People who don't leash their dogs!

[Samurai_Writer]

This morning I had a truly frightening experience. I was out walking my cocker spaniel, Magic, in my apartment complex. Two dogs came running up to him, one a setter and one a smaller sheperd mix, but both much bigger than him. The sheperd attacked my dog without any provocation. Magic was on a leash and I was holding on for dear life, while trying to get the other dogs away. The owner comes up and finally the dogs back off. I practically drag my poor dog back into my apartment, with the stupid owner yelling 'sorry!' after me. Thankfully, Magic was not hurt, but it scared the hell out of me, and him! I broke down and cried after I got him safely inside.

I seem to be the ONLY dog owner in this apartment complex who walks her dog on a leash. The other dogs are 'walked' by their owners without a leash. I'm sorry, but if they are not on a leash, a person has no control over a dog, especially a large one.

I went to the office, but it was closed. I will be going on Monday and making a formal complaint. This has really pissed me off. Not only could Magic have been seriously hurt, but I could have as well!

[Dookus]

1. Ugh..

I'm so glad Magic was OK.

That's one of my pet peeves, too. I love dogs to death, but dammit, keep'em on a leash!

[JohnyCanuck]

2. A leash isn't always enough.

Within the last few days in the local news there was a story about two pit bulls, each on a leash, pulling away from their owner and then attacking and killing a shitzu and bitting the shitzu's owner when she tried to intervene. I can't for the life of me fathom why people (other than drug dealers) are so enamored of pit bulls. They are ugly brutes for the most part and there are enough stories of apparently well behaved pit bulls suddenly wigging out without warning and attacking other dogs and small children that you would think that they would best be avoided as a family pet.

[curse10]

3. but it's a start

leashes are for everyone's safety- the dog on it included. I nearly hit a dog the other day because the owner did have the darn thing on a leash.

And, pit bulls are very lovely animals. I've known several in my life and a few visciously trained dogs give the entire breed a bad reputation.

[Nlighten1]

4. Never walk your dog without taking some kind of weapon.

I mean a stick, nothing lethal. This goes for parents taking a walk with your kids too. You never know when/if someone's dog might confront you.

[teryang]

5. People are stupid

They don't mind taking chances with someone else's safety. Some good ole boys were trapsing around a state park in an isolated area like they owned the place with their pet rotweiler running loose and running right up toward my diminutive niece. It scared the s..t out of us. I said to my brother pick her up! It was pretty tense. Luckily the dog was affable enough. The young men thought it was funny.

[UTUSN]

6. Some Jerk in My Walking Park

carries the (unleashed) leash in his hand, while his huge dog runs free, coming up to us from behind. It seems to be a good dog, and I love dogs, but it's a jolt to see the mandibles up to your waist. Twice I have made a display of stepping aside till they pass and the jerk always says, "She won't do anything..." There are signs clearly posted saying a leash must be used at all times. The third time the jerk laughed and held up the leash in his hand.

[candy]

10. Your park sounds like my park----

Signs all over the place and totally ignored and there I am,with my leashed dog,clutching my can of pepper spray.

I've never had to use it,but have come close a couple of times.

A group of folks in my town want a park designated for unleashed dogs because "Dogs have rights too".Can you believe it?

[SheilaT]

7. Are there leash laws where you live?

If so, find out what you need to do to file a formal complaint.

Too many people don't do anything at all about training their dogs. A well-trained dog is a pleasure to be around, even for those not all that fond of canines. An untrained dog can be a nuisance or even dangerous. I'm one who believes in very stringent laws against dogs (and their owners) if the dog harms anyone.

[chookie]

8. That makes me angry! GRRRRR!

Typical stupid human involved.

A few years ago, in a FL park, a saw a young man's small Maltese MAULED by two off-the-leash labradors. The little dog had a large gash in his leg. The two stupid girls the dogs belonged to said, "Sorry!" and went back to their picnic, unconcerned about the havoc and injury their dogs caused. I, a passer-by, took the guy and the dog to an emergency clinic -- AND I called the police to report the assholes.

Bad enough to be stupid enough to let uncontrollable dogs off leash, but to ask like it's no big deal when they terrorize or injure another dog really makes me angry.

Go make your complaint to the office. Contact animal control and see if they will talk to the stooges involved, to instruct them in the law and tell them to straighten up. Your locality probably has laws about leashes -- call and find out, and report the creeps and have the cops talk to them.

[tridim]

9. I had a leashless German Shepherd attack

My leashed 4 month old Boston Terrier. The Shepherd ran at her with snarling teeth showing, at full speed. I had to yank my puppy out of the way by her neck. The owner had to know this was how his dog would react to a small dog, he just didn't care. It's animal cruelty if you ask me.