Dog kept in small cage

[MrsElle]

We do a bit of dog sitting in our village and one customer has two dogs, a lovely lad and a medium sized mongrel bitch who she inherited when a family member passed away.

Local proffessional dog sitters refused to come back after coming off second against this little bitch who is rather agressive at times. However, we have always got on with her and most of the time she is a dear little thing.

We hadn't seen her for some time and when we were called upon last week we were shocked. She is now living in a small cage upstairs (with no human contact for much of the time) as the big lad and her have started fighting. This cage is tiny, she can curl up to sleep and there is just enough room for food and water bowls. She is very very food aggressive and will fling herself at the cage bars if you go anywhere near it which makes letting her out and putting her in difficult. Out of the cage she is a sweetie, lots of waggy tails and licks.

Her behaviour is getting worse, she is getting more and more aggressive, which is hardly surprising given she is in this cage for 23 and a half hours a day

The owner asked if we would help rehome her but to be honest no rescue centre would take her for rehoming given her aggression and we advised it might be best to have the bitch PTS as she has no quality of life. I doubt our advice will be followed however, and I am just so sad for this little dog.

Is there anyone I can speak to regarding her care? Will the RSPCA do anything?

 

[WandaMare]

Hi, I got some great advice from a welfare charity called Animals in Mind tel. 01934 516714 when i rehomed a collie cross who had nervous aggression issues. They don't provide shelter for animals like other charities but they provide advice and support to help resolve issues and therefore help prevent so many animals needing to be rehomed. They are dog behaviour experts.

Hope this helps x

 

[soloabe]

Maybe a totally inappropriate suggestion but is there anyway you could take her and then maybe have her pts.

 

[Oneofthepack]

Get that poor little sod out of there as quick as poss....how anyone could leave a dog like that I don't know. Like you say, no wonder the girly is aggressive...I'd be bloody furious! Most aggression issues can be worked out so find a rescue that will help her. The RSPCA would almost certainly have her pts. Where in the country are you?

 

[mattilda]

What an absolute disgrace. How anyone can call themselves an animal lover and keep a dog, or any animal, like that is beyond me. How is she when she is on her own? Can she not be rehomed as an only dog?

 

[Shortcut]

poor thing, shes probably agressive in the cage because she feels trapped

 

[MurphysMinder]

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe a totally inappropriate suggestion but is there anyway you could take her and then maybe have her pts.

[/ QUOTE ]
Tbh that was my thought too.

 

[competitiondiva]

I suppose yes it could be a section 9 offence under unable to express normal behaviour but I'm not sure how easy it would be to prove if all appeared well on a visit???? How do you prove a dog spends that long in a cage in a house??? The owners have already asked you about rehoming therefore they are not attached to the dog enough to want to keep it, I expect they do not want to make a euthanasia decision, so if you offered to make that decision, they may be happier to sign the dog over to you and then you can have it euthanased if you feel you can bring yourself to do that?????? (by your own admission this dog does not sound a good rehoming prospect and even if you did find some rescue to take it, it may end up spending its life in kennels)

 

[Oneofthepack]

Agree that she'd be better off being pts than living out her days in a cage but it would be nice if she had just a wee chance at some rehab before that decision is made. Could you not take her on and get her to a vet for some advice at least?

Do let us know the outcome

 

[itsme123]

Do you have facilities to keep her for a while yourself and then contact a charity and see about rehoming her?? From the sounds of it she could be rehabilitated quite easily, just in a home with someone calm, experienced and with no other dogs.

Would Cala have any contacts??

 

[Spudlet]

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe a totally inappropriate suggestion but is there anyway you could take her and then maybe have her pts.

[/ QUOTE ]

Although this might well be in the best interests of the dog, DO NOT DO THIS - it would be theft and you could be prosecuted.

I would ring around shelters, they may be able to advise.

I would also agree that this could be a section 9 offence, so the RSPCA could advise.