Let me set the scene.... Penny and I set off for our morning walk. The road that leads to the entrance to the field is about two houses long and a dead end. The other end it goes onto a busy main road with another road directly across from it (like a crossroads). As we are walking towards the entrance to the field I hear a man shouting so naturally I look behind to see what's happening. The man is walking along the road across the main road, he has two staffi type dogs, both of whom are off lead with no collars. They're racing around the pavement, jumping in and out of people's gardens and just generally being hooligans. The bloke obviously doesn't care as although he's shouting no at them, it's kinda halfhearted and he doesn't take any action with it. Then, horror and of horrors, they run out into the busy main road! By this time Penny and I have reached the field and she's bombing around having a great time as she does everyday. I've hesitated by the gate as I saw the dogs run into the road and wanted to see what happened. They head for the park. And straight for Penny. As we know, Penny is nervous of other dogs, especially when approached at a run so this immediately puts her on defence and she has a little air snap to warn them off. That's it, they both pitch into her and I'm about 20 feet away! She gives as good as she gets though and sees them off. The larger of the two runs off to investigate another dog at the top end of the field and the smaller one hangs around us. Penny is hiding between my legs and I'm holding her collar to keep her from going after the smaller dog as she's really riled up now. I look around.... No sign of the owner. The he appears... Without a care in the world, taking his own sweet time, smoking a cigarette. He wanders along the path that cuts the field in half, calls both dogs who immediately rush off to follow him out of the field. End scene. Obviously Penny and I were both shaken up by it but were ok and no injuries thank goodness. It was just a lot of noise and spit. I am angry though, that some people seem to think that type of behaviour is ok. He had no control over those dogs and they could have been killed on the road or caused an accident. They could have seriously injured Penny or myself if I had gotten involved trying to split them up! Worst thing is.... I know where the dogs live. They live opposite me. I'm debating putting a call in to the dog warden about the incident but I'm not sure if it's severe enough to warrant investigation. Though this is the second time one of those dogs has caused a problem for us - the larger one got out a couple of months ago and was running along the road. Me and Penny were out walking and had to pass her, and she had a pop at Penny then. These are not the type of people that I can just go and knock on the door and ask if they can be more sensible with their dogs - id probably get knifed well that's an exaggeration but I don't think they're nice people. We have strong suspicions they are drug dealers and the dogs live outside and are always barking. I suspect they may be put bull types, however that doesn't bother me. I have one living directly next door and he's lovely. I would never report them because of that - don't get me started on BSL. I'm really angry and upset. It's going to set Penny way back in her socialising as we never meet staffis, let alone nice ones for her to have a positive experience with.
Re: Angry Oh Lauren I can see you are upset, and you make such a huge effort for beautiful Penny, I don't really know what to suggest, just hope this doesn't set her back at all. I am sure others will come along with more practical advice. Are you coming to the July Labrador Mayhem meet?
Re: Angry Huge sympathies, what a horrible experience. I hope you get to meet some nice dogs to make up for it with Penny - the labrador forum meet sounds ideal!
Re: Angry Horrible fright!just horrible,it's another one of those situations you face when people don't take responsibility for their dogs and their own actions. I know you've got a decent dog warden round your parts Lauren and what happened was annoying and dangerous but I lean on the side of not reporting it.What makes me say this is because it's a neighbour and they sound thoroughly unpleasant....it could create a lot of tension and they don't sound like the kind of people you want to make tense.......I'd hold back this time.....and do my utmost to avoid them the times they walk and the route they take.Im not saying this to wuss out of a confrontation,I just think you can't change people so you are better of taking the higher ground and being the better person. I am really sorry that it happened ,I hope Penny is ok and enjoys her get together with the Forum dogs x
Re: Angry He sounds completely irresponsible and I'm afraid that I would lean on the side of ringing the authorities to report it. The thing is, they build 'portfolios' if you like on folk who don't take care with their animals. If there have been several small incidents, they would probably have a chat with the owner and this MAY be enough for him to put them on leads and be more careful. However, if nobody reports the small stuff, the dog wardens get it in the neck when the dog goes off and really hurts someone or causes a traffic accident running into the road. Forewarned is forearmed surely?
Re: Angry So sorry that you and Penny had a bad experience. I'd just keep out of their way as much as possible, though I know it is not always easy to do. I'm sure the group walk will be a good antidote.
Re: Angry Thank you everyone. I think will hold off reporting it for now, but one more thing and I will as that will be three incidents involving us then. I know they've already had the dog warden round for something a couple of months ago as I saw him go into their house. We have lived where we do for two years now and that is the first time I've ever seen them walking the dogs, so it should be fairly easy to avoid them. It just angers me because I seem to get to a point with Penny where I feel we are making progress and then something like this happens. This is the third time - we've had a couple of months of good and then a bad incident to spoil it all. So I get frustrated because it feels like one step forward, two steps back and that we won't get any proper progress until we move away from the area (hopefully in the next year or two). Or is this what I can expect from living in the city? I grew up in the countryside and my parents are still there. I've never ever had an issue with another dog when I take Penny out there, or on holiday actually, all the bad stuff happens at home.
Re: Angry :'( not a good day. Hopefully you won't see them much, but it would probably be worth having a chat with the dog wardens. Take care x
Re: Angry You have every reason to be angry. Perhaps the dog warden could discuss current legislation with the owner. I would have been scared and upset and angry too. It's harder if they live close by but you could explain this to the dog warden and ask for your name to be withheld. If there's a pattern to the times he walks the dogs that would help the warden to observe if there's a problem. I would report it before someone gets hurt. Sorry
