How many dogs are reasonable to keep in a three bedroomed house

[janoel]

There is a strong rumour going around that a local woman has 26 dogs in her three bedroomed house.
She will never tell anyone how many dogs she has, but another woman who has helped her out with them has said there are 26. Apparently there are cages in the back yard and the dogs are kept in each room of the house including the bedrooms.
They are never taken out but just have a small strip of garden to exercise in. I feel like reporting this woman but she has already been reported more than once and it seems that the RSPCA is satisfied that the dogs are well cared for. I think when they visit she only shows them about 4 dogs! The woman and her husband are in their 70's. She is a very controlling woman and her dogs are taught to keep quiet so neighbours are not aware how many she has. Is there anyone out there who can advise?

[ummmm]

If there are 26 dogs there is no way she could hide evidence of them.

The RSPCA would get the police out so they could search the house if they were concerned. I'd say it is just a rumour.

[saxy_jag]

I've never kept any more than two, and my mum used to dog-sit mine and my sister's dog alongside her own, although that was only during the day. Even so, she is herself in her 70s and can't do this any more. She can barely look after her own Jack Russell but will not entertain any idea that this is the case. But if she ends up in hospital again, we're going to have to find another home for him, I reckon, lovely as he is and much as we'll miss him.

I guess this woman has 'collected' these dogs with the best of intentions and now cannot bear to part with them, believing that some terrible fate will await them if she does. Age will blind her to the fact that she herself is doing them no favours.

But as Ummmm says, there has to be concrete evidence that this is actually what's happening and that a few vindictive, possibly dog-hating neighbours aren't just spreading nasty rumours. Even for a top trainer, keeping twenty-odd dogs quiet in their living quarters 24/7 is nigh on impossible, as any police or military dog trainer will tell you.

[tamborine]

One dog is less likely to stray, two dogs and they're off roaming, three is a pack with fights, anymore sharing a home and owner is unfair to the dogs instinct of loyalty to its master. Too many dogs sharing a home is unhealthy for a family.

[beejaybee]

I think that this is just a rumour as there`s no way 26 dogs could be kept quiet night & day Even if they could be, there would be other evidence of so many dogs.