My only comments here are that after living with dogs, and one was long haired, and the other a husky cross one of their BASIC needs is that the dog be with their owners, and dogs can be left inside when the owner is not there. It is as basic as needing food and water. Yet, STILL we have a huge, huge problem with people leaving their dogs outside for way too long. I do have a problem with people leaving their dogs outside during work days. Mainly because dogs get bored and lonely and will proceed to dig, bark and whine. I have lived close by to dogs and have had to listen to dogs constantly crying and barking because owners leave their dog outside. Dogs do not exercise themselves out in yards. Dogs will only exercise when owners are out with them, throwing a ball, walking them etc. Dogs need leadership and guidance. And they are pack animals...it is completely against their nature to be left alone for too long. I have volunteered for years with the Vancouver pound and time and time again behaviour problems happen because dogs are left alone for way too long, and often dropped off at shelters because of this.
I would think that the SPCA would know and appreciate all of this information as it is so basic and no one would have to contact them on the basics of dog care. I have read doggy books and attended some doggy conferences (and listened to the likes of Ian Dunbar, Jean Donaldson), and in no way shape or form am I any dog expert and even I know the importance of not leaving dogs alone too often. As a matter of fact, when I fostered dogs for the pound and talked to potential adopters, if someone said to me, 'I have a wonderful fenced yard,' red flags went off in my head. If someone told me, 'I live by some great trails', or 'I want a jogging companion' or 'I love taking my dog to the beach' or even, 'when I work I have a great dog walker' then I knew it was someone who knew enough about dog behaviour to be able to adopt a dog without any behaviour problems cropping up due to leaving this social, pack animal alone for too long.
How could the SPCA not figure out this basic, basic stuff?