I just came across a site describing the legal requirements for dog housing in a US puppy mill. Remember that these are the size cages acceptable for a dog to spend its whole life. And if two or more dogs are housed together then there's no legal requirement to take them out for exercise!

Click on the pictures to navigate the site. (I didn't come across any horrid images, don't worry.)

OMG that is awful - I knew they were kept confined but I didn't realise it was to THAT extent!!!
Shocking. :-(  :-(

that actually made me feel ill. disgusting practise.

I just wonder how many  "Breeders" in this country house dogs in cages as small as this with little or no exercise...unfortunately we see often enough in the news dogs who have been in cages as small if not smaller than this stacked one on top the other and used as breeding machines here in the UK. Appalling as it is to any one with the smallest amount of respect many, so called, Top breeders, (Some with well respected show stock!!) house their stock like this most of the time. And unfortunately it seems to be a majority of toy and small breeds who get the worst end of the stick! Excuses range from, fighting, kennel jealousy, safety!!, and the worst possible "Well they like it in the cage," only if it's not a 23/24 hour prison sentence do they like it!
My girls will live their whole lives as part of the family...running free through the house and garden as they please, Unless they are filthy and wet then they may have to endure half an hour in the kitchen/ conservatory untill I have dried them out!!!
The authorities who make these rules are sick.
Aileen

Speechless!!

I just wonder how many  "Breeders" in this country house dogs in cages as small as this with little or no exercise...unfortunately we see often enough in the news dogs who have been in cages as small if not smaller than this stacked one on top the other and used as breeding machines here in the UK. Appalling as it is to any one with the smallest amount of respect many, so called, Top breeders, (Some with well respected show stock!!) house their stock like this most of the time.

Indeed. I have a dog who was kept like this until I bought it.  When my vet did the first examination he thought the dog might be brain damaged or blind as he could not get any response at all. It was like the off switch had been flicked or the batteries removed. It was just fear -never having been anywhere but in a small cage before........ There was also no muscle tone in the legs. TOTALLY different and normal dog today I'm happy to say -and NEVER caged even for 5 minutes as the old experiences turned into a phobia of being locked up.

Who makes these rules-think they need to be put in a cage themselves for some first hand experiance. then we'd see the rules change. Absolute cruelty.

Horrendous!! My 3 rats live in a 2 level cage 32x30x64

This is absolutely disgusting. I can't believe that anyone would actually think that was anywhere near suitable. Is this 24/7 as well.
Makes me feel sick even thinking about it.

Well said Cava.  Simple but true - I could keep two beagles in my rats' cage, going by USDA standard.  EVen the rats don't have enough room and are scrapping so I'm upgrading today!

> I just wonder how many  "Breeders" in this country house dogs in cages as small as this with little or no exercise...unfortunately we see often enough in the news dogs who have been in cages as small if not smaller than this stacked one on top the other and used as breeding machines here in the UK. Appalling as it is to any one with the smallest amount of respect many, so called, Top breeders, (Some with well respected show stock!!) house their stock like this most of the time.
>
> Indeed. I have a dog who was kept like this until I bought it.  When my vet did the first examination he thought the dog might be brain damaged or blind as he could not get any response at all. It was like the off switch had been flicked or the batteries removed. It was just fear -never having been anywhere but in a small cage before........ There was also no muscle tone in the legs. TOTALLY different and normal dog today I'm happy to say -and NEVER caged even for 5 minutes as the old experiences turned into a phobia of being locked up.

I went for a job with a well known pet food manufacturer and one of the questions at the interview was ' What my reaction would be if I went to a breeders house and saw all the dogs shut in cages knowing the dogs hardly got out'? 

What did you reply as can imagine my response ! ;-)

The reply they wanted to hear!  That as the breeder was feeding their food obviously they cared about their dogs!  I lied and I still didn't get the job!!!

They obviously missed a good prospective new employee then ;-)

I've been to some of the TOP breeders of winning pedigree dogs over the years and seen some sights.
One (small) utility breed kennel had them stacked up like filing cabinets with towels over the front so that they couldn't even see out. Unfortunately it's the coated breeds that seem to suffer at the hands of unscrupulous exhibtors.
The facinating thing is that you have no idea by looking at the owner, how their dogs will be kept. Some of the most fabulously presented dogs and owners live in utter squallor at home and vice versa. I went to ue a stud dog once and the owner lived in one filthy room and sat on her only piece of furniture - a sunlounger but at least her dog had a beanbag.
Dog showing can make paupers and sadists into kings for a day.

I think you will also agree that you can have paupers whose homes are basic and clean, but nothing is spared when it comes to the dogs.

Been one myself at one time.......pauper not sadist!!
Dirtiest house I've ever been in was owned by the (then) head buyer for a Famous London Store. Yukkkkkk

paupers whose homes are basic and clean
I think that is a great many don't you?

Yep that's me.  If you don't count the tumbleweeds of hair that hide under things, and the hair that clings to anything with polyester :D

The poor conditions these dogs are legally allowed to be put in is sickening. Unfortunately the poor things are seen as commodoties rather than living, feeling creatures to be discarded when they are no longer of any use. Poor things

Before we got woody, we did quite a bit of research into the breed.

We where very novice, and originally began looking in the loot. But as we progressed into finding out more about labs. We obviously started looking into hip scores etc, the more we found out the more we decided we wanted a pup who's parents, g'parents etc, had as low hip scores as we could find u know like u do!!

We had found out that is more common than we think that some pups are kept in crates as much as possible for the 1st 12 mths.... In order to to get the required hip scores they want.

I think at one point we both became so demoralised we very nearly gave up. Until someone told us anbout breed clubs. But even then you still have to be careful.  If it is the case that evan so called top breeders are treating there animals in this way.

> I think you will also agree that you can have paupers whose homes are basic and clean, but nothing is spared when it comes to the dogs

Couldn't have put it better myself!

oh that is sickening.  When I go out, most times my girl is in a Vari 100, which is quite suitable since she is only in it for the time it takes me to go grocery shopping or whatever (max 2 hours). 

And then when it said 12 dogs can be in the same cage?  OMG.  Makes me sick

Not that it is any better but 12 dogs would have to have 12 times the floor area for one.

The government are taking steps to stop the practice of intensive 'battery' farming of chickens.
There is therefore, some hope that dogs kept in these conditions will be outlawed.
The days of the puppy farmer may well be numbered.
Hope is still there to stop this disgusting trade.

Are there even minimum space standards for the UK, as licensing is done by individual councils.

I can see there being a minimum, but IMO it shouldnt be the thing always followed.  If your dog is going to have to be crated for longer periods, you should have it in an xpen or something.  Something bigger than the minimum guidlines. 

For example, I have to go out for the day tomorrow (out of town doctors appointment) but my girls are going to have a 16 square foot xpen each.  Indoors.  My girls are 11 inches at the shoulder.  I wouldnt dream of keeping them in something small all day, while I have to be out. 

>>>there's no legal requirement to take them out for exercise!<<<<<<<

So Jamie Oliver etc even think its cruel to keep chickens in this way but the powers who THINK they know better say its ok to keep dogs confined for time immortal in a cage?????????? DISGUSTING!!!!

>I have to go out for the day tomorrow (out of town doctors appointment) but my girls are going to have a 16 square foot xpen each.

But why keep them confined at all?Why are so many Americans against giving their dogs free run of the house when they're out

I would normally, just we are moving, and have boxes everywhere.  The past month is when they have been in their kennels when out.  But I will kennel, if need be.  Like if I have somone over that is scared of dogs. 

I just dont want to be out, and have a box fall on them or something.

this is just totally shocking i cant believe these laws
makes me feel sick to the pit of my stomach

> But why keep them confined at all?Why are so many Americans against giving their dogs free run of the house when they're out <IMG alt=confused src="/images/confused.gif">

I think a lot more homes are open plan and also rented so worry about damage is one factor.  I never owned a crate until I started shwoign two dogs aand needed somewhere to put one while in the rign with another.

At home I only use oen when I have a litter of pups to extend and help anchor a puppy pen.  I still ahve oen up at the moment as it has boxes stood on it with decorating materials for the decorating that is taking forever :D

i personally dont see the problem with crating a dog. I bought one to confine my dog when he was a puppy with the intention of getting him a bed when he had bladder control and was happy to be left alone in one area without chewing etc. He liked it so much i bought him a bigger one so he had room to turn etc and kept it up all the time. He loves it. The door is 99% of the time open, except when my niece& nephew are here and i shut the door to give him some piece and quiet. I would recommend crates. Although not the kind we have seen in the opriginal post :-(  that is truly cruel and unnecessary

Yes but you keep the crate open most of the time, so that isn't crating as such.  It is very common practise for people in the USA to crate their dogs for several years or their whole lives, every day while they go to work.

i know a lot of people do it, but to say it is an American thing, I just dont know if thats true.  i have read many posts on here about crating a dog.  I see crating as something that is ok, as long as used properly. 

When the crate is to small or is being used all day, thats a problem.  A couple hours a week, isnt a problem.  People without crates still have times where their dogs are confined.  just they do it in a room instead of a crate.

It seems to be standard practise in the USA to use crates and in some cases I know breeders well a pup complete with crate.  IN the UK the vast majority of ordinary pet owners had never heard of crates until the last few years, and few outside the dog showing and competing fraternity used them.

In the same time the cost of crates has reduced with their prevalence and availability.

A crate that cost me £75 in 1996 I can now get for half that.

The soft crates for example have only been around in the UK for not much over 5 years.

The US standard show ex-pens are still not a common item, as pens are used usually for puppies at home and would be individual panels, some people use them when camping at a show, but big shows here are benched.