OMG are you kidding me?? People have actually told you that you are abusing Brownie because you leave him INSIDE!?!??? That is insane!!! Sorry, but whoever told you that is completely insane. lol. Who in the HECK takes their dog outside with them EVERY SINGLE TIME they step outside??? That is absurd!!!!
I have never even heard of such a thing. The last thing I heard, it was much more "abusing" toward your animals if you left them OUTSIDE in the sweltering heat, or out in the cold. And not to mention what the heck are you supposed to do with them when you leave the house to go to work, the grocery store, etc.? You can't take them EVERYWHERE with you for pete's sake!! Some people, I tell ya...