4. COMPANY
Making sure dogs have the company they need
4.1 Group or separate housing
a) Where it is practical and safe to do so, for example there are
no biosecurity or health and safety concerns, dogs should be
pair- or group-housed. For example, consideration must be
given as to whether it is possible to house dogs seized from
the same household in this way - see section 4.1f below.
b) Decisions to pair- or group-house dogs must be made by
suitably trained and competent staff and, where necessary,
with advice from a veterinary surgeon or suitably qualified
behaviour expert (see Appendix II), giving due consideration
to all the human safety and animal welfare implications.
c) Where dogs are housed separately it is important to ensure
that their welfare is maximised. Where there are concerns
about an individual dog's welfare, advice from a veterinary
surgeon or suitably qualified behaviour expert (see
Appendix III) should be sought to ensure optimal welfare.
Any dog housed in isolation must be provided with
alternative means of enrichment (see sections 3.1, 3.2 and 4.2).
d) Where dogs can be pair- or group-housed, new pairs or groups
should be gradually introduced under the supervision of
suitably trained and competent staff in a neutral environment
where they can avoid one another if they so choose.
e) Some minor or temporary signs of aggression such as
growling or raised hackles may occur on first introduction
of unfamiliar dogs. However, where more severe or persistent
signs of aggression are shown (e.g. biting, chasing, pinning down,
blocking movement), dogs must not be housed together.
16 MEETING THE WELFARE NEEDS OF SEIZED DOGS IN A KENNEL ENVIRONMENT
��� THE FIVE WELFARE NEEDS
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THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPANY
Dogs are sociable animals and most need and enjoy company.
While experiences can influence how they interact with
other dogs and people, in general dogs have an inherent
desire for contact with their own species and form strong
social bonds to humans. For many dogs one of the greatest
stressors upon arrival into a kennel environment is the
separation from their familiar social group. Numerous
studies have shown that the provision of contact with
other dogs and humans has a positive benefit for welfare.
In fact, the level of contact with people may be as
important, if not more than, the physical kennel
environment for the welfare of dogs. Therefore, it is
important that, where appropriate for the individual dog,
individual circumstances, and it is safe to do so, company
with other dogs and humans must be provided.
f) When dogs are brought to the kennels from the same
household, pair-housing can work especially well in avoiding
unnecessary distress. Whenever suitable facilities exist,
these dogs should be housed together, unless behaviour
as described above indicates otherwise.
g) A dog must not be housed with another dog if he or she
tries to avoid them or appears fearful of them; for example,
one of the dogs avoids contact, persistently hides or cowers.
h) Where dogs are housed in the vicinity of other dogs, each
dog must be able to control their visual access to every
other dog (i.e. retreat from view) to avoid situations that
they find fearful or frustrating.
i) Dogs must never be muzzled in their kennels to facilitate
pair- or group-housing.
j) Pair- and group-housed dogs must have sufficient space
and adequate resources to minimise competition and
monopolisation and to be able to move away from one
another if they so choose (see also section 1.3d).
k) Housing entire males and entire females where they can smell
each other (within olfactory range) can cause frustration and
should be avoided; housing males and females in separate
kennel blocks, where available, can help.
l) Where facilities or circumstances prevent the pair- or
group-housing of dogs, dogs must be provided with regular
opportunities to exercise with other friendly dogs, as long Andrew Forsyth & Philip Toscano/RSPCA Photolibrary