what have I done!? lol
Friday 20th August...
The police are responding to a call from my elderly neighbour, Mr Danks, who has phoned Dorset Police from a caravan park somewhere in Dorset, to tell them he's concerned about his dog and that hasn't eaten for a few days....
they found Mr Danks front door unlocked and the back door wide open and one hungry Rottweiller... they fed him... and were sat in their car waiting for the RSPCA
I had a chat with them and went back indoors.... while chatting to Les I wondered if they had found his caged bird and knew the pond was full of koi carp.... so I popped back outside and spoke to the WPC .... she had found the bird at the bottom of the 160ft garden ... its cage placed inside an old aviary....
I've been told its a parakeet.... its tail feathers are all broken from constantly dragging them on the cage... I think he could do with a bigger cage... but anyway I digress...
The WPC is concerned that the dog has been sick .... and this is where I messed up BIG time.... I suggested that they leave the house keys with me and I'd pop in and feed the dog again... as he probably bolted his food through hunger ... she agreed and thanked me taking down my details... well its not like I'd be stuck caring for the animals, the RSPCA were on their way.... right?
Had to go and get fish food as I could find none in the house or sheds... bought biscuit to put with the few cans of meat that were there for the dog.... gave the parakeet some water....
Saturday 20th August:
*looking after Storm, feeding fish.... keeping an eye on the Parakeet
Sunday 21st August:
*Still looking after animals... on Friday the Police said "perhaps you could look after them for a couple days and hopefully Mr Danks will come home and take over....!"
Monday 22nd August:
*Phone police to ask if they have managed to contact Mr Danks and had any idea when he'd be home... they knew nothing as it was being dealt with by Dorset Police... they would phone them and ring me back...
*As it was my 40th birthday I popped out for lunch and a spot of shopping with family and returned to see a missed call...
*I phoned the police again to see if they had any news... Mr Danks was in Yeovil District Hospital... the Caravan park owner had contacted the police on Saturday as he was concerned about the state of Mr Danks health... This was on Saturday! ... The nurses were going to ask him if he had family that could take over the care of the animals....
*police rang back... or did I call them... oh I cant remember... but there were no relatives that they could contact... well actually thats a lie... there are a ton of relatives... however they only turn up to fleece the old boy of money...police officer then says.. "so can you look after them for a couple days as Mr Danks is going to be sent home then... ?"
now this statement concerned me... Mr Danks in my humble opinion was in no fit state to return home let alone care for a Rottweiler...
So I said NO!
the police officer said ... "not a problem..." he would contact Social Services as they had a duty to care for the dog....
So I waited for another call...
7pm the emergency duty team rang and had a long chat... they took lots of details agreed that Mr Danks needed to be assessed and should receive assistance to live at home... phew! someones listening... at last... however they cant do anything for the dog till tomorrow.... someone will ring me in the morning... but if they haven't rung by 11am im to ring the number she was about to give me....
Tuesday 23rd August:
*Still looking after the pets, and I potter about waiting for the phone call.... 11am comes and goes.... so I ring the number given.... *sigh!
*I get through to a receptionist who sounds about 12 and is as about as useful as a chocolate teapot... she cant find the number that I need to ring... hang on a minute... "excuse me but did you say a number that I have to ring?" oh yes! she says and goes quiet... she then takes my number so that she can ring me back with the number....
*Nasha from Somerset Direct rings back with a national number for the Cinnamon Trust... she cant find the local branch number but I should ring them and they give me a number for the local branch... :(
*I ring Cinnamon Trust and talk to Abby.... she takes details ... again.... and passes me to Bob.... (which of course must be said in a Blackadder fashion! lol) ... Bob says how can I help you..... I regale the whole story .... AGAIN! he enquired if the RSPCA had been contacted and I told him they didn't consider the dog abandoned... he laughed and commented at how useless they are... then told me that although Mr Danks qualified for assistance they were not willing to temporarily home a Rottweiler of dubious temperament with one of their volunteers...
I needed to phone the Duty Social Worker at Yeovil District Hospital and if they tried to fob me off I had to quote the "national assistance act" at them... they had a duty of care to Mr Danks animals and should pay for him to be temporarily kenneled...
*cup of strong coffee
*track down a phone number for the Hospital
*phone hospital.... they give me a direct dial number for Social services... if I end up back with the 12 year old I will not be amused....
*phoned direct dial number.... speak to someone who knows nothing about anything.... she puts me on hold..... comes back to inform me that someone in the hospital is dealing with it and they'll phone me back... everything goes quiet... whereupon I enquire if she'd like my phone number... she says ... uhhh... yes please... AARRGGHHHH!
*Social worker person phones me back... its now 1:30 pm.... she knows nothing... didn't know about the caravan park.... didn't know where Mr Danks lived.... didn't know about the bird or the fish.... didn't know what kinda dog it was... So from the top I retell the story .... again!
She would ask Mr Danks what he would like to happen to the dog and start phoning around to get him temporarily kenneled....
HOOORRRAAAYYYY!
*phone call at 5pm.... I'm excited... I answer it... and she says... "ohh I've been ringing around all afternoon... lol.... unfortunately I haven't been able to find anywhere that will temporarily kennel him... and although Mr Danks has asked that he be re-homed we don't want to take his dog away from him till he's better....."
"can you look after the pets for another night?"
how can I say no.... what are these incompetents trying to do to me...
Wednesday 24th August:
So here I am ... waiting for another phone call....
Storm is sat in his garden howling and barking.... and I am bewildered at how difficult it is for a bunch of people from police to social services that have all these powers at their finger tips to not be able to get this situation rectified...
He just wants to be cuddled, taught to walk on a lead, someone who's not going to feed him biscuits and cakes and fried food.... someone that isn't going to hit him with his walking stick.... he's a beautiful dog... and if it wasn't for Les I know damn well he would be up in my house with me by now....
so frustrated...
Wish me luck... I'll give her till lunch time... then I shall be phoning her again...
xx
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
13 comments:
And they say French bureaucracy is bad! A case of too many irons in the fire isn't it and nobody is actually goikng to accept responsibility for any of it. Do hop[e the poor animals do get rehomed and that you will get your reward in heaven one day for all your care and help for it doesn't sound as if you will get it here and now does it?!!!
You deserve a MEDAL Alex..... nothing short of miraculous that you have "hung on in" this long. Thank goodness you have, as the consequences could have been awful.
OMG Alex, you've got lumbered this time. Makes you wonder why the dog was left in the first place?
Sending belated 40th birthday wishes, hope things get better - QUICK!
Is this the same chap you were looking after and feeding a few months ago?
(At least you didn't have chicken pox on your birthday - I did for my 30th...)
It is the very same man that I was cooking, shopping and keeping company for.... while I was doing these things he had no intention of getting help or changing his situation... he was happy to leave me doing it all and considering buying pets and chickens and all manner of things...
I stopped being his voluntary home help after I ws really quite poorly for a week... I feel guilty for not carry on... however by not carrying on I may have forced the situation to a conclusion... hopefully one that will be remedied very soon...
Social Services have not phoned... I phoned them and the lady I spoke to yesterday is out of office... I have emailed our local MP and I am about to phone the RSPCA and get their response to the situation.... grr !
Eek! All the way through your tale of annoying bureaucracy, one thing is shing through, though - neighbours can be relied on, or at least, you can! I'd hate to think this as an example of the Big Society, but you do show that individual human concern can beat organisations any time.. well done but I do hope things get sorted out soon!
I really liked the article, and the very cool blog
Now you have an idea what my job is like and I'm not looking after animals :(
Bloody ridiculous. Time to take bird and dog to the police station with the keys and leave. Hard I know but they have taken advantage of your good nature and will continue to do so, over and over again.
(((((Hugs))))))
Lets hope 'they'll' pull their fingers out very soon and get it sorted for you....Makes you wonder though how many other folk are left in a similar position with someone else's pets.
Best Wishes
Rose H
I really liked the article, and the very cool blog
Sounds like a story for the local paper.
Oh my googness what I complete mess. I wonder if you actually knw what is happening now? And oh my goodness, I am so sorry I forgot your birthday - feel soooo bd now. Only access Facebook through mobile and it doesn't remind me of birthdays - damn iPhone. Hope, aside from this, you had a lovely day x
Well, Alex, that had me exhausted so heaven knows how you felt after it all. Have you managed to get it sorted, will the dog be given a new, loving home with someone who knows how to look after Rottweillers? Do hope so.... they have had a bad press but doggy people will tell you there is no such thing as a bad dog only bad owners. Hmm, not so sure I agree with that statement, but there you go! Rescue and animal shelters are full of them, you have to feel sorry for the poor dogs don't you?
Greetings and best wishes from an old, old friend... Maggie
Well, I was exhausted reading all that! I do hope that by now the dog has been given a new home with people who know how to look after Rotweillers? They have had such a bad press, and doggy people will tell you there is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad owners. Hmm, not so sure I agree totally with that statement, I think there can be a bad streak, a genetic hiccup, in animals and people to be honest.
Still, you feel sorry for them, animal rescue shelters are full of them.
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