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?

if the police spent one tenth of the time properly policing irresponsible dog ownership as they do cruising up and down harassing motorists and wasting time, it would go some way towards curbing the problem dogs currently present

and I don't think you should necessarily have to pay for a licence, just qualify for one - ie show that you NEED a dog, or that you are a certified carer for rescue dogs, or a dog trainer for working dogs etc

I don't think people SHOULD be able to keep a dog just because they fancy one

it's not worth the trouble dogs cause.

The other thing would be the huge increase in dogs taken into pounds as a result of lack of licensing, which would surely be a deterrent written into any type of licensing legislation.

Rescue can't cope as it is, thousands and thousands of healthy dogs are put to sleep in pounds across the country just because no-one wants them and there are insufficient rescue spaces. Added to that are those killed that the public don't get to hear of, the dogs killed by the RSPCA for being "too ugly" and "unhomeable" (ie older, a Staffie, a Greyhound... ).

Adding to the burden by having dogs removed owing to the owners' unwillingness to buy a license would be a far greater crime than not having that license IMHO.

we have to license dogs here in NI, but to be honest, it doesn't make a blind bit of difference. people who want to own them without one will get away with it. if their dog ends up in the pound and they care enough to get it out they will have to license it before the pound let it go, but really teh truth is, those that don't care will just get more dogs for whatever their intended purpose for having one is. also, when my previous dog went missing from my garden almost two years ago, a completely differnt dog turned up at the pound with his license tag on.

Stiflersmom, for me, it's not that I need a dog... it's that my three dogs need me.

It's ridiculous to suggest that dogs should only be there to benefit man in some way (and in the case of security/police/army etc dogs have their lives put at risk in the process, which is something I have no tolerance for either).

yes Fio, I mean having a pet

the streets, beaches and parks are ruined by dog shit

shops and school gates fringed by unattended animals

dogs maiming and attacking people, especially children, because they are kept cooped up, under-exercised and confused by stupid owners who don't understand what a dog IS never mind how to care for one

domestic dog ownership as a broad picture is NOT WORTH THE DOWNSIDES IMO

but then, I think dogs are less important than people.

OP, YANBU. Poor dog.
Personally speaking, I'd never leave $1000 (UnWiseDog) tied up outside the supermarket.

coupled with the dog shit and the antisocial behaviour of many dog owners (and hence their dogs, I don't think it is rare or insignificant

dogs are not hamsters ffs

I just caught the last SwallowedAFly comment.

Wrong again. the majority of contributors on dog threads by now know who I am and what I do. I need not "parade" the fact and when I do mention it it's to assure people that I know what I'm talking about from years of bitter experience and that I'm able to seperate hyperbole, hysteria and ignorance from reality.

and I am regularly assured on here that there is no such thing as an "aggressive breed", it's down to individual dogs and the way they are treated

ANY dog can turn nasty

and it isn't worth it

Oh... and to seperate not only hyperbole, hysteria and ignorance from reality but to pull people up on making huge sweeping generalisations and from judging the majority on the behaviour of the minority too. :)

sometimes where the behaviour of the minority is sufficient to compromise public health and safety, the majority have to give up some freedoms to benefit the whole

it's called "society"

I don't get the town centre objection? Ours goes pretty much everywhere with us, and has done since he was a young pup.

If we only socialised him in the park and countryside, he would pretty much only meet dog walkers. By trotting him through Bristol city centre (or wherever), he gets to see escalators, women in heels, toddlers in buggies, people in wheelchairs, old people with sticks and wheelie bags, shopping trolleys, marble floors, glass doors, children with balloons, street performers, homeless people begging... and he doesn't bat a blind eye at any of them (well, except for when he tried to share the homeless man's dog's food, which was a wee bit embarrassing!!). If he isn't pooing/weeing on the street or jumping up/muddy, then honestly, whose business is it of anyone elses?

And if that means that due to some unforeseen circumstances I HAVE to take my dog through a town centre at some point over the next 10 years, then I know he isn't going to be nervous or aggressive because he's spooked by any of it.

I'm addressing you as you don't appear to understand that you are knowingly putting the life and welfare of a sentient being at risk for the sake of pure convenience. If you consider that "being vile" thank god you're not one of the far more abusive types I come across.

I couldn't give a monkeys what you think of me or my background or experience... I care about your dog. I work for the dog in all I do, not the owner. I don't need to impress you, I am trying to impress the stupidity of your actions upon you, for your dog's sake. Anyone who thinks differently and believes I have some personal agenda to be vile to them is missing the point.

You said... "i also agree dogs are less important than people.".

Thereby lies the rub...

of course it does

we discriminate all the time against things/groups which are harmful to public health and safety - paedophiles, vandals, joyriders etc

dogs are not a marginalised social group, they are animals. They do not have the same civil rights as me and my children. And anyone who seriously thinks they should have is barking

Now there's me thinking that the majority ruled in a democracy, Stiflersmom. :o

Doods, I completely agree with you, as would the Guide Dogs Association, whose puppy walkers also take trainee dogs into busy towns.

I wouldn´t do it-because he´s so lovely I´m sure someone would steal him-and he´s so daft he´d probably go with them!

Good job he´s microchipped!

I don´t understand it-unless the dog is likely to be more stressed "home alone".

Or you happen to be walking by & have forgotten something so nip in quickly.

It's a fairly big minority though stilfersmom. I can think of a lot of things I'd like to see restricted before dog ownership. But then again, I happen to like dogs and can overlook most of the downsides. You clearly don't and so can't.

ruling is not the same as self-serving

sometimes decisions are taken FOR the majority at the expense of the minority because it is better for everybody

and sometimes the majority exchange some freedoms for safety or universal benefit

there is nothing undemocratic about calling for licensing of dog ownership - undemocratic would be getting death squad together and going out and dealing with the problem myself!

bringing your SN child into the discussion is just cheap and unworthy Fio

shall I wheel mine out too and we can have a competition? Or shall we just stick to talking about dog ownersip?

ffs

When I was growing up we always left our dogs tied up outside the local shops - everyone did in our village. However now living in London in an area with high risk of dog theft, I would never do so. If I moved back to the country I'd do so again without a thought.