Dog kept in cage

UWOT1 · 2023-08-07T18:24:08+00:00

I'm pretty sure my neighbour is keeping their dog in a cage for a significant amount of the day. I can hear it banging on the cage. Initially,I thought it was knocking on the radiator. I rarely see it outside in the garden but TBH I have 2 under 5 so I'm not actually watching. I just wondered what is normal If I had a pet I'd want in integrated and living with the family. I think it's cruel for an animal to spend hours in a tiny space but I've never had a dog.

penelopepipsqueak · 07/08/2023 19:28

All you can do is contact rspca or speak to them directly . I'd call rspca personally to check on its welfare

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 07/08/2023 19:29

It's not illegal to crate/cage a dog during the day, but that doesn't mean it's appropriate or a good idea.

Are you sure it's a cage and not a baby gate or similar he's banging on?

Azaeleasinbloom · 07/08/2023 19:30

agree, cal,RSPCA or dog warden if you have one. My rescue had the same. Her spine is deformed as a result, she has a terror of cages and has had a barking issue ( which we have been able to work on)

Original poster

UWOT1 · 07/08/2023 19:36

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 07/08/2023 19:29

It's not illegal to crate/cage a dog during the day, but that doesn't mean it's appropriate or a good idea.

Are you sure it's a cage and not a baby gate or similar he's banging on?

I don't think its a baby gate but I can't be sure because I've never been in the house. I hear metal noise and the dog making dog noises. He doesn't really bark but whines.

OP posts:

Original poster

UWOT1 · 07/08/2023 19:39

Thanks everyone. I'll call the RSPCA and ask them to do a check.

OP posts:

tabulahrasa · 07/08/2023 19:40

Crates aren’t supposed to be used for long periods of time... whether it’s something you can do anything about is a different matter though.

There’s no laws so it’s all a bit subjective really, sadly.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 07/08/2023 20:30

The RSPCA are extremely unlikely to do anything about a dog being crated during the day - it's not illegal and isn't neglectful in itself. You also don't know how long the dog is being crated and why.

Would it not be better to talk to your neighbours about the noise levels first before calling the RSPCA on them?

Original poster

UWOT1 · 07/08/2023 21:32

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 07/08/2023 20:30

The RSPCA are extremely unlikely to do anything about a dog being crated during the day - it's not illegal and isn't neglectful in itself. You also don't know how long the dog is being crated and why.

Would it not be better to talk to your neighbours about the noise levels first before calling the RSPCA on them?

I don't care about the noise. We make noise. I have 2 under 5. I care that animals wellbeing. He seems to be crated for a long time every day. I don't have pets so I have no idea whats normal for a dog. I didn't even know it's called a crate.

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tabulahrasa · 07/08/2023 22:04

Normal use would be more how I use them.

So I use them for young dogs who are likely to chew something dangerous if not supervised if they’re going to be home alone - that for me is an hour or two a couple of times a week. Other people might do it more often, but it should add up to no more than 4 hours in a day.

Or I currently have a dog that’s crated overnight (he’s actually not crated any other time) next to my bed because he wasn’t housetrained when he arrived and we have another dog with issues that we needed to keep separate while they settled in and we have a cat we need to keep him away from. That will probably not be a longterm thing, depends how he goes with the cat really as the dogs are now fine together.

Or my last dog reacted to strangers so with either one off visitors (or meter readers etc) or as part of getting him used to people who would be regular visitors he was crated.

The rest of the the time, the crate’s there but the door is open and dogs can go in it or not if they want to.

So long periods of time isn’t ok... and while they’re in is not normal use, well except for maybe something like while you cook dinner if no-one else can watch them.

They basically should be like you’d use a cot or playpen for a baby except you can leave the house because they’re dogs...

Original poster

UWOT1 · 07/08/2023 22:21

tabulahrasa · 07/08/2023 22:04

Normal use would be more how I use them.

So I use them for young dogs who are likely to chew something dangerous if not supervised if they’re going to be home alone - that for me is an hour or two a couple of times a week. Other people might do it more often, but it should add up to no more than 4 hours in a day.

Or I currently have a dog that’s crated overnight (he’s actually not crated any other time) next to my bed because he wasn’t housetrained when he arrived and we have another dog with issues that we needed to keep separate while they settled in and we have a cat we need to keep him away from. That will probably not be a longterm thing, depends how he goes with the cat really as the dogs are now fine together.

Or my last dog reacted to strangers so with either one off visitors (or meter readers etc) or as part of getting him used to people who would be regular visitors he was crated.

The rest of the the time, the crate’s there but the door is open and dogs can go in it or not if they want to.

So long periods of time isn’t ok... and while they’re in is not normal use, well except for maybe something like while you cook dinner if no-one else can watch them.

They basically should be like you’d use a cot or playpen for a baby except you can leave the house because they’re dogs...

Thanks. I appreciate this. You explained usage in a way I understand. I think, by the noises I hear, that the dog is in the crated more than 4 hours a day. We live in terrace houses with practically no soundproofing. The dog is new, i think they've had it 3/ 4 month, and they do have a cat, so maybe they are getting the animals used to each other.

OP posts:

Hivaluegirl · 07/08/2023 22:28

No it's not normal and this is what makes dogs aggressive

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 07/08/2023 22:49

It's also possible that they have a pen id they are needing to keep the dog and the cat separate. People also sometimes use a pen to help prevent a puppy damaging particular areas of the house .

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 07/08/2023 22:51

A pen is a lot bigger than a crate .

FannyJoan · 07/08/2023 22:54

Yes it could be a pen. We had a large pen for awhile and it was very noisy if you touched the sides/opened the gate part etc., so a dog moving about will definitely cause noise. Maybe just ask your neighbour...say have you got a new pup I can hear him in his pen......and then see what they say?

tabulahrasa · 07/08/2023 23:24

If it’s a puppy or a small dog it could be a pen, anything bigger and they just barge into them or jump over, which is why I don’t have them 😂

But yeah, you could just ask

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 08/08/2023 07:09

If they've only had it for 3-4 months it could be a puppy in a pen so it can't chase the cat, or it could be a baby gate with the puppy on one side and the cat on the other.

I don't think it would make for a good neighbourly relationship if you went straight to the RSPCA for this. You say yourself you don't know much about the use of crates and the last thing you want to do is cause long-term problems.

Why not talk to them? Say you can hear the dog banging around and wanted to check everything was okay.

legalseagull · 08/08/2023 07:11

So you don't actually have any evidence of this beyond a metal noise? You haven't actually seen a crate or spoken to your neighbour at all?