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“Shelby is now all grown up! One day I woke up and looked over at her, and she took a stretch, and then just stayed how she was and went back to sleep! She's like "Mom, 5 more minutes" lol.” - Jesi Swick

Posted by CatzEyez on 12/04/2007:
"Shelby is beautiful, I'm glad she is doing well."

Posted by Jesi on 11/26/2007:
"@Everyone: Since this has brought upon a debate. I would like to first state the fact that Shelby is only in a cage during the night only upon her choosing. Secondly, she WAS in one all the time at night, because I have to keep her in my room, and she has a inkling to chew on any wire in sight, sock, shoe, clothing, object. Also I would like to point out, that during the day she has the freedom of 6 acres to frolic on, she hangs out with my other dog Emma, and is normally quite worn out after a full day of play. But she does by choose (NOT DEPRESSION) go into her cage. But now, since she is a little bit older since this picture, I've finally trained her too not chew everything in sight, she sleeps soundly loose in my room.

And actually, ASPCA recommends cages in training as well. FYI."

Posted by Pieter on 11/24/2007:
"Dawn, I agree, it should not be their home..they shouldn't be in there all day. My dog just sleeps in there at night, goes in at around 11.30pm and goes out in the morning. He sleeps whenever he's in there, so it's not like he's bored in there and wants to get out. Whenever he sleeps during the day, he just lays down on the floor or on my couch.

A cage (in general) has a negative vibe..it can be used for the wrong reasons and that's exactly why I was reluctant to use one at first, until I read and discovered that it's actually fine to use one. When I just got my pup, I put the cage in my bedroom so he was still near me and he could see me through the bars. That's exactly why they recommend cages instead of a box in books. Even though a box seems more friendly, it's not as they can't see through it. All people in my dog training group use a cage..I believe there's nothing wrong with it, if you use it for the right reasons."

Posted by Dawn on 11/23/2007:
"Pieter, well I still don't believe this, considering one can find many books that are like minded to allow what we believe is ok anyway.

My dogs, were all stray dogs, and they would attempt to crawl under me for a safe haven, so since they needed a safe haven because they were not safe, had not known safety, that was expected. It took me months of training one, not to belly down at the site of a petting hand, this dog still has nightmares after 10 years.

I repeat a cage would make me depressed too. Animals get depressed. I've had a multiple pet house of cats and dogs. I descovered they mourn for one another. I also discovered, that taking in strays, shortens a life span, according to a vet, but my senior cats and dogs, would say the contrary.

Additionally, why would the human society and ASPCA fight for chickens in cages if that were such a wonderful safe haven?

Understandable, that vets have cages for the sick animals, or those waiting for adoption. This is a temporary place, Not their home."

Posted by Kitty on 11/23/2007:
"Shelby is adorable!! I am sure Shelby is not shut up in that cage all the time. I have read too that it is a good tool to use in training and good to have as a safe place for the dog to go. There is a blanket and toy that I can see in the picture...this does not look tike depression or cruelty to me."