How to talk to neighbors about their pets?

**diane** · #1 10-24-07, 11:21 pm

My neighbors have a very old german shepard that looks like he has mange. He has just recently gone bald over his whole hind quarters area. I know what irritated skin due to allergies looks like, but this dog looks like the mange riddled dogs you would see on an animal cops show. My dogs have a fenced in yard they are confined to when they are outside. But my neighbors dog has free run of the neighborhood. If it is mange I don't want my boys to get it. How would be the best way to talk to them without coming across in a bad way?

**guineapigfan9000** · #2 10-25-07, 02:01 am

Perhaps write them an anonymous letter and put it in their letterbox. Make it clear that you're worried about their dog as well as the welfare of other animals in the area.
Good luck!

**pigsforlife** · #3 10-25-07, 03:31 am

A case that bad or any mistreatment case should be reported to an organisation like the RSPCA (I believe in America it is SPCA). They will ask the owners to take the dog to a vet, and will issue a warning at the same time. They will then come back in so many days to check on the dog, and if it has not recieved medical attention they may choose to seize the dog.

**i-love-nev** · #4 10-25-07, 04:16 am

What pfl said ^^!

**thalestral** · #5 10-25-07, 08:20 am

I would find out first whether or not the dog is actually receiving treatment, though allowing it free reign does not sound very promising :/

**Jenni_Feathers** · #6 10-25-07, 04:11 pm

I'd call the SPCA or possibly animal control. - as pfl and i-love-nev said

**ctinaw** · #7 10-25-07, 05:35 pm

If your parents are willing to talk to them, that'd be the best route in my opinion. I don't think an older couple would take kindly to a young person coming over to tell them how to take care of their dog. You'd probably have better results if your parents asked about it and expressed their concerns. Try to be non-confrontational about it - those people may not even realize what is going on.

Anonymous letter - immature.
Calling the SPCA - premature.

See if they are willing to do something about him first.

**ctinaw** · #8 10-25-07, 05:38 pm

EDIT _

I apologize = I saw Jenni Feather's name at the end and was thinking she was the post originator.

So nevermind on the "parents" part! (unless you are also young or under 18 I should say).

Just deal with them like people - they may be grateful for your advice if they don't realize there is anything wrong - and they may already be treating it too! You really don't want to be making enemies out of your neighbors by calling animal control on them - especially if there is no need to.

**piggly wiggly** · #9 10-25-07, 07:02 pm

I think there is a need to call animal control if their dog is constantly running loose. Not only could it get hurt, it can hurt other animals or people, or just be a nuisance. Also if it does have something contagious, it can spread it around. I think if the dog is allowed to run free, animal control should be notified. The poor dog sounds as though he is not cared for. I would speak to them first, but if you get no response from them, call animal control.

**PiggieMamaKelly** · #10 10-25-07, 09:17 pm

I'm pretty sure that talking to them would do no good. They know their dog is sick (if it's as bad as you say). They either don't care or feel they don't have the money. I think your only option is calling animal control who will make treatment mandatory.

**diane** · #11 10-25-07, 10:26 pm

Well I had just noticed this a few days ago and their dog always greets me when I get the mail. I just have to figure out exactly which neighbor he actually belongs to. There is a set of grandparents and two adult grandsons and and an uncle who all feed this dog, so the dog ventures betweent the four houses. It just happens that my house is between two of the dogs "homes". He is a super sweet dog and scared of his own shadow, he is terrified of my chihuahua. Thanks for the suggestions.
Diane

**PiggieMamaKelly** · #12 10-25-07, 11:36 pm

Are you sure he even belongs to someone? Maybe he just roams around and gets fed by random neighbors.

**diane** · #13 10-26-07, 08:54 am

I know he belongs to the family as a whole like the dog claims the uncle when the uncle is home he travels alot for his job, but I think the dog belongs to one of the grandsons. They had another one a year ago that had to be put down due to health issues.

**ctinaw** · #14 10-26-07, 11:30 pm

Yeah true I wasn't thinking of the "roaming free" aspect when I replied originally. Dogs that roam free are never a good thing - for people, other animals or the dog. He could get hit by a car which could kill him not to mention injur the driver of the car! Maybe you should call animal control and just let them deal with it.

Thank you pigsforlife for this useful post, says:
wickedrodent (10-25-07)

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