice again all died

They currently have a hamster...

NOW the reason I'm posting... they are currently looking to buy another dog
which will no doubt be neglected... How do I convince them that they don't need another animal of ANY sort?? I have moved further away so it's harder for me to secretly clean/feed/water/rescue their animals. Also why do sellers let people like my aunt buy animals??

Have talked to pet shop in question and they will not stop selling to them!!
I can't bring up animal husbandry with them with out starting WW3 (she can be very abusive - family, LA, cleaners - no one is safe from it)

I am not a troll just guenuanly seeking help/advice so please no negative smart mouth remarks. As I am sick of rescuing the still living/ burrying the dead and failing misserably to convince them that they don't need pets.

A big slice of chocolate cake if you made it this far :D
 
Very tricky if you aren't on hand to do the looking after. Does your Aunt own her property or rent? Often pets aren't allowed by landlords (though this is often flouted) if so maybe a letter confirming this from landlord / letting agency.

What is their reaction when previous animals have died? Do they understand this and register emotion to the animals?

Do they understand animals basic needs? You say they can barely remember to feed themselves so is it unintentional neglect?

Not sure how you can prevent it really especially as petshop not on your side, but you can only explain that it is not fair on the animals and that future purchases will suffer/die.

Putting myself in your shoes, if it were my relatives, I would see if a welfare officer would have a word - maybe it would sink in if coming from a third party?
 
Hey thanks for relpying they live in a council owned bungalow and have had the police round for several reasons. They do get upset when the animals die or when I find them more suitable homes and they 'escape' but they don't seem to understand that animals need looking after every day not just when they feel like it or remember to buy the right food. I'm affraid a welfare officer wouldn't be safe if he/she commented on animals or how she looks after them... I know that they can't be prosecuted for cruelty/neglect but it would be nice if I could convince someone to ban them from keeping animals (would definitely stop me worrying about their welfare)
 
It's a hard one if non of the authorities will step up to the plate, and the ignorant pet shop is ignoring your requests, I would contact the RSPCA (I know they can be useless) but sometimes they are slightly helpful, and explain the situation and ask them atleast to have a word to the pet store, they will probably not remove any animals or stop them getting any as they will use the "cruelty has to be witnessed first" but they may speak to the pet shop, after all if any more animals starved from said pet store or a dog they bought randomly, you can always use the "it could have been prevented" line, "because I did pre warn you", and make them look rather incompitent which they will wan to avoid with all the bad press they get, esp if you threaten to take further action and tell them you will do so if another animal suffers after you have brought it to their attention.
It may be worth speaking to the council or environmental health and broaching the same concerns.
Do they have a carer/visitor or regualr family member that goes in? could you ask them to keep in contact with you and let you know of any new animal arrivals and the conditions they are kept in for you to beable to report them more readily?
 
Could you speak to trading standards and/or your local council about the pet shop. I would have thought that they may be able to put some pressure on the pet shop to be more responsible.

Also if your Aunt is so bad she can't understand either looking after pets or not buying them is she getting enough support from social services? Does she maybe need more supervision?
 
Cayla - I will try the RSPCA again and go round the other pet shops to see if it's just this one who sells to people like my aunt. Do I count as a witness to the cruelty? I can take photos of conditions of animals and send them to RSPCA if that will help? As long as they don't take legal action (can they ban/suggest no more animals without legal action?) against her and just give advice... (they probs wouldn't get far with legal action)

Katt - Unfortunately we tried to have her placed in a home and have had several social workers for her. If the social worker suggests anything that doesn't follow what my aunt believes then things will be thrown and a tantrum will be had... (she has the mental age of a 7 going on 4 year old) :(
 
I really feel for you, it doesn't sound as though she really is safe to be living alone if she is that bad.

Well done for trying, follow all of the suggestions up, I doubt the RSPCA could take legal action as it sounds as though she doesn't have mental capacity to be honest. They may be able to help you put pressure on the pet shop though. Do try Trading Standards too with regard to the pet shop.
 
Hey Katt I will talk to trading standards and RSPCA. Aunt used to live with my grandparents until grandad had a heart attack and they couldn't cope with her as well. Then she got married to her OH (she's been planning her wedding for years :)) and started buying pets (her dream is to have children and lots of pets - like a real family) I'm hoping that bringing my dogs down to their house for the day and letting them walk/feed/groom and maybe flea them (with my supervision) will help them understand what a big responsibility having pets is and hopefully put them off buying any more
 
Sounds like a plan.

Could you scout around to see whether there are any charity or volunteer services that could provide them with good supervised access to animals too? Or even if they could help out at a local animal shelter?
 
Quick update talked to RSPCA they can't do anything but gave me some advice. Trading standards will look into pet shop :). But unfortunately my aunts neighbours JRT has had puppies and her and OH have bought 2 males before I even brought my 2 down to show them just how much work and money goes into dog ownership. I'm fuming having already dealt with the last 2 canine victims I didn't want to have to save any more. My mum is now saying leave them to it if pups aren't cared for (never see vet/ never socialised/ wormed/ flead/ never fed/watered) it's not our problem... but I will feel responsible.... not sure what to do now :(
 
Did the neighbours/breeder not see what had happend to the last dogs and the rest of the animals? More fool her! (can you not try and have a quiet word? Although realise that may land you in trouble...)

Try not to get too stressed....
 
I'd be inclined to have a word with the breeder and see if they can back out of the deal. No responsible breeder would want that kind of future for their puppies. If they turn out to be not so responsible I would let the RSPCA know that they have acquired two new animals and ask them to make regular checks as she is not fit to keep animals.

I think you have to try and get help from the authorities as there is only so much you can do yourself. I would also let her social worker know about this.
 
All good breeders will take back puppies that aren't settling in as they willl care about the well being of their animals. Have a friendly word to them and i hope that they are reasonable.

I'm sure i have read somewhere that pet shops have to believe that you are capable of looking after the animal they sell you so it might be worth looking into that.

I sympathise with you for the heavy weight you feel you have on your shoulders...
 
What a difficult situation to be in! I can't suggest anything helpful, but just wanted to say how sorry I am. It sounds like your Auntie needs a lot more support from social services that what she is getting to help her cope with her feelings and allow her to live a full life.

Is there perhaps a charity somewhere that helps elderly/disabled people continue to live with their pets that could help out with regular visits?
 
Oh FFS! Right at this point I would be having a serious falling out with them - this is not acceptable and they are not responsible enough to have dogs :mad:.

Lots of people would like to have a dog, not everyone is in a position to have one.

The neighbour would be getting a visit from me too to put them in the picture. Does the neighbour know their history with previous lack of pet care?
 
Booboos - will look into the cinnamon trust, as long as the volunteers keep their opinions regarding how she cares for herself and her animals to themselves they may get away unmaimed. I will most likely have to do the vet runs and socialising/training with the occasional reminder to buy feed and worm/flea them.

mollichop - trust me I've had the police out about her before. The neighbour has already traded them a hamster for their cockatoo and IMO is charging way too much for 2 JRTs. The neighbour breeds for the sake of it, as long as they give him the money he isn't fussed! My aunt has already been conned into buying a broken unsafe 3 wheeler bike for £200 which she fell off on a busy road! I feel kind of bad for her she is desparate to have what she feels is a normal life - husband, pets, children, ability to ride a bike, have a job etc. She doesn't realise that she can't afford to keep a dog let along be able to care for one as she has no concept of the value of money (she could pay £500 pounds for something that is only worth £100 if the seller said that it was worth that). My nan takes money from them to pay their bills (if she didn't the bill money would be spent on **** from catalogues)

On the bright side (but highly unlikely to happen) my friend works at a hospital in Ireland and says that if my parents/ grandparents die/become seriously ill and I'm left to look after her on my own then I can ship her off to the hospital she works at (mainly for my sanity - though by that time I might need to be in that type of hospital aswell lol)
 
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