UPDATE 2/17/08 on the 19 Seeley Collies Rescued in Upstate NY
Statement by AWCA President Jean Levitt
You have met, through my weekly reports, several of the Seeley Collies at the SPCA of Upstate New York, who were finally adopted out under most peculiar circumstances. Following rescue from extended crate confinement at the Seeley home, the Collies were subjected to additional long-term crate and cage confinement at the SPCA.
The remaining Collies have now been confined to crates by the SPCA for an additional 124 days. They have been denied rehabilitation, foster or adoptive homes, and the dignity every living creature deserves.
Although these Collies cannot speak for themselves, AWCA will NEVER allow these Collies to be forgotten.
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I have the honor to present two distinguished veterinarians and a renowned animal behavior consultant who will comment on the disastrous results of extensive crate confinement of dogs.
Pat Miller, BS, CPDT, CDBC, from Peaceable Paws, LLC, is a well known dog trainer and animal behavior consultant and is the author of "The Power of Positive Dog Training," "Positive Perspectives," and "Positive Perspectives 2". She is the Whole Dog Journal Training Editor and has written many articles on dog training and behavior for the Whole Dog Journal.
According to this renowned animal behavior consultant,
"Collies are my favorite breed as well... I had and loved them throughout my childhood.
"There is no doubt that crate abuse has a significant deleterious effect on dog behavioral health. It's very stressful for a dog to be kept in small, dirty confinement for long periods.
"Regular crating for periods of eight hours or longer could constitute abuse. Life in a box is not an acceptable life for a dog."
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Dr. Lund, VMD, is a veterinarian who has been qualified as an expert witness in multiple animal cruelty trials. According to Dr. Lund:
"Collies are such magnificently kind dogs to begin with...some breeds benefit from limited use of the clear boundaries of a closed crate door, and love their owners for it. But I have a hard time picturing an adult Collie that perceives long term crating as anything less than rejection and punishment by their owner, leaving such a kind and devoted breed to suffer silently, tortured by not understanding 'why?'
"The complete lack of daily exercise which would be inherent in small enclosure confinement adversely affects every single body system over time. Heart, lungs, and musculoskeletal are the most obvious, but their compromise compromises circulation, which is critical to everything else, including the brain. Lack of exercise also affects proper sleep, again compromising health.
"No animal, unless it is given no other choice, will choose to live in its own excrement. When you take away any and all ability to be fastidious, you effectively compromise health."
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Dr. Amy Nesselrodt, DVM, has been a veterinarian for 20 years. She has owned and trained dogs for over 30 years. Collies are her favorite breed and she has owned, successfully trained, and shown several Collies throughout her life.
Dr. Nesselrodt explains:
"All dogs, including collies, require adequate exercise, mental stimulation and human interaction. If deprived of any of this, they will develop signs of stress which can also lead to behavioral problems. Clinical signs may include:
--Clinical signs of diarrhea, lack of appetite, increased heart rate and/or increases in cortisol (stress hormone).
--Excess vocalization
--Panting
--Improper elimination
--Circling [spinning], excessive licking or other obsessive/compulsive disorders
--Pacing
--Abnormal fear reactions which may or may not progress to phobias
--Eventually the dog may shut down (extreme depression, lack of response, fearful posture with a dull, glazed expression, staring at nothing). This is the saddest state ever to see in a dog."
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Folks, this is what we have seen in the Collies held at the SPCA. They have been denied the care and dignity every living creature deserves. AWCA will NEVER allow these Collies to be forgotten. This is why I keep writing these Sunday reports. This is why I keep asking:
Why has the SPCA confined these Collies to crates, following their "rescue" from crates? It has been 124 days.
Calmly,
Jean Levitt
Next Sunday I will report further on the Seeley Collies.
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