My Neighbor Leaves his Dogs Outside All the Time – What to Do?

Did you just come home from seeing your neighbor’s dog outside all day yet again?

Our faith in humanity is still alive because of people like you who want to stand up against the oppression of animals when hundreds choose to ignore and walk by.

Contrary to stereotypical beliefs about dogs, all dogs can’t bear every extreme weather condition because that’s simply not how they’ve been built. If you see your neighbor doing this, you should know about the ways you can stop them. We will help you with some tips to make your neighbor stop. We will also tell you about the signs of abuse on dogs that will help you determine the situation’s urgency and the necessary legal actions available.

If you’re interested in any of this, keep on reading.

Tips that will help if your neighbor leaves his dog outside all the time

1. Speak to Your Neighbor

Speaking to your neighbor should be the first thing you should do. A casual one-on-one conversation might do the trick quicker and easier than everything else.

Below are the dos and don’ts to follow when talking to your neighbor.

Don’t:

1. Go into the conversation assuming the worst of your neighbor. They might not even know what they’re doing is wrong. It could be their first time owning a dog.

2. Start blaming your neighbor for ignoring their dog. Avoid the blame game. People become very sensitive when told they’re not suitable pet owners.

3. Threaten them. If you start threatening your neighbor, they might get stubborn and not listen to you out of ego.

Do:

1. Explain why it’s wrong. Your neighbor might not even know what they’re doing is wrong, so it’s always good to give them the benefit of the doubt.

2. Look at what breed the dog is. Most dogs people adopt are used to their owners, and some even go crazy when left alone for a long time. If your neighbor’s dog is one of those breeds, it’s crucial to talk to them immediately and warn them of the health consequences of their action.

3. Tell them how dogs can’t be left out in the sun/ or cold all the time. People usually assume dogs are rough and tough, and they can handle any and every type of situation, but that is not true. Dogs deserve love and care as any other pet does, so leaving them in the sun all day or between cold winds all day is unacceptable.

Now your neighbor could have two reactions to your conversation:

Either the neighbor will be apologetic for their mistake

or

They wouldn’t care about your reasoning at all.

In the second situation, you must reach for other sources to put your point across.

Don’t be disheartened, and don’t give up once you’ve started your journey for a just cause.

In this article, we’ll explain in easy ways how you can solve this matter and know it will all be worth the effort.

When you see your neighbor’s dog out again, even after talking to them, then you will have to jump on point number 2.

2. Call the Police

Calling the police is usually always a good option. They know the legal ways to solve these kinds of problems and would give you professional advice.

But before that, gather all the necessary information.

It would be best if you recorded these things:

1. What time the dog comes out (if he ever goes inside the house).
2. Do you see the neighbor giving the dog food. If the answer is yes, then how many times a day do you see the neighbor putting food.
3. You must record whether the dog is still in weather conditions like rain, snow, hailstorm, or scorching heat.
4. If the answer to the above point is yes, then record the date and how long the dog suffered.

Without a doubt, these things require your time and effort, and it’s not easy to record all of these. However, if you want the police to take your concern seriously and solve the matter with utmost clarity, you will have a big hand in making this possible.

3. Animal Welfare Organizations

This is the most comfortable option on our list. NGOs and animal welfare organizations are passionate about helping animals in difficult situations. They are used to getting situations like these every other day.

You must search for animal welfare organizations in your city and explain the situation to them. Hopefully, they’ll know what to do next.

Signs of abuse

Now that you know how to go about with your neighbor, another important thing you should be aware of are signs of abuse on dogs.

This will tell you how urgently that dog needs our help.

What are the signs of abuse?

If the dog is chained or left outside in his kennel, it’s evident that he’s being abused.

Here are some other signs that can help you determine dog abuse:

• Drastic change in appearance like fur loss or mange.
• Wounds or injuries left unattended.
• Skinny or malnourished dog.
• According to some sources, you can see it in dogs’ behavior if dogs are abused. They might get attention-seeking or aggressive. Some get afraid of strangers and may seem strange. These behaviors can lead to the dogs attacking humans and other dogs, entering strangers’ yards, or even losing control of peeing and pooping.

Learn About the Laws against Animal Cruelty in Your Area

You’re right in your place to be worried about how your neighbor is handling their dog, but before taking action, you should check your state’s laws regarding animal rights.

• If you live in the U.S., you should know that animal cruelty is a crime in every state and can lead to prison.
• In Oklahoma and Massachusetts, any animal abuser can be charged a penalty.
• In Georgia, felony charges are applied only if the animal abuse is proven.
• Other states like Washington, Florida, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and California charge felony charges only if the animal dies.