Is this animal abuse?

[Anonymous]

My friend says she has a violent dog who tried to eat their cat and will attack or bite literally everyone except for the dad (it's a dad and his two young adults children). They tried to get professional intervention but it didn't work. They can't re-home the dog because it has a bite record. They don't want to euthanize him.

Since nobody else can safely interact with the dog, the dog is kept in a crate whenever the dad is at work and also when dinner is prepared and eaten. Which is like 630am-5pm and 630-9pm. I can empathize with the situation of keeping the family safe but it does seem like a little much even though the crate is comfortable with food, water, and toys. Does anyone have any advice I can send over to my friend?

Not deliberate abuse but they should try something else (please give advice in a comment)

They're abusive

Not abusive, it's the best they can do

No opinion

[Kaneki05]

Longs if that dad takes it out to exercise I don't think the dog would much care tbh. If an animal has a routine much like us they adapt to it.
So if he's left in a cage at times and let out at other times I don't think that's bad.
If he was just in a cage all the time then yeah no point, best option is putting it down otherwise it's going to become depressed and more violent.

[Asker]

Apparently it has time to roam the backyard 3 times in the morning, evening, and before bed for like an hour total. Seems to be in the crate about 13 hours total which is a lot. It's to keep family safe but I feel like there has to be a better solution

[Kaneki05]

That sounds fine it gets enough time to spend energy.

[abc3643]

I am in a somewhat similar situation although not quite as bad.
The term is called "Crate and Rotate" meaning you crate the dog when you need safety from it, but let it out when it's safe.

The "dad" needs to intervene and train this dog to be civil.

[abc3643]

https://www.pbrc.net/crate-and-rotate.html#/

[dustybiker2]

Sounds like they are at least trying to be responsible. They really should find a safe home for the cat at present. That is too high a risk. And keep the dog leashed when not secured in secluded yard or crate. This is a huge liability.

[exitseven]

They should ask President Biden to help. He is really good with dogs.
upload.wikimedia.org/.../...9_in_February_2022.jpg

He did a really good job with Commander.

[TheSpaceGnome]

Dogs don't just become violent for no reason unless they have rabies or something.

If the dog is violent there is a reason for it, if the dog is not violent around the dad only, there is a reason for that too. I don't know if its abuse, they may just be unsure what to do to fix the problem and have no idea who to turn to for help getting the dog to not be violent. Or they may be abusing the dog and thats why its violent.

I can only guess.

[DJB72]

The dog is dangerous. If it tried to kill the cat it lives with and nobody else can get near it then sorry, but there's only one correct action. It needs to be euthanased

[ThaMaskedMarvel]

I don't see it as abuse at all. It's the best they can do.