Irresponsible dog owners make me soooo mad!!
Why do people insist on having dogs when they don’t seem to want the responsibility that comes with it? I just don’t get it. On many occasions of walking my Boo, I feel like we are running the gauntlet on Gladiator. We have dogs running out at us from gardens with no fencing, owners walking dogs without leads or the clever Muppets who have the lead but believe their dogs are so well trained they don’t need to put them on it, just to find their dogs running across the road for a fight with mine who is feeling very threatened as he is on his lead.
For a couple of years now, I have been having a bit of an ongoing battle with a dog owner in my village who has an ex security German Shepherd and a rescued Staffy x. The dogs are left home alone to wander in and out of the house via a very large dog flap, and stroll around the village doing as they please. After the GSD launched an attack on Billy, I ended up calling the police as the owner was not in for me to speak to direct. It came as no surprise when the police knew exactly where the dog had come from, they had visited the owner on many occasions.
Some time last year, Billy and I were greeted by a very friendly Staffy x, who had no ID tag. She came home with us where I tried my best to find out where she was from. I had knocked on a dozen or more doors but eventually had to ring the dog warden, who informed me that the Staffy was from the same place as the GSD. The owner was reunited with the dog, and received a bit of an ear bashing from me. I then calmed down and offered to help fix the garden fence and damage to her house caused by the dogs but I heard no more from her. I pointed out that her dogs were terrorising the village, the GSD had already bitten people and were frightening kids on the playing field and at the school gates. She just didn’t seem to understand the danger involved. I told her that without tags, roaming free and out of control she risked having her dogs run over or taken and never to be seen again.
Two days later, we are walking down the main road in the village and are greeted by the same Staffy who was running in front of cars, all excited that she had seen me again. She had blood around her face, it appears she has jumped through a window to escape, just as I had warned the owner two days before… This time I had no choice but to ring the wardens who came and collected her but by the end of the day the owner was reunited with her again!!!! She just seems incapable of listening to good advice and taking up offers of help.
I knew it was all going to end in a bad way but nowhere near as bad as it did. Weeks later I hear that the GSD had gone on a rampage killing sheep, and was then shot dead after killing and devouring two Alpaca. The Staffy who was a gorgeous and friendly little dog took fright and ran off across the fields, where she too was found dead. She had fallen into a big ditch and had suffered a long, cold and lonely death. All this tragedy caused by one incompetent dog owner, who wouldn’t admit she was out of her depth and couldn’t cope. Still her attitude has not changed, no apology to the livestock owners, and no offer to reimburse their losses.
WHY DID SHE THINK SHE DESERVED TO HAVE THESE DOGS??? SHE SIGNED THEIR SUICIDE NOTES FOR THEM!!!
R.I.P ALL THAT LOST THEIR LIVES IN THIS UNNECESSARY TRAGEDY
April 7th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
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May 27th, 2008 at 3:31 am
Yes, the owner was irresponsible. Of almost equal negligence was animal control. They had ample opportunity to put some meaningful restrictions on this owner, but they did nothing. …By your very account…absolutely nothing.
Unfortunately, there will always be negligent, inconsiderate, ignorant dog owners. That’s life. The reason we need better educational strategies, and meaningful legislation, is to deal with these losers when they make themselves known. They can’t be allowed to continue unabated. If they are, it means we, as a society, are complicit.
- Better education.
- Stronger, more effective laws.
- Meaningful recourse.
Dogs don’t have a voice. Society needs to speak for them, to protect them from malicious people, themselves, and too often, their owners.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Here are five habits every dog owner must practice in his/her home:
Exercise:
Dogs spend a lot of time waiting around for us. We go off to work, we’re busy, we have appointments to keep, and our dogs are just hanging out waiting for us to do something with them.
Training:
All great dog owners spend some time training their dogs. Training is the best way to communicate with your dog. Your dog has no idea that they are not supposed to pull on leash, to not jump on guests, or to come back when you call them.
Leadership:
Dogs are social pack animals. They survive by living together in packs. In order for that pack to survive they need to develop a social structure with a leader. When you dog comes into the house, you need to become the pack leader.
Good Food:
All types of dog foods are not created equal. Feeding your dog a good diet is very important. Look at some of the labels on dog food. Some of them are loaded with chemicals, dyes, sugar and low grade products.
Play:
Dogs like to play. Have you ever watched a group of puppies together? It is one of my favorite things to do. A group of puppies will jump, run, tug, and have a great time together. Playing with your dog is a great way to exercise and bond with your dog. It will also fulfill an important need in your dog.
Good Dog Panda !! !!!
July 5th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Roy SmartWalk,
I totally agree with the points you make, I spent four years studying dogs at university some years ago now! It’s a shame not all dog owners have the views and knowledge you clearly do.