Inconsiderate dog owners!
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
February 12, 2009 2:26pm CST
One of my biggest issues with the neighborhood I currently live in is that dogs are rarely ever tied up, and many times dogs will roam the streets lose without an owner. Usually it's the same dogs I see again and again, occasionally it's a different dog that probably just got loose that day. Sometimes I even see owners walking their dog without a leash!
Now it is a law around here to have a dog tied up at all times, either on a leash while walking, or in a fenced in yard, or at least with invisible fencing. Dogs are not allowed to roam around loose. Unfortunatly, at least the people around here don't seem to be concerned with this law, and the police and animal control do not bother to enforce it either.
Now there are plenty of reasons not to allow your dog to run loose, most of them being for the dogs safety becuase it could be hit by a car, or taken by someone.
But do any of these people who let their dogs loose ever stop to think that maybe there are people out there who don't like dogs, or worse, are afraid of them?
I am one of those people. I'm terrified of dogs. I was attacked by a dog when I was a baby, and ever since I've been afraid of dogs. I'm usually okay with little ones, I realize they can't cause me any harm, and if they were to attack I could cause a lot more harm to them, but medium to large sized dogs scare the life out of me. Even if I do see one on a leash I have to cross the road, I don't want to be anywhere near it. I've inadvertantly passed this fear onto my children, because when they see a loose dog they will run screaming and crying, which doesn't help because then the dog gives chase, this has happened at least once where one of my children ended up being chased by a loose dog! Thankfully it did not end well, and whenever a loose dog is nearby when I'm with my children, my mommy insticts kick into overdrive and my only thought is to protect the children, and possibly attack the dog if it appears that he's going to attack us.
And you know, I don't blame the dogs, I blame the owners. It's one thing for a dog to get loose once, or maybe twice, but if it continues to escape even when you don't want it to, then you should probably do something different to ensure it doesn't continue to happen! But some of the owners in my neighborhood don't even attempt to stop the dog from getting loose. They just let the dog out and don't bother to tie it up or put it on a leash or anything!
It just frustrates me to no end! I shouldn't have to be terrified of walking down the street in my neighborhood just because people are too lazy to tie up their dogs!
Do you know any inconsiderate dog owners? Do you think that dog lovers just assume that everyone else is a dog lover as well?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@daneg33 (1128)
• Canada
12 Feb 09
I agree with you. People who can't control their dogs should not own one. Then again, I could be accused of the same thing. My husband brought a dog home about a year and a half ago. This dog is trained as a bear/cougar hunting dog and he is slowly becoming a "pet" and not a working dog. The problem is that when I let him out for a pee he will sometimes take off on me. I think he catches a scent of something and he goes after it. My neighbour down the street has called me and said "Hey, your dog is on my couch again". Stupid dog. It's not my dog, it's my husband's dog and it is a pain in the butt. Call animal control and get something done about it. If they won't do anything, just keep calling. Eventually they will do something. Also, if those dogs are leaving "treasures" in your yard, get a bag, shovel it in and return it to the owner of that dog.
@daneg33 (1128)
• Canada
12 Feb 09
Well, we live in a very rural neighbourhood and everyone around has at least 2 dogs, except us. Many of our neighbour's dogs run loose, it's part of living in the country. Not much traffic on our road except ATVs and everyone helps each other out. We are a neighbourhood community. We are working on the dog and watching him closely, I also have 2 kids, so sometimes I can't be everywhere at once. For the most part he is a good dog and he wants to please us, so his behaviour is improving.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
12 Feb 09
That's pretty much the type of neighborhood I live in too. Everyone has a dog, except us. Most of my neighbors probably think that everyone loves dogs, and nobody can possibly be terrified of them.
I still suggest tying him up when he's outdoors or fencing in part of the yard to keep him controlled. I think he'll forever have those instincts of chasing after a scent, no matter how much you train him. It's better to be safe than sorry, right?
@daneg33 (1128)
• Canada
12 Feb 09
Yup, you are absolutely right. Hubby is saving up for the invisible fencing unit right now, its about $500. This dog can clear a fence (jump over) of about 12 feet, so no fence will keep him in, also he can climb a tree up to about 20 feet, so it's no small feat to keep him contained. When we aren't home he is in a chain link pen, which he escapes from, so we have to keep him tied up in the pen.
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
22 Feb 09
Where I live, it's more normal to see a dog loose than tied up. The only dogs which are tied up are either guard dogs or not trustworthy loose either because they're not good with people or with other animals. Subsequently, you can be pretty sure that the dogs you encounter on the street will be used to being free and fine with people. However, you still get ones which are very territorial or take a dislike to you, and I can completely understand your fear. I'm OK with just one dog barking at me or following me, but occassionally we get packs of semi feral dogs in the village, attracted by one of the village females on heat, and I get quite unsettled by those.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Remind me not to move to your town. I'm not even going to come for a visit!
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
15 Feb 09
Where I live people are pretty good for keeping their dogs on leads and keeping them under tight rein. The problem we seem to have around here is dog mess, I am not kidding walking to school some days is like walking through a mine field because we always have to avoid a big steaming pile of mess that the lazy dog owners cannot be bothered to pick up. As it is along the route to school I can only assume it is people who are taking their dogs for walks as they take their kids but is awful. There are notices everywhere saying that people who let their dogs foul will be fined but it does not happen.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Feb 09
We have that problem too of course. Since these dogs roam around free, they go wherever they want, and nobody picks it up after them, so I totally understand your stress too.
@22angel22 (450)
• United States
12 Feb 09
ERR!! I know what you mean!! In my neighborhood your dog is not allowed to live outside and has to be changed or in a gate while outside. BUT my next door neighbors let their dogs roam around and poop in our yard!.. my dogs are in their fenced in area being good, then they let theirs out and complain when my dogs bark at them.
They've even notified out Home Owners Board because my dogs bark when theirs are teasing them..I'm not one to go to the "authority" about it, but I want something done.. God Forbid they get hit by a car like their last one did 6 years ago.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
12 Feb 09
Some of my neighbors have had their dogs taken away from them. The lady who lives across from me had 2 weinerheiners (I forget what they're called, almost look like Greyhounds) she had them taken away for neglect, and they were awful about escaping and getting into everyone's trash. Then whn they were taken away she turned around and got another dog which she neglects and leaves outside all the time.
Then there's these teenagers down the road who always have a bunch of dogs, and none of them are ever tied up. I don't think they even are allowed inside, it's so awful. Well, one of their dogs bit a little boy who was being babysat in the house next door to them. The dog ended up being put down and all their other dogs were taken away. Don't you know they got another dog, and they don't tie him up. They live a block away, but that dog was in my yard yesterday!
@4ofmyown (1119)
• United States
13 Feb 09
We have 2 small dogs, Dachshunds, that we always walk on leashes. And, there are a ton of people in our neighborhood that have dogs also...and they too use leashes. But, everyday the neighbor behind us lets their dog run loose or doesn't watch it well enough and it always winds up in our backyard. It is a Jack Russell Terrier, so he is not that big, but he is skittish around people. Our yard is not fenced in so I constantly tell the kids if the dog comes in the yard come in the house. Plus, I have to go out there and check for poop. And....my 2 dogs go crazy, barking like crazy because they know this dog is in the yard. It is hard not to yell at our 2 because they are doing the right thing by alerting us but it drives me nuts. And it happens at all times of the night and day. One of the other neighbors has actually called the police on the them for it. Second story....about 3 years ago, I was out walking one of the dogs around 1:30 in the afternoon. The neighbor that lived across the street from us was a local police officer and had 2 big dogs...one of them was a Bull Mastiff. Every time I would walk our one dog, the dog across from us would go crazy jumping and biting at their fence. Well, on this afternoon the dog got the gate open and bolted right towards us. It actually picked up my dog in its mouth. I finally got the dog away from it and picked her up and the dog jumped on me trying to get to her. Luckily, another neighbor and some driving down the street stopped and pulled the dog off of me. But as soon as they let go it jumped on me again. Finally, they get the dog and I run in the house, hysterical. I called the police, well because the dogs owner was a police officer they told me that they know that dog and it was not vicious. The neighbor even came over and wanted to know why I had made such a big deal about it. The dog and I both were covered in scratches. I carried a knife with me everytime I walked the dogs after that. Sorry for rambling but I can understand your complaint, completely.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
13 Feb 09
OMG you poor thing! That would have given me a heart attack, and I would have been screaming bloody murder, probably fainted, and that neighbor sure would get a piece of my mind. I'd even get all the witnesses to sign a petition against this dog. OMG.
I failed to mention something in my post too. It's not just the fact that I am terrified of dogs (although that's the main reason) but to me, dogs are nothing but annoying. They bark constantly for any reason at all, they have to sniff everything, especially a new person's private area (talk about awkward and uncomfortable), and they jump!
I have had friends who've owned dogs, and eventually I had to just get used to the dog in order to visit the friend. I never got friendly with a dog, but I'd tolerate it. But I hated that the dog had to sniff me the moment I walked in, and some dogs would jump up on me. I remember when I was pregnant there was a dog that jumped up on me, and I totally freaked out!
One of my neighbors has a pitbull type dog, or maybe it's the "Spudz Mackenzie" type dog, I forget, either way, it's a smaller dog, but he barks like crazy. I went over there months ago to give her some baby clothes because she was expecting a baby boy, and the dog sat between her legs the whole time just non stop barking. Because of the dog I left my youngest 2 outside and just stood inside the door to talk to her for a minute.
Well, I've been wanting to visit her since the baby has been born, but I can't because of her dog, and my 2 baby boys. It would be rude of me to ask her to tie up the dog or lock him away just so my boys and I could visit. So I haven't bothered to try. So sad!
Okay, now I've been rambling. LOL.
@Patrika952 (156)
• United States
17 Feb 09
You should call animal control every time you see the repeat offenders out. If you call, I think they must respond. You would think that once or twice of having to "bail out" their dogs would cause the owners to take a more responsible approach with their pets.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
17 Feb 09
We don't have an animal control here, the town is too small. All we have is cops, and they don't care about the problem until the dog has bit someone, which has happened a few times.
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
17 Feb 09
Yes, the owners are at fault. We had a few inconsiderate dog owners in my old, old neighborhood, but not so many in the last one or where we are now. Who knows what they are thinking, I can't even guess!
@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
17 Feb 09
I have a similar problem. Inconsiderate former dog owners. people come out to where I live and dump their dogs because they do not want them any more. To add to this problem, because I live in the county there is not an agency that will come to pick them up. The only time anything is done is when a dog bites a person. So we have to gather these dogs up (if it is possible) and take them the 30 miles to the pound becuase all the animal shelters in the area are full. I hate this because I know that these dogs are going to be killed but at the same time I can't walk my dog for fear of these dumped dogs attacking her.
