I am occasionally asked to let out a neighbours dog and am becoming increasing upset when I do.  He is a large 18 month old lab and whenever the owner goes out to work he is left in a crate in the utility room. It is only just big enough for him to lay down but not to stretch out. It only has the plastic floor and a very thin blanket which is usually screwed up in a corner, and a small bowl of water. There is nothing to keep him amused and he looks out onto a blank wall. When I let him out this week, he ran into the garden, grabbed a toy and went straight back in his crate.  For some reason I found this very upsetting. I have a young golden retriever just 3 months younger than the lab who has lots of toys, bones and soft toys to keep her happy but Loki only has a few dog toys kept in the garden and that's it. I was asked to walk him by my neighbour occasionally but he was so over excited and boisterous that I had to stop as I couldn't manage him. So far as I know she hasn't arranged for anyone else to walk him. What I am asking is whether the conditions in which he is kept are acceptable. I don't think they are but I could be being over sensitive. I know I would never treat a dog of mine like that. If I have to go out my dog is left in the kitchen with some safe toys, water and a stuffed kong and in the summer she also has access to the garden. I no longer want to help and let him out as I find it so distressing especially the way he runs indoors and gets back in his crate -  to me it feels like he is becoming institutionalised. I would appreciate any views and comments.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69390/pb13333-cop-dogs-091204.pdf

Here is the details of the animal welfare act.
The housing of the dog for long? Periods in a small? Vest don't sound good to me.

Have a read and see what you think

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/section/9

Take a video if you go back and then you have evidence if you decide to do something.
If you think it's cruel and you don't report it then you are just as bad. That is blunt but it's honest.

My next door neighbour hasa springer who is in his cage in the garage most of the time. He has never been taken a walk in the last 7 years since her ex left. When they go away on holiday it's left day and night and only let out 10 mins in am same in pm. Other neighbours advised rspca however they advised had water/food and shelter so he was fine!! No mention of the no walks no contact etc.
I think this dog has got used to being left in the crate and realised he goes out,does his business  gets a toy and waits. How long is he left? Are you upset because you feel he should be let out more? Or given toys to play with?  If guess if you didn't let him out would the owner have to bring in a dog walker then? Would you feel even more guilty if you stopped going to let him out? If know I'd worry and fret and have to let him out to know his getting a break.
Could you talk to your neighbour? Slip in a recommended dog walker who would visit let him out and walk him 30 minutes. Would you feel you could pop in once a day still to let him out?
You mentioned he was to over excited maybe this was his omg I'm out and free overzealous energy coming out.did you take him with your dog?
Does the neighbour walk him at weekends? Let him out in the garden more? If think the rspca would say same as next door,watered, fed and let out on occasions  so it's fine!  In an ideal world it isn't enough,more toys maybe needed and possibly more doggy dare care owner needs to sort out.
If you feel it's wrong and his suffering take photo's and record times left. You can call anonymously  and leave concerns.

I no longer want to help and let him out as I find it so distressing especially the way he runs indoors and gets back in his crate -  to me it feels like he is becoming institutionalised. I would appreciate any views and comments.

I'm afraid I would be suffering as much as the dog.........couldn't bare to watch it. Owners like this should have hamsters......

You have three choices....

1/ Continue and feel distressed - as you have a conscience.

2/ Walk away in protest - but you will be left worrying no doubt, that the dog now has an even worse life now. People who get a dog without putting in place their care, are unlikely to pay a professional once the kind neighbour steps aside. However, this may then give you grounds to call the RSPCA if the dog is left all day.

3/ Take the dog over to yours, where he can interact with yourself and your dog, taking him home to the crate when you've had enough.

Personally I would do 3, life's too short .........as you have the key and the trust, but I certainly would continue to say to your neighbour that the dog would thrive in a home that has the time and can give more attention, as without you the dog would be miserable.

I would give this dog some sort of life......unfortunately, it seems that it's you that can offer that.

>3/ Take the dog over to yours, where he can interact with yourself and your dog, taking him home to the crate when you've had enough.

>Personally I would do 3, life's too short .........as you have the key and the trust, but I certainly would continue to say to your neighbour that the dog would thrive in a home that has the time and can give more attention, as without you the dog would be miserable.

I am with Carrington on this one. I would not be able to walk away because it would upset me more knowing that the dog was now missing out on the small amount of interaction he received from my visit - however brief. I would also be reading the riot act to the owners though. Everyone understands that people need to work, but that does not mean that you do not have a duty of care to your animals whilst you are away.

I agree with taking him to yours, also when calmer or with the aid of a head halter you could be able to walk him, but the neighbour really ought to recompense you in some way, but that's another issue.

Of course if the neighbour walks the dog before work, and when they get home and he only needs a toilet break, and is happy to sleep the rest of the time.  This was the case with a neighbour of mine but she had multiple dogs, they got over an hours in the morning, rain or shine, (we used to go together) and then another hour after work.

When I went in to let them out middle of the day it was all I could do to turf them out of their beds.

She only resorted to crating one boy for a time when eh cocked his leg into electric socket and blew the electrics, and only until his inappropriate indoor marking was trained out.

But if he's happy why not leave the crate open and let him have the run of the room he's in with toys a radio on etc.

Take a video if you go back and then you have evidence if you decide to do something.
If you think it's cruel and you don't report it then you are just as bad.

Agreed.....
.

If you can't take him back to yours, could you spend some time throwing a toy/ball for him so he's happily tired when you leave him? Maybe suggest they leave him with a stuffed kong in the morning so he has something to do? Horrible situation to be in.

GOSH what a horrible situation for both you and the dog, although its really hard I would try to summon the courage to bring up the subject with the owner, play on the part how you understand how hard it must be for them ( yeah Right) so they might not be so defensive. You never know they might be looking for a way out of this problem them selves

This makes me so cross I wasn't going to comment but really i wonder about modern day society where people think that it is acceptable to keep a dog shut in a cage for hours at  a time. How on earth did this be some normal practice? When I think back to when I was a child no one kept a dog in a cage. I only knew a few people who had pets . Most people knew that as they were out  at work all day it simply wouldn't be fair on the dog. Nowadays people think that because they want something they are entitled to have it . My sister in law just phoned me, she works full time and lives on her own .She has wanted a dog for years- they always had a family dog when she was younger. Every now and then she is flooded with that longing that will be familiar to people on here, but she knows it wouldn't be fair on the dog. Someone at her work said to her of course she could have a dog- she has two dalmations that she keeps shut in a cage all a day " it's only eight hours". I have just spent half an hour reminding her of the reality of this set up. How do you house train a dog if you're not there? How does a dog learn what is acceptable behaviour- not  eating the furniture etc. If it never gets the chance to learn? Then my sister in law says " I've been thinking about a cross between a cavalier and a poodle,or a Chihuahua and a poodle." She really wants French bulldog and when the time is right I will do my utmost to steer her in the right direction,but of course she fancies a blue one --£4000-  and she's seen them on the internet etc etc. I managed to talk her down yet again, without getting cross but really. What is the point of having a dog if it spends it's life shut in a cage. How is that fair on the dog? Would it be okay to keep a cat shut in a cage all day? People probably do that too.Do people no longer change their life to fit in with the dog? When I was a child we had dogs but mum worked shifts and dad had his own shop. Our whole life was built around the dogs. They aways came first. We fitted in with what was best for the dogs - not the other way round!

I agree completely with your post........when I was a child you only had a dog if you were home to look after it........you'd think that at a time with so much more knowledge the human race would understand more about a dogs needs........but unfortunately we appear to be dumbing down and selfishness in many is much more apparent.......'I want, therefore I will have'........no thought of a dogs needs, not even the slightest apprehension that it will get lonely or depressed,or even that it has any feelings.

I really fear for the human race, so materialistic and selfish we have become.

At least your sister is listening for now, keep at it.......you may save one soul

Next door keeps a Sprocker in  a cage day and night in the garage. It's let out in the block paved back garden for toileting 2-3 times a day. Never taken out for a walk in the last 6 years since husband left. If they go away for week or fortnight they get someone to come twice morning,night to let out toilet,feed and go all in 20 mins,
Rspca advised  dog has food,water,shelter 3 years ago not at risk. What about boredom,being lonely,not exercised,mind not entertained? No wonder when it's let in house you just hear them shouting at it. There are four children all in late teens now that could have walked dog.
It's no life for a dog

So glad others have posted about how cruel keeping a dog in a crate for hours on end is.
I go on a dog training group, and it seems locking a dog in a crate is the answer to every problem.
Even the trainers and admin shout you down if you dare to say anything. They are supposed to be a positive reinforcement no aversive group but to me locking young puppies or adults in cages and letting them cry I find extremely cruel.
I was beginning to think I was the only one who felt like this, and I have stopped going on that site after being shouted down so often, and I got so upset thinking of the poor dogs. We have petitions for animals in zoos and circuses for keeping them in cages but most think it is acceptable to keep dogs caged all day while they go to work, only being let out for a short time and then caged again at night.
We never had cages when I was growing up, so if you had a dog you had to make arrangements with a neighbour or relative if you worked. We had an auntie who lived next door but one and she used to take our dog to her house during the day. But if she hadn't been at home I don't think we would have been able to have a dog.
I would suggest a dog walker or doggy day care for your neighbours dog, like you I don't think I could lock the poor dog up again and walk away. Is she the type of person who would listen to advice ?

This drives me mad too.  Ren at the moment is crated while I'm out for safety reasons (she's a bully and very occasionally can redirect onto one of the others if someone knocks on the door) and I feel bad if she's in it for two hours, never mind 8!  And she'll have her own area long-term, I just haven't built it yet (indoors but there's a big clear out job to do first).  I could never crate her or any dog all day, it's just ridiculous.

As you say, what's the point in having them?  I think that with next door's dog too - he's not crated at all but rather, shut away by himself.  On a given he might be shut in the garden for an hour or two, then when they go out, he'll be shut either in the kitchen (if he's lucky) or in the back porch (4'x5' area, no bedding) for however many hours they're gone for.  Then when they finally get home, instead of getting to see his family again, he gets shut in the garden alone until 9pm, sometimes later.  I just don't understand why they have him.  He's only being let in after dark at the moment because he's afraid of fireworks but even then, I've heard him in the back porch sometimes.

Shocking if what you say here is accurate.   I have seen the result of dogs spending way too long in a crate.  Basically when going to let them out into their outside run, they'd circle in the crate and then do the same before being put back into their crates.   Definitely showing signs of crate abuse.   Yes people have to work, but by the same token, people don't have to have dogs - having a dog is a luxury and people don't need dogs, dogs need people.

Not that I'm a fan of the organisation, but Best Practice according to the RSPCA is no longer than 4 hours in a crate on a regular basis other than overnight.  And for me, even that's too long for an adult - to say nothing of them at least being in enough space when crated that they can lie out fully.

I appreciate not wanting to do this for them any longer but to do nothing will play on your mind big time.   So I'd be calling the RSPCA or other authority and at least discussing the best options.   I would just say when people next door at the time, adjoining house, wanted a puppy and were turned down by Westie Rescue because they worked full time, they ignored this and took themselves off up to Scotland and bought a puppy from a man off a ferry.   Needless to say I could hear this puppy, clearly distressed on her own so offered to take her in during the day in our puppy pen.   I did this for some months before I felt I wasn't really doing the puppy any favours other than being there for her, feeding her lunch etc.    I told them I couldn't do that any longer but felt very bad about it much as in truth, she didn't cry quite as much as early on.   Then they bought another puppy ..... and thank goodness, moved.

I guess you could speak to these people and hope they do something better for their dog, or go direct to the RSPCA.  But please do something.

https://www.facebook.com/bophillipsband/photos/a.399695346823.178254.84417781823/10152010219541824/?type=3&theater

Don't know if this link is allowed but it says it all!

The treatment of this dog is cruel, I'm with admin and Carrington... please help this dog :)

If you have the time why don't you offer your services as a dog walker..get it on a professional footing?
It will tie the owner into regular contact and you can get the message across that the dog needs exercise/interaction on a regular basis.