To think this is really cruel?

[RosieGuacamosie]

My friend got a lockdown puppy last summer and is now having to go back to work in the office and is planning to leave her dog in a crate whilst she’s at work. I offered her the details of my dog Walker but at £15/day apparently that’s too expensive. I understand £75 a week is a lot of money but surely that should have been thought of at the time she got the dog?

I think it’s bad enough leaving a dog in the kitchen for 8 hours on it’s own, but to leave it in a crate seems extra cruel.

Am I being precious and the dog will actually sleep most of the time which is what everyone else seems to be saying? Friend pointed out it’s no different to leaving the dog downstairs whilst she sleeps for 8 hours.

It is cruel, maybe she should spend 8 hours in a crate every day and then she can answer if it’s cruel. Honestly, we’re meant to be a nation of animal lovers but the selfishness I’ve seen of people and pets in the last few years makes me wonder.
I would make it clear to her that her actions are immoral and wrong!
What will the poor puppy do, if it needs a wee and poo?

Wholly unacceptable.

I disagree that the RCSPCA will ignore the situation, I have known them to act in similar situations. Also try the Dogs Trust and any local dog rescue centres. Please act for the sake of this poor animal.

Can't imagine why she thinks the dog is less likely to whine if it's locked up all day with no exercise or contact with anyone. She's an idiot.

I hope she has no near neighbours because that dog will not just whine it's going to bark all day as well.

And yes, it's very different from the dog being alone in the crate all night. Dogs sleep all night. They don't sleep all day, well not unless there is something seriously wrong with them; does she want a severely depressed dog? Because that's what she's likely to end up with.

Poor bloody thing.

@MizMoonshine

My parents used to leave our Doberman out the back all day when we were at school/work (it's a big garden- he always had food and water enough for the day available) when it was warm or he had full run of the house when the weather wasn't great. Never came home to a house full of piss and shit or a distressed dog. He was the happiest Doby I've ever met and a proper family dog. But for about 8 hours a day, five days a week he was on his own either outside or in the house. It's not necessarily cruel to leave an animal alone for this length of time. But it's definitely cruel to leave them in a crate. They need to be able to stretch their legs, especially energetic breeds.

Similar setup for my dog. He has the run of most of the house and a dog door to a securely fenced back garden. He used to go to day care regularly but to be honest I don’t think he loved it and would rather have his own space and peace and quiet. He gets plenty of attention and exercise in the evenings and on weekends. These days I can even go out for an evening meal as long as I give him dinner and hand out with him for an hour or so beforehand or get one of my parents to dogsit him.

Dreadful idea. Crates are an abomination anyway. The only ones benefitting are the manufacturers and retailers.

The problem is lockdown pups have had 100% of people at home for their entire lives. To suddenly go from that to hours of empty home. It’s just not fair on them.

People who have had dogs longer may find the dogs struggle to readjust to being left for longer periods as well. It’s going to be bumpy for all pets

RSPCA Will do precisely sweet FA. I don't actually know what they do do. Apart from the odd occasion they intervene for the camera.

What about www.borrowmydoggy.com/?

Or maybe she could pay someone to pop round and take it for a walk during the day, even if she can't afford all-day care.

Or how about building an outdoor enclosure - like the ones they call a 'catio' for cats?

@RosieGuacamosie

She seems to think the crate is it’s “safe space” and therefore it’s more likely to settle down and sleep and not whine all day. I suspect there’s an element of not wanting her house chewed too.

We use a crate with our dog. He’s in it through the night as standard and not in it during the day although he does have access to it. I often find him choosing to go into it during the day to sleep but he has the door open, access to water, goes out for a pee / walks and is never left for more than a few hours on his own on an odd occasion as generally someone is at home and he’s quite happy.

Your friend sounds bonkers if she thinks it’s ok for her dog to be in the crate 8 hours each day without a walk or pee and then the same again at night. I’m not sure that anyone will do anything about it though which is the sad thing.

The RSPCA can only enforce laws that exist. So no matter how many people (including myself) think it is cruel, and even if their officers think its cruel (which they do), unless a law is being broken there is nothing to enforce. They can give advice, which your friend will likely ignore unfortunately.

There are going to be so many poor dogs in similar situations, as so many thoughtless people have bought them to keep themselves amused over lockdown.

Makes me so sick.

This is horribly cruel. Your friend is disgusting. She needs to rehome it as she isn’t fit to have pets. Poor little dog.

She should be ashamed.

Yeah, that's not on. I look after dogs for a living. My licence states that the dogs cannot be left alone for more than 3 hours during the day. I don't even do this, but presumably 3 hours is what a vet/RSPCA or similar has decided is the maximum acceptable time alone.

I would properly fall out with someone over this
If she cared for her dog she's go without to make sure it was OK. £75 a week is nothing compared to the dogs welfare.
I'd play the emotional card. No holes barred on this one

That’s awful. My dog sleeps in a crate at night but with the door open and a choice of a dog bed. It’s a safe space as she chooses it to be and will hide her toys in there. It’s handy as it fits in the boot and she jumps right in and curls up in her box. In theory she could retreat to it but my dog is sociable so she prefers company and will mooch around with whoever is home and nap where they are. A crate used properly is a good thing.

I can’t imagine locking her in for hours, any more than I’d lock my child in the under stairs cupboard tbh. I don’t know if any agencies would intervene but I’d encourage her to rehome.

That's awful!!!
Dogs are intelligent animals, she cannot leave it alone in a cage for 8 hours a day!!! She sounds like a cruel moron.

I've seen documentaries where dogs/animals who have been neglected and left in cages start to get depressed and basically go insane.

I have a cockerpoo that’s slightly older than your friends (got her a few months pre first lockdown). If she was left in a crate all day, she’d chew her own leg off! She goes bonkers after being left in her crate for just a few hours whilst I’ve been shopping. I have to immediately let her out and take her out for a long walk to let her burn off some excess energy.

I’d never leave her for longer than 4 hours and everything I’ve read regarding dog welfare states that that’s the limit. Your friend may find her dog keeps getting urinary infections because it’s having to hold its bladder all day. It’s just cruel to leave them for so long.

The rspca will act if neighbours report that the dog is barking and sounds distressed. They’ll put a letter through the door and see how long it takes someone to respond. That might scare her and make her realise it’s unacceptable? You should report and claim you can hear the dog barking and the house seems to be empty all day everyday.

@MizMoonshine

My parents used to leave our Doberman out the back all day when we were at school/work (it's a big garden- he always had food and water enough for the day available) when it was warm or he had full run of the house when the weather wasn't great. Never came home to a house full of piss and shit or a distressed dog. He was the happiest Doby I've ever met and a proper family dog. But for about 8 hours a day, five days a week he was on his own either outside or in the house. It's not necessarily cruel to leave an animal alone for this length of time. But it's definitely cruel to leave them in a crate. They need to be able to stretch their legs, especially energetic breeds.

Dog thefts are sadly on the rise and the vast majority are dogs that have been stolen from outdoor kennels, garden runs etc, so this really isn't something to be recommended. Besides, all it takes is for a delivery driver to leave the gate open and your dog is off up the road getting into all sorts of dangers.

And in the nicest way, how do you know the dog wasn't distressed, stressed or unhappy when you weren't there to see it?

Just because a dog hasn't had accidents or destroyed your furniture, doesn't mean they're unhappy. Many dogs who "just sleep all day" do so because they're bored and have nothing else to do, so it doesn't necessarily follow that quiet dog = happy dog.

Jesus - no that is cruel.

And dogs should not be left alone all day, they need some company.
She use the Walker
And why the crate?! Why can’t it have the run of some of the house.

Yes it's appallingly cruel.

This is why I loathe and detest dog cages. They're just too easy for arseholes like your friend to misuse. And encourage the hard of thinking to believe it's okay to lock your dog away when it's an inconvenience.

She's despicable.

@partyatthepalace

Jesus - no that is cruel. And dogs should not be left alone all day, they need some company. She use the Walker And why the crate?! Why can’t it have the run of some of the house.

I suspect it's because OP's friend knows it will have accidents, chew her furniture and make a mess everywhere if it's left loose.

That's really horrible! Dogs shouldn't be left alone for longer than 3-4 hours at a time. It's the law in some countries & rightly so.
We never left our two longer than that & one of us would come home at lunch time to let them out of the house (we never crated, they had the run of downstairs) for a wee / poo & a walk or playing fetch in the garden (big garden) And to spend time with them.
I'd be happy to water that if your friend had to spend 9+ hours in work cramped into a cubicle, unable to stand up or stretch her legs or use the bathroom or eat or drink she'd be kicking up a stink.
So why is it ok for her puppy to suffer this fate?
I could not be friends with someone who treated a trusting, innocent sentient being like that. Especially when the only reason that animal is subjected to living like that is for her personal pleasure!

@RosieGuacamosie

It’s a cockerpoo I think. Who could I report to?

God help her neighbours, its likely to bark solidly. My next door but one has a cockerpoo and he barks continuously when left

In our villag quite a few of the retired people look after dogs during the day time for working owners. They enjoy it and are paid a small amount. Is this not a possibility?

Right. So how would this friend feel is she were the one locked up in a cage for 8 hours, let out briefly, then 8 hours in the cage again for a lifetime?

Of course you cannot put a dog in a cage for 8 hours while you're at work! Ridiculous and cruel. Dogs have mental health too. She needs to take responsibility for her dog's health or rehome it. I have two dogs and I would never leave them alone for 8 hours in any circumstance let alone shove them in a cage for 8 hours.