Dog In Crate 12 Hours, Is This Cruel?

[lostforgottensoul]

My dad & step mom are gone to Gainsville until Sun night. I am putting my dog in the crate, which is VERY hard for me to begin with. I am doing better as he is much calmer, despite not being in there for months.

I need to feel better about the crate as they are moving the beginning of the year and I will have to put him in there every day. But I need some help with this one.

I work 2pm to 11pm. I live just outside of Orlando and traffic is always insane but this is snowbird season, triple the amount of cars on the road so traffic is impossible. It's taking me twice as long to get to work.

I normally leave for work at 1pm and get home somewhere between 11:15pm and 11:20pm given that I'm getting off on time which I normally do but you have odd days at times.

So crate at 1pm and out at 11:20-ish. Lets say 10 and a half hours. He does ok at that time frame.

But I have my therapist tomorrow and instead of the normall 11am, I have his appointment at 12pm and leaving there at 1pm, and he has no earlier appointments and I don't want to cancel it as I haven't seen him in 3 weeks. I need to see my therapist. But, that means I am getting out of the appointment at 1pm, it will take me at least 15 or more like 20 mins to get to where my house is which would be like if I left at 1:20. Traffic is much heavier so it may even be 1:30pm and I will be speeding to get to work on time.

Now, I do get to work 30 mins early normally and I don't have to but I must be at work at least time enough to park, walked through the parkinglot, upstairs, to my desk, boot up my PC and log in...all before 2pm. Id say I don't want to get their any later than 1:45pm, 1:50pm if I run, and that will be very hard as it is. If I stop at home to let the dog out, I am afraid I will be late to work. And with the massive layoffs coming, I dont want to have an attendence issue.

I could ask my therapist to let me out at 12:45 but he doesnt come and get me until 8min or 10mins after so that's cutting it super short.

But if I don't, my dog will be in the crate 12 hrs, from 11:30am - 11:30pm. I am a basket case today about that and its not until tomorrow. I don't know what to do. Stop and possibly be late to work. Leave early from therapy. Cancel therapy. Or just go on to work and leave him 12 hrs.

Would you call this cruel? To leave a dog in a crate for 12 hrs? What would you do?

He is an adult pitbull with a large crate enough to turn around and a crate water bowl.

 

[The Albatross]

Yeah, personally only that's too long and I'd have someone in to walk, potty, water or feed the dog. Just my take.

Note: I did not say "cruel", however rationally for a pet that is not a good experience.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I'd have someone in to walk, potty, water or feed the dog.

I dont know anyone. I dont have any friends or know anyone here.

ETA: I'll ask to leave the session early then. I thought 12 hrs was much.

 

[scout86]

I've done it, so I might not be objective. I don't think it's cruel. Might not be perfect, but we don't live in some perfect world. My dogs, for the most part, seem to sleep when I'm not home anyway.

Something else I do, when it works, is take them with me. They're perfectly happy sleeping in the car while I'm working, weather permitting and all that. I've left them kenneled for longer than 12 hours a few times, no problems.

 

[digger]

Personally, I think 12 hours in a crate is too long for a dog, especially if it's not used to being in there alone that long.

Can you look up a professional dog walker to come and take him out for a bit?

 

[digger]

Sorry, I misread your post. If he is already used to being in it 10.5 hours at a time, 12 isn't a lot different. I wouldn't personally be happy leaving my dog alone that long though and I'd still look at dog walkers.

 

[The Albatross]

On a re-read I am not clear why this animal, who is higher level activity by breed has to be crated? Why are you the only one who can do that? It is not beneficial for the breed to deal with it without psychological repercussions, which surely you know. A room would be better than a crate for that period, however is still not really optimal for the animal.

 

[Gs172003]

If it's already in it alot of the time he'll be fine. A little longer won't hurt.

 

[The Albatross]

(Disagree with scout by the way) especially in Florida.

 

[The Albatross]

He has a water bowl and can "turn around" For a high activity breed? Sheesh. Off the thread.

 

[Poofycat]

It's not ideal, but I don't think it's cruel. He'll probably be just fine.

There's an app called Rover that you can download onto your phone. You can hire dog walkers through it. Might be an option to consider. I've never used it but have lots of friends who do.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Can you look up a professional dog walker to come and take him out for a bit?

I try to find someone. I dont know anyone. Theres rover.com but i dont have a chance to interview and what not and i also learned that most wont simply because he is a pitbull.