my neighbours have got a puppy, they have had it a few weeks and they are out for 6/7 hours each day the puppy is left alone all this time apart from a visit from a friend to let it out for 5 mins, it has been ill with a stomach complaint, i know its completely unfair and have told them as such but they are rich and selfish. is there anything else i can do( there is a good home waiting for it if they chose to rehome(not me)which they know about.

maybe a phone call to the rspca, and an inspector would go round to discuss correct treatments of a puppy? probably the same things you have already discussed with them, but they might listen to someone with uniform on.

Unless they are neglecting to seek veterinary attention for the stomach condition I don't they they are breaking any laws leaving the puppy this long so I doubt the RSPCA would have any powers to do anything.  I think 6 hours for a healthy puppy is just about tolerable anyway, particularly is someone is checking on it although 7 hours is definately pushing it in my book. 

I know your intentions are of the best, morgan but unless you want hostilities to break out big time with your neighbours (which I doubt will help the pup), it's probably best to be thoughtful about what course of action you take and be absolutely certain of the facts before getting the RSPCA involved. For example, how do you know the pup is left alone for 6/7 hours? Do you watch their house constantly for 6/7 hours a day yourself? Similarly, can you be certain that whoever is coming in to see to the pup really is only visiting for 5 minutes each and every day? It's easy to disapprove of other people's lifestyles but there's a huge difference between that and accusing them of animal cruelty.

perhaps you could offer to go in and check on the puppy, maybe play with it a bit?

My dogs are left alone for 7 hours each day - it's not ideal but I have to work  - depending upon the attention, care , exercise etc etc that you give at other times it can work out without a problem at all. Every situation is different but I would certainly never say that my animals wereneglected or mistreated.

I understand your concern, I would be going up the wall if I found out one of my pups was being left for 6/7 hours, someone popping in once a day for even up to an hour is not enough socialising for a pup!! Pups, need to play, and need company, they are not meant to be solitary animals, if they are no longer with their litter mates than a human counterpart must take over, which means someone being home to play and socilaise with it. The pup will be lonely and may become destructive. So I am with you 100% that this is not good enough. I don't think I could sit back and just allow it to carry on.

But her lies the problem..............

Correct me if I am wrong as I am quoting from a long time memory, but I think the RSPCA will allow a dog to be left alone for upto 4 hours daily, anything over they may intervene, if it is shown to be causing a dog stress. However if they have someone coming in to let the pup out or feed it inbetween that time, you have no case, even if it is only for 10 mins, it is still breaking into the 4 hours, so I doubt that the RSPCA will intervene.

I totally agree with you that it is cruel to do this to a pup, but I doubt you have any way of doing anything about it, to be honest the breeder should not have let them have the pup in the first place, it is the breeders responsibility to make sure their pups are going to homes where they will be loved, cared for and socialised properly.

You can do no more, just keep an eye that the pup is ok medically, if the pup is crying and howling all day long then perhaps you could report that to the RSPCA or the Council, but as already said, you will make more enemies than friends. As the dog grows it will get used to it's way of life, but for a pup this is very, very, sad.

The downside is the pup may grow to be destructive and will be having perhaps little training, so they may end up re-homing at a later stage, at least via you, you have now offered them a good home if that should happen, for now that is all that you can do.

thanks for your thoughts, i am now visiting the pup everyday and giving it a short walk and a cuddle, i didnt want to get involved because they will end up keeping it because i am making it easier for them but sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and get on with it.:rolleyes:by the way it was from a puppy farm...................

I wouldn't get involved myself. I don't think this animal is being neglected and I surely wouldn't risk having a bad relationship with my neighbours over something like this. Okay, if there was a dog left alone in the garden all day long crying with no food or exercise I'd definitely do something...... but in this case I think there's nothing wrong and it feels like you're saying that working people can't have pets. If I wasn't working I couldn't never ever be able to afford to take care of my dog, give him proper food or medical treatment!

no Ory, i dont mean it to sound like that, i work too but i am lucky to only work part time , i only mean that as a young puppy it seems sad that it is alone so much especially as it has been unwell.

Well I think it is admirable that you have the pups welfare at heart.

I think you're doing a lovely thing by visiting the puppy - and forging good relationships with the neighbours too.  Well done you.....

Maxine