Chanel Store Kept Dogs In Animal Cages, Company Accused Of Animal Cruelty

Luxury shopping brand Chanel was accused of animal cruelty after a video of two dogs lying in small cages in a London store was shared on Instagram recently.

The brand was heavily condemned after Tabitha Willett, former "Made in Chelsea" star, posted a video of the dogs on her Instagram. The footage was taken Friday night at 11 p.m. local time (6 p.m. EST).

On her Instagram, Willett posted a video of the Chanel store on Sloane Street and asked, “Does anyone know what these sweet doggies were doing in cages @ChanelOfficial Sloane Street last night? Chanel why are there two dogs in tiny cages in your shop at 11 pm?”

Willett said she called the designer directly after noticing the dogs. “I phoned Chanel up who said the dogs were there for security purposes which I don’t understand as they are locked in crates and the crates are far too small for their size,” she said. She also said there was no water near the dogs and one of them wagged in a friendly manner when her friend made the video.

The designer assured Willett that the animals were kept in the crates only for a few hours at a time and that there was a man present there as well. She said even though the dogs were kept in the crates for a few hours, it would still too much for them under the fluorescent lights in the store.

Willett said, “My concern and the concern of everyone who saw my story was that the crates are far too small for dogs of those sizes. I’ve had hundreds of replies and people sharing the story in outrage too and I am keen to know more reasoning behind this and a solution. The lady in Chanel mentioned that they had chosen to get dogs for security purposes.”

Willett also notified the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) about it.

“This picture raises some questions and we would be keen to hear the reasons behind these dogs being kept in crates this way. Dog crates can be useful when transporting your pets, for use in training, or for short-term confinement when supervision is not possible. They should be a place where the dog feels safe, secure and comfortable. As a minimum, crates need to be big enough for the dog to be able to sit and stand up at full height, turn around, stretch out and lie down in a natural position. Adding soft, comfortable bedding and safe chew toys help the dog feel comfy, safe and secure. Dogs need access to water at all times so a bowl of water should be provided when a dog is inside the crate,” an RSPCA representative said.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Chanel said due to two serious incidents at the store on Sloane Street, the extra security measure was taken after seeking help from a dog handler. “We understand the concern of those who care about animal welfare and we share it. We want to assure them that these two dogs which are specially trained for this purpose, are released from their crates on a regular-basis to stretch and exercise and there is a regular supply of food and water throughout the duration of their time in the boutique.”