is this dog being mistreated???

[lovemyshiba]

Let me start by explaining where I live. There are about 10 2 story buildings in our complex, with 8 apartments in each one. We live on the top floor, and we have a cement balcony with a 3 or 4 foot railing around it. During the fall summer and fall months, we left Kito out there sometimes while we were out--with a crate for shade, a water bowl full of ice cubes and water, toys and we put up a tarp so it would be shady on that side--he always laid in the sun, but.... Now that it has gotten colder, he likes to go out there sometimes for a few minutes, but comes back in--he has a very thick coat, so he's fine for a little while. He's also small, so I know he can't jump the railing, even when there are bunnies or Max the Bichon (who he hates), he just barks and jumps up a little.
Anyway, in another building, there is a beautiful husky. She is very tall and gorgeous. Her owner leaves her out there ALL DAY while he is at work, and last night she was out there from around 5:30 until at least midnight, that's the last time we were outside. She has an igloo dog house out there, and for all I know she could have a heated bed inside, but she is always out. She is VERY well behaved, the only time I have even seen her jump is when we walked by with our 2 dogs and the bulldog who lives below her started barking like crazy at ours, and she jumped up a little, but never made a sound. I know she is tall enough to scale the railing, but too smart to do it, knowing she would hurt herself if she were to fall. But is she ok being left outside in the cold that long all the time--it's been around 0 here with the wind chill. I know huskies are cold weather dogs, but it just seems unfair to me.

Any opinions????

[anna_66]

Honestly, I think she's ok, expecially if she has a dog house, but that's just my opinion

[sammi]

If the dog has protection from the wind etc. I would think he would be fine.

[Karen]

I hesitated to answer this at first, because though my gut instinct wants dogs in the house most of the time, I have known huskies who wanted to be OUT! So perhaps she is okay, outside when he's not home, but inside with him when he is ...

I guess it would vary dog to dog, but if she has shelter and food, and we KNOW she's got that dense Husky coat ... maybe she's okay. Certainly she can be warm enough with the iglooo and her own insulation and warmth ...

[Glacier]

If the owner spends time with her when he is home and she gets lots of exercise, she's probably ok. Personally, I can't imagine keeping a husky in an apartment. Mine have over an acre fenced off and I still think it isn't enough! But I know it can be done with alot of work. It sounds like this dog is well fed and sheltered. Several my huskies absolutely will not come in when it's cold out--I live in the far north and -40C is not unusual. They LOVE it!! Cold -wise I don't worry about them. They have shelter from the wind and rain if they choose to use it--usually they don't. Doghouses are for standing on and leaping off of during games of chase! LOL

Bless you for caring about this husky! It could turn into a bad situation, but for now I think she's ok.

[aly]

I don't think an apartment balcony is any kind of life for a Husky. It would break my heart if these were my neighbors and I had to see this. I would do my best to put a stop to it. Sometimes I go introduce myself to people and try to educate them in a nice way and hopefully they get the picture. It just breaks my heart to think of the poor dog sitting alone on a balcony all the time... awful

[sammi]

Aly, I took that the dog was only outside while they were gone/work? Would a balcony not be better than inside all day?? I don't know.

[lizbud]

It's just my opinion, but I don't think ANY dog should be
left outside on a balcony for any length of time without
their people being home to watch them.Certainly not all
day or night and nobody home. Dogs should be inside
THEIR homes & exercised before and after people leave
them to go to work or whatever. I would be a nervous
wreck just thinking about my dog being left in such a place.

As I've said, that's just my opinion.

[Sudilar]

I agree with Liz, a balcony is no place to leave a dog unattended.

[aly]

Not only is it such a small space, its also very dangerous. Who's to say something will never tempt the dog enough to jump over the balcony? Look at our sweet Graham boy,,, he got spooked enough to go over

I hate to see dogs on apartment balconies. In fact, a dog adopted from us at work was just found at the intersection of two MAJOR highways running around. He had escaped after being left on an apartment balcony. Needless to say, those people didn't get him back.

[jenluckenbach]

I can't actually use the word abuse, because I can't know all the circumstances. But I do think it is wrong. It is small, she is chained and even if she likes the cold, she is alone for long periods of time.It is just not right to not include a pet in your life as part of the family. Why would you have a dog and then keep it like this???

[Kfamr]

Is the husky chained? I'd hate to see her chained, even if it did prevent her from jumping over. The people who used to live behind us, chained their dog out in the back yard once [because she used to jump the fence when there was a thunder storm] Well ... it stormed... and she still jumped that fence... but since she was chained.. she hung herself. I'd rather the dog have a broken leg or somthing then having it dead, otherwise she seems ok....if the owner takes her out when he gets home and gives her exercize.

[sammi]

I guess I wasn't thinking of the balcony/height -- that would be danger! I would be afraid to leave a dog out on the balcony alone. Bet its nice though for people who live in apt/condo that they can sit outside when they are home with their dog.

[anna_66]

Originally posted by Glacier
Doghouses are for standing on and leaping off of during games of chase! LOL

Yep, isn't it the truth (not a very good pic, but you get the gist!)

[Twisterdog]

I think that is wrong. A balcony is no place for any dog unsupervied. The dog should be in the house, IMO.