Matters of conscience

[Celticharmony]

Would be grateful for your opinions on this please:
A dog loving friend visited this morning and related a rather distressing account of what she witnessed on late evening walk yesterday. As she passed a particular house not far from her own, she heard a loud whimpering coming from the garden area. She used her torch to investigate further by looking over the fence where she saw a young Cavalier puppy sitting shivering outside a small kennel. She was desperately worried and approached the owner. Using as much diplomacy and tact as she could she informed her of the puppie's distress and enquired if he was just out there to do business!(But thinking otherwise)
The owner simply replied that this was where he belonged - in his kennel and that he was just getting used to it. She left the house and says that she couldn't sleep from worry. She is frightened of repercussions should she report this, with the owner living so close by. She says the puppy was also in the garden looking totally lost this morning. Now, perhaps you will think we are both over-reacting, but personally I think this constitutes cruelty with regard to a Cavalier who according to my sources state should never be housed outside, except in cases where many of them are housed together in a properly temperature controlled kennel. The isolation alone for this little puppy must be terrible. I am now also distressed and very concerned. It brings tears to my eys just thinking of him.

[Debby with a Y]

Oh, that poor baby! She needs to report him. That is totally heartbreaking.

[Eeva]

Oh no! That's so shocking! Someone has to report him, that is cruel. I'm so upset now thinking of the little baby, if only I could take him away from there! And very angry at such horrid people, they don't deserve any animals.

[Celticharmony]

My poor distraught friend says that she cannot stand the stress of the knowledge she holds any longer and has been round again to the owner and taken her husband with her for support. They advised her that although they wished her no harm or trouble, that if she didn't want to keep the puppy indoors that they would be delighted to have it, and if not she was leaving them with no option but to report her. She admitted that the puppy was a surprise gift, but an unwanted one, so guess what? She handed him over without further ado, signing her full permission on paper in case of any outcome. He is a little darling apparently and is off to the vets for a thorough check-up tonight. What a lovely ending and I have to say I am totally relieved. I felt such a strong urge to go there myself after hearing the story first and would not have let the sun go down on today without knowing the problem had been solved. My friend is bringing him to see me tomorrow. Can't wait, especially as I am already getting excited at the mere prospect of aquiring a little B&T as soon as a reputable breeder can be found.

[Celticharmony]

Sorry about the rushed last post and the bad punctuation etc. I was so excited about the good news that I could hardly write, let alone concentrate. I have stupidly used the present tense I see, so to anyone who may be confused by this, I can assure you that all has been resolved and and the little darling girl is called Melody. Perhaps all this happened for some reason, as my friend had been feeling low since losing her last dog some months ago, so now it seems she has the answer to all her prayers.

[Karlin]

That's great news; being left outside would not be adequate shelter for a puppy so your friend could have called the ISPCA or local SPCA and you were right to be concerned. The approach she took was much better though. Hope your friend might join us here with her new baby.

[Barbara Nixon]

I don't think the RSPCA would have been able to do anything, as the dog had a kennel for shelter and was presumably fed and watered. Ther have been tv progrmmes where they have threatened to remove dogs who didn't have shelter, but providing a kennel or in one case,a plastic canopy making a shelter with three brick walls, was deemed to satisfy the rules,even though far from ideal. Pehaps the new regulations changed this ?

[Celticharmony]

Thank you Karlin. It seems that here in the somewhat remote countryside where everyone knows everyone else, that people are quite reluctant to report for fear of repercussions, but I am sure there must be a way round it, as surely their names would not be divulged. In this case I feel she did take the right course because she knew that the owner in question did know her identy and her address, so can in a way understand her concern.
I am at a total loss as to why anyone with even the vaguest knowledge of animals would behave in such a way towards a little puppy, or why indeed did she not simply return her once she realised that she didn't want her? There was a recent incidence of an owner being reported about a similar situation. She convinced the ISPCA that she merely had the puppy out there whilst cleaning the house. I can only hope that in these situations a few more intermittant checks would be made to ensure that this was the case, although I doubt if there are enough resources to support this kind of follow up.

[sallymum]

Well done to ur friend for keeping her cool while talking to this lady. Keep us informed of how they are getting on. at least little Melody will have a nice snug bed tonight.

[Celticharmony]

Yes I see your point, but although it may be acceptable for a grown dog(Not a Cavalier) to Be kept in a clean kennel with food and water etc available, I still think that a puppy of any breed needs to be kept in a temperature controlled environment and that the isolation alone in a cold alien environment, having just been parted from his mother and siblinlings would justify blatant neglect if not cruelty. I was told categorically by breeders and Vets alike, long before I bought my first Cavalier that they are a lone Cavalier should never be housed outside in a kennel as this does not constitute a quality of life for this breed who thrive on human company. If people cannot accept this or are not prepared to have them indoors, then I feel they should consider whether they are suitable to keeping this breed.