Should I say something?
Discussion
Opinions/thoughts appreciated here.
The house next door to ours is a rented property. People come and go, with the present couple having been in situ for the past 2 years.
Lady B.J.W and I were on good terms with the family that lived in the house prior to the above. During this time they mentioned that they had wanted to get a dog, but that the terms of the rent agreement stated that they could not have animals. The lady, who owns the house lives in South Africa and, I guess, leaves the maintenance of the house to the property management business.
The present couple are ‘interesting’ to say the least. She rarely, if ever, leaves the house and spends most of her time slouched on the sofa watching TV. I guess he works(ed) shifts because he would come and go at strange times. Both are enormously overweight, smoke like troopers and can barely walk to their car without sweating and wheezing. There is a fair bit more, but this would deviate from the main reason I posted.
The first time we met her Lady B.J.W noticed something moving underneath the woman’s T-Shirt. This turned out to be a pet rat. After one escaped, she mentioned to another neighbour that they have 16 rats in total in the house and that they were breeding more. They also have 2 cats, which like to spend most of their time shi**ing on our lawn. Although I am aware of the no pet policy, I have always had a ‘live and let live’ approach to life. By and large, the animals don’t bother me, our neighbours don’t bother me and although their house stinks of rat wee, I only smell it when I am emptying the bins at the side of our house.
However, I now have a dilemma. Lady B.J.W has said that for the past few weeks she has heard barking from inside the house. This morning we saw a Labrador puppy in their back garden, which confirms the fact that they now have a dog. I am not for minute suggesting that the dog is being mistreated, but as an animal lover I am concerned about its welfare. Neither of our neighbours is capable of walking/exercising the dog and as such, it rarely gets to go outside. It already looks fat and I worried that the health of the dog might suffer as a result.
I am deliberating about whether I should do/say something. I am conscious that it might seem mean spirited to some, but should I speak to the rented property company about their pets (although I appreciate that this will not help the dog) As stated earlier, it has not really bothered me previously (cats exercise themselves and her rats seem perfectly content sitting on her shoulder). However, a dog is a different matter. Am I being a busy body, or do I have a responsibility to act out of a genuine concern for the welfare of the dog, particularly given the fact they are incapable of looking after the animal themselves.
I open this one to the floor.
The house next door to ours is a rented property. People come and go, with the present couple having been in situ for the past 2 years.
Lady B.J.W and I were on good terms with the family that lived in the house prior to the above. During this time they mentioned that they had wanted to get a dog, but that the terms of the rent agreement stated that they could not have animals. The lady, who owns the house lives in South Africa and, I guess, leaves the maintenance of the house to the property management business.
The present couple are ‘interesting’ to say the least. She rarely, if ever, leaves the house and spends most of her time slouched on the sofa watching TV. I guess he works(ed) shifts because he would come and go at strange times. Both are enormously overweight, smoke like troopers and can barely walk to their car without sweating and wheezing. There is a fair bit more, but this would deviate from the main reason I posted.
The first time we met her Lady B.J.W noticed something moving underneath the woman’s T-Shirt. This turned out to be a pet rat. After one escaped, she mentioned to another neighbour that they have 16 rats in total in the house and that they were breeding more. They also have 2 cats, which like to spend most of their time shi**ing on our lawn. Although I am aware of the no pet policy, I have always had a ‘live and let live’ approach to life. By and large, the animals don’t bother me, our neighbours don’t bother me and although their house stinks of rat wee, I only smell it when I am emptying the bins at the side of our house.
However, I now have a dilemma. Lady B.J.W has said that for the past few weeks she has heard barking from inside the house. This morning we saw a Labrador puppy in their back garden, which confirms the fact that they now have a dog. I am not for minute suggesting that the dog is being mistreated, but as an animal lover I am concerned about its welfare. Neither of our neighbours is capable of walking/exercising the dog and as such, it rarely gets to go outside. It already looks fat and I worried that the health of the dog might suffer as a result.
I am deliberating about whether I should do/say something. I am conscious that it might seem mean spirited to some, but should I speak to the rented property company about their pets (although I appreciate that this will not help the dog) As stated earlier, it has not really bothered me previously (cats exercise themselves and her rats seem perfectly content sitting on her shoulder). However, a dog is a different matter. Am I being a busy body, or do I have a responsibility to act out of a genuine concern for the welfare of the dog, particularly given the fact they are incapable of looking after the animal themselves.
I open this one to the floor.
Correct Change said:
The person who owns the property next door would probably thank you for your help if you were to inform the letting company that the terms of rental were being broken. I certainly would.
The fact that they are breaking the agreement is a side issue that does not really concern me. To be frank, it is up to the property company to deal with the fact that they have pets. My concern is purely about the fact that they have bought a dog which they are both incapable of properly taking care of. Having said that, I doubt whether the RSPCA would class 'not being able to walk a dogs' as mistreatment? yourang youtang said:
If you approach the landlord then you are definitely a busybody labour neighbour snooping t
t.
If you are confident that the dog is maltreated - go to the RSPCA
^^ How much of a twunt is this guy? ^^t.If you are confident that the dog is maltreated - go to the RSPCA
It's your house, i wouldn't want rats escaping or cats crapping on my grass (I have a cat BTW, i just hate crap on grass).
The landlord must have a no pets policy for a reason, and out of respect to the owner of the property (as the property managers are not doing their job) i would shop them PDQ.
Just my 2p's worth.
Maybe the management company already know?
I rented a house as a stopgap, and although the advert said no pets (I have 2 dogs) I negotiated an increased deposit to allow for the dogs. There was then no issue and all was well. (Although I have to say my dogs are well exercised and treated and I dont have any rats!!)
Maybe they have an agreement in place?
I rented a house as a stopgap, and although the advert said no pets (I have 2 dogs) I negotiated an increased deposit to allow for the dogs. There was then no issue and all was well. (Although I have to say my dogs are well exercised and treated and I dont have any rats!!)
Maybe they have an agreement in place?
HundredthIdiot said:
B.J.W said:
Am I being a busy body, or do I have a responsibility to act out of a genuine concern for the welfare of the dog
Yes and maybe. Their dog is fat and under-exercised. If they had fat, under-exercised children would you call the NSPCC?Having said that, a dog is wholly dependent on its owners for exercise and welfare. Yes, I know that children are too (up to a point), but a fat, under-exercised child always has the option to go outside and play or ride a bike if it ever felt like pulling its self away from its full fat crisps and the nintendo. A dog does not have this option.
Yes, you are a busy-body, but worse than that you are the worst type of busy-body..... you are the hand-wringing, dithering type of busy-body that asks people "Should i say something"
Frankly, it boils down to this..... we live in a crowded and diverse society so a reasonable level of tolerance of those around us is required.
I rely on gut instinct, when my gut instinct tells me something is up, wrong, unacceptable, out of order, then is the time to do something about it.
Dont moan about it, or seek others reassurance, or moral signature, do what you think is right.
Eat some All-Bran, get some fibre in you man !!
thank you !!
Frankly, it boils down to this..... we live in a crowded and diverse society so a reasonable level of tolerance of those around us is required.
I rely on gut instinct, when my gut instinct tells me something is up, wrong, unacceptable, out of order, then is the time to do something about it.
Dont moan about it, or seek others reassurance, or moral signature, do what you think is right.
Eat some All-Bran, get some fibre in you man !!
thank you !!
LHDisbest said:
yourang youtang said:
If you approach the landlord then you are definitely a busybody labour neighbour snooping tt.
If you are confident that the dog is maltreated - go to the RSPCA
^^ How much of a twunt is this guy? ^^t.If you are confident that the dog is maltreated - go to the RSPCA
It's your house, i wouldn't want rats escaping or cats crapping on my grass (I have a cat BTW, i just hate crap on grass).
The landlord must have a no pets policy for a reason, and out of respect to the owner of the property (as the property managers are not doing their job) i would shop them PDQ.
Just my 2p's worth.
TBH, most tenancy agreements have the 'No Pets' clause in there, and quite often (as I have found with my current & the property I move into soon) if you ask, they will allow them.
However, I wouldn't shop them for the Dog, I'd have done it ages ago about the rats!!!
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