to think that taking your dog to the supermarket where he barks outside in total misery and stress is really not on?

[Northernlurker]

I've seen this dog twice now at the supermarket, tied up outside. He barks, growls and whimpers continually. He was out there for at least 10 minutes today. I know dogs and this is not an animal just fussing a bit, this is a dog that is scared and anxious. AIBU to think this is cruel?
You wouldn't treat a child or a vulnerable adult like that, you wouldn't subject them to that stress - why is it ok to do that to a dog, an animal which is so dependant on it's relationship with it's owner?

Agree with you OP. It always upsets me to see them. Alone without their pack, with no way of understanding why they have been left, vulerable and tied up so they can't get away if threatened.

And then of course there is always the chance that a child tries to stroke them and the possibility of them snapping and all the problems that arise from that.

Unless you have a very socialised and confident dog it's not a good idea at all.

" never more than a few minutes"

Well therein lies the difference IMO. A few minutes, in a quiet place, when you are only a few feet away. Not outside a big busy supermarket.

if you are in a village, surely it can't take long to pop to the shop when you need something. would it really distress the dog to be alone at home for 10 minutes and would it really be an inconvenience to have to make a separate trip to the shop after her walk if it erradicted the risk of theft? i don't see the ectra trip as an inconvenience when i know it means my boy is safe and comfortable at home.

I don't take my dog to the shops because the couple of times I have tried (popping in for a paper, dog visible through glass shop front at all times) he howled and barked like Cujo and strained at his lead like some terrifying hellhound. Then was prostrate with relief when I came out. poor lad! Not doing it again.

i suppose if the queue was that long you could ask whoever was on the end to peek out and keep an eye on your dog!

I don't think anyone should be allowed to leave a dog unattended in a public place

but then I think the situation with dog ownership is insane anyway. Dogs are a scourge.

YANBU, there is no need to take a dog to a shop.

Take your dog for a walk, return home, return to the shop.

Bit of a tangent but it always annoys me to see people in town centres on a busy Saturday parading their dog around!?? Why do this? If you want to socialise your dog - take them to a park or similar. One time I saw a dog out in the Summer, packed town, he was with a family and was being dragged between shops and the dad would sit and wait outside with the dog while the mum and kids went inside to shop.

Why? Was it really necessary? Did the dog intimate that he must see Dotty P's latest Summer collection? He's a dog FFS!!

Rant over.

"take the dog for a walk and buy a pint of milk. with a toddler on the go too two different trips would be annoying and unnecessary." -- "i want the dog to fit into our lives...so that we are not ridiculously restricted...".

Selfish? Much?

Sorry SwallowedAfly, I had a babe and a toddler and two dogs, bothfar less likely victims of theft than a puppy and still I made two, three, four trips. I had no car and am divorced and so I had no choice - I took the dogs for a walk, came home, then went shopping/to the library/whatever. I still have two children, no car and no husband and now have three dogs and walk either a pair and the other seperately or walk all three seperately.

If it's too much trouble to you to protect your puppy's life perhaps you shouldn't have taken her on.

And before you get offended, remember please that as someone who deals with these appeals for stolen dogs on a very, very regular basis and as someone who gets to learn (from people such as RSPCA lawyers and Dogs Trust insiders and senior staff) of some of the things which, often for political and/or safety reasons, the average member of the public doesn't get told about dog theft, I am far better qualified than you to make that "risk assessment".

You see, I just wouldn't go into that shop. If it was that urgent then the dog can be returned home and then I'd go for my pint of milk/packet of cigs

I understand not wanting to deny your dog a day out, but leaving them outside a shop unattended - it's not the best option IMO.

(I love dogs btw)

There was the most beautiful and very boisterous Boxer puppy (well young adult perhaps rather than a puppy) tied up outside Superdrug the other day. He jumped up at us which made us very happy and we stroked him and made a fuss, but of course he did the same to other people who got very upset. I did wait with him until the owner returned because I was worried he was going to hurt someone or that someone would misinterpret his affection and excitement for something more sinister. The owner looked at me as if I was a dogknapper which annoyed me a bit but I can see why he was worried - didn't know it was such a big problem.

if an unattended dog jumped up at me I would be bloody furious. I wouldn't harm the dog obviously but I would wait for the owner and give them a piece of my mind.

how dare people assume it's OK to leave an unattended animal in a public place to bark at people and harass them

"i want the dog to fit into our lives "

well ya see, i take issue with this line/attitude.

IMO choosing to raise/care for a dog is as big a commitment as choosing to have a baby. i know some people (my parents were the perfect example), before they have dcs have the idea that the baby will just fit in with their lives. reality is a whole different kettle of fish though and most new parents quickly realise that life as they knew it, is over and they must now adjust their expectations of life according to the needs of the baby. i made the same adjustments when i chose to bring a puppy into our lives, and i know to plan my days, weeks, outings, finances etc around both my children and my dog because I chose to have them, I have to make the adjustments to best care for their needs.

SwallowedAfly, I hope for your dog's sake that my fears for him are never realised.

BUT... FYI, I'm an independent rescuer and a hands-on volunteer for a rescue and a foster carer and have been these things for years. My children are now teenagers and are also hands-on volunteers for a small-ish rescue where we handle and interact with maybe 40 or 50 dogs in the space of a single day. My children know a considerable amount about caring for dogs and the risks of having them stolen too.

I'm perfectly capable of caring for dogs and my children in the same house or elsewhere and was just as cappable when they were babes too, but thank you for your concern.

I think people should have to get a licence to own a dog

that way people like Valhalla could continue caring for dogs properly

but there wouldn't be dogs outside shops, mindless thugs parading hyped-up psychotic dogs around in studded collars and shit all over the streets

The problem is, stiflersmom, that they would be unlikely to be purchased by the very people who need them the most and would be almost impossible to police unless funds and human rights allowed for SUS-law type stopping of the public to demand to see the license.