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The doghouse

Deer attack

2 replies

Dawnybabe · 23/03/2011 12:00

Was out this morning with my dog and dd2. Suddenly realised there was a bit of a commotion going on in the field. Saw this dog across the field dancing about obviously firmly holding on to a deer. Could hear the noise the deer was making. The deer broke free and the dog went after it and they both disappeared into the railway embankment. About five minutes later this couple come running up the field looking for said dog. I had firm words with them, the woman said 'oh it's cos she saw the deer' as though that made it alright. Doesn't chase livestock or anything else then?

They went off looking for the dog, which I heard them say they'd found. Couldn't even hear the deer, let alone see it, I've no idea where it went or how injured it was. Local police and RSPCA didn't have the resources to help, but I didn't know who else to ask. Feel awful that this deer is out there somewhere probably badly injured.

Why do people assume that their dog will always be perfectly well behaved off lead? Why did this woman get a bit affronted with me when I pointed out that this is not always the case? Is it too much to ask that people make sure their dogs will come back to them before they let them bugger off? If you are not sure that your dog will come back when called then don't let it off the bloody lead! How the hell do you know that this sort of thing won't happen? Are you psychic?

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Vallhala · 23/03/2011 12:18

Yep, agreed to a certain extent although if you took that to the nth degree none of us would ever let our dogs offlead (and I speak as a vegan animal rights supporter so you may be sure that I'm not belittling the plight of the deer). We cannot account for the totally unexpected although of course we should be leading dogs up where there is/might be livestock and soforth.

I live in a country village and we have deer in the locality though normally they're only seen in the distance. I wasn't therefore prepared for the muntjac wihch sprung out in front of one of my GSD and I, about 10 feet away from us, on a recent walk. Naturally my rather startled Shep gave chase until I bellowed and he stopped in his tracks and spun round to return to me.

Thinking about it later I realised that recent cutting back of hedgerow and undergrowth to make way for housing in this rural area probably accounted for the deer's confused appearance but at the time there was no reason to suspect that there might be any reason to be extra-vigilant on my quiet dog walking route.

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Avantia · 24/03/2011 16:05

I dont think anyone can be 100% sure that their dog will come back when off lead .

I agree that if livestock are about then dogs should be on lead no matter how good their recall is . I often take our dog to a royal park where there are deer , alwyas get her on lead if I see deer.

However you cannot always cater for unexpected wildlife .

The dog did run off 'cos it saw the deer' I'm sure that the owners were upset and shocked . Why was she affronted , what did she say ?

I would be upset howver if I saw a dog running around with deer - would fear for both deer and dog .

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