10 MEETING THE WELFARE NEEDS OF SEIZED DOGS IN A KENNEL ENVIRONMENT
��� THE FIVE WELFARE NEEDS
b) Whenever dogs are transported they must be fit and
healthy for the intended journey. Injured and/or diseased
dogs must not be transported unless they are being taken
to a veterinary surgery or under veterinary advice. The
transporting of distressed dogs should be avoided
whenever possible.
c) Dogs should be fed a small meal about two hours before a
journey and exercised immediately before they are loaded
to give them the opportunity to go to the toilet.
d) During a journey dogs must be securely and comfortably
confined. If a dog is transported alone in a container,
he or she must have enough space to stand, sit erect, lie
in a natural position and turn around normally while
standing up. If transported with other dogs, there should
be sufficient space for all the dogs to carry out all these
behaviours without touching other dogs. It is recognised
that this might not always be possible in urgent or
emergency situations.
e) If transporting dogs by road, there should be a break every
two hours to offer water and the chance to go to the toilet.
Breaks should be at least 30 minutes long to allow the water
to be absorbed.
For more information specific to pregnant bitches and puppies,
please see Appendix I.
1.10 Crating
a) Crating must not be used to house seized dogs permanently.
b) Crating can be useful for habituating puppies to be left
alone to aid recovery following an injury or operation or
during transportation. Where a crate is used in these
circumstances, it must be large enough to allow the dog to
stand, turn around normally while standing up, sit erect and
lie down in a natural position. Take the dog out regularly
to allow him/her to toilet, but do not leave the dog inside
for so long that he or she becomes distressed, or generally
for more than four hours at a time. Philip Toscano/RSPCA Photolibrary x 2 & Doggie Solutions Ltd