It has been proven time and again that crating/kenneling/confining a dog exacerbates separation anxiety. The best and most humane way of dealing with this is to NOT leave the dog alone until the dog gets over it, which can take several weeks or months until the dog realizes you are not going to abandon it and the dog feels secure. This is what real animal welfare is all about.

Twyla is a perfect example of this. She was transferred to the Coquitlam SPCA from the interior and sold to a couple who noticed she had separation anxiety right away. The SPCA counseled this couple to confine Twyla to a kennel of some kind whenever they went to work, since she was destroying this couple's home when left alone. They were also told to give Twyla drugs to calm her down. But after 3 months, none of this advice worked, the problem was only getting worse, and Twyla finally injured her mouth quite badly while trying to chew herself out of confinement. She was otherwise a beautiful dog who loved all kids, people, dogs and even cats, and she was gentle,easy to handle and very affectionate.

The couple returned Twyla to the Coquitlam SPCA, believing the SPCA would find her a more suitable home with someone who didn't work such long hours, but they were horrified when the SPCA told them that Twyla would be killed. They contacted AAS and we immediately purchased Twyla from the SPCA and took her into foster care. When I was at the SPCA getting Twyla, I was told by staff that Twyla had separation anxiety and they offered me a bottle of drugs to take for her, telling me that she'd already been given a pill prior to my arrival. They also said unequivocally that if Twyla was returned again, she'd be killed immediately and no further attempt would be made to re-home her. I declined the drugs and assured them that Twyla would NEVER be returned to any SPCA.

Twyla was fostered with AAS and adopted shortly after into a wonderful home with a woman who was at home much of the time, and today her anxiety has gone and she's an all around beautiful dog who is finally living the life she deserves. All it took was a little bit of patience, no drugs and no crating.

Killing a dog for having separation anxiety is NOT animal welfare, yet that was clearly the SPCA's answer.

"28 October 2004 Richmond News: Quoting BC SPCA CEO Craig Daniell: As an organization we must also take responsibility to ensure community safety by identifying offensively aggressive and dangerous animals, which pose a serious safety threat to other animals and people. The B.C. SPCA is a charity which brings many tangible and intangible benefits to the City of Richmond, including extensive humane education programming, the ability to draw on animal welfare expertise from B.C. and abroad, and our internationally recognized animal welfare assessment and rehabilitation programs."

The SPCA is still giving bad advice to people who adopt dogs with this issue, as illustrated below.

Coco
Dog
Labrador Retriever,Staffordshire Bull Terrier Mix

Size: Medium
Age: Young
Sex: Female
I.D: 17138

Notes: If you are an active person looking for a dog to match your lifestyle then you have stumbled on a real sweetheart. Coco is only one year old, knows sit and come and loves to be around people. She likes to spend most of her time inside and is partially housebroken.She does not like to be left alone and will jump fences if left outside and will chew objects if left inside. She will need a proper kennel, a dog proofed room or crate training to get over this seperation anxiety. Coco has a lot of energy and needs basic obediance to learn to not jump up and walk better on a leash. We think she would do better in a home without small children because of how excited she gets and her jumping. She is not yet spayed, but that should be done soon. Please consider taking this sweety home.