Dd2 and I have just been cycling home from after school drama club. Me on my bike with dd3 on the back and dd2 (she is 9) on hers. As we went along a terraced street a small, long haired terrier shot out from behind a van (so we had no chance to see it) and barking loudly chased us briefly. This made both of us jump and dd2 was quite upset - she has always been nervous about dogs but thanks to steady encouragement from us is now quite happy around them - as long as they don't jump up and bark at her! Anyway I looked back and could see a house with a partly opened door. So I sent dd2 off round the corner and went back and calledd to the people inside (politely) that the dog was out on the road and had scared my child. There was a five yr old boy on the door step putting on his shoes and the people inside shouted to him to get the dog. They also shouted to the dog. The dog took no notice of them whatsoever and ran back in to the road followed by the little kid who obviously had no idea how to catch him. I was forced to stand with dd3 and my bike in the middle of the road waiting and trying to ensure that child and dog weren't hit by a passing car whilst what turned out to be 3 able bodied adults argued over whose dog it was. (I could hear them and see two of them) Finally somebody ran out of the house and started chasing the dog (who was now worrying a tin can it had found)and shouting at it - which was only winding it up more. As they were over the age of 16 I decided to leave them to it. At no point did they apologise to me or thank me. AIBU to think that this is poor animal management?
I love dogs, we don't have one but I grew up with them and I would never treat them or the general public with such disrespect! Any dog could get out sometime but it was obviously totally untrained - how come they weren't at all bothered about it's safety - or that of the child?