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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to tell others to do their research before judging!

391 replies

Mumzzy88 · 31/07/2017 10:51

I get stopped every day by other dog walkers.i get rude comments about my parenting because of my choice. I get shocked faces and utter disbelief when asked do I have a pet!
I have a pit bull!
He was not my choice of breed and I didn't even want a bloody dog!
But.... a family member was treating him very badly he was under weight riddled in fleas being hit and attacked by other dogs in the house being given just left over food from whatever takeaway they had that night I observed this for a few months until I was invited to a barbecue five years ago in 30degree heatwave I could hear this dog crying in a room upstairs. I went up to see the dog who was in a boiling room with NO water!
I lost it! And took the dog home that moment to mine !
Iv now had him 6 years he's now a confident gorgeous family pet and we all adore him and he's amazing with my children he sleeps with my 10 year old every night as he hates being alone (naughty I know) and even lives peacefully with two cats!
He's not got a aggressive bone in his stocky body Smile
But nearly every day people stop me and demand I put THAT dog on a lead ( in a huge field) or how could you own such a monster!. Or omg how could you allow such a dog around your children!
I'm so sick of this it makes me so upset Because he's so lovely he's and been given a second chance to be a happy pouch.
I feel like I have to explain his story constantly AIBU to think that people should just mind their own bloody business or do some research on the breed!

OP posts:
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9
ExConstance · 31/07/2017 12:36

Please keep him on an extender lead! If he runs off and gets lost he cannot drink or eat with his muzzle on. He is a very sweet looking dog (may be that is the staffie in him)

ChuffMuffin · 31/07/2017 12:36

If you have him outside without a muzzle AND you let him off the lead as well (with or without muzzle) you are breaking the law and failing your dog. This is from the Dangerous Dogs Act:-

"What does ‘dangerously out of control’ mean?
A dog that is dangerously out of control is one that has injured another person, or has given another person reasonable apprehension that it may do so.

This may be something as simple as your dog chasing, barking or jumping up at another person or child if it leads to a complaint.

Consequences for owners may include a prison sentence and a ban on owning dogs.

If your dog is seized, the presumption is that your dog will be destroyed unless you are able to persuade the court that your dog is not a danger to the public.

You may also have to pay a fine, compensation and costs."

Basically if your dog was off the lead,with or without muzzle, and someone was frightened by him, they could call the police and then it would definitely be game over for your dog (and you'd be in the shit as well) as you've proven you break the law.

Your dog doesn't know what the laws are, you do. No excuse.

BouncyHedgehog · 31/07/2017 12:36

You can see for miles around late at night? Impressive. So dog is allowed to run far away from you, at night, where you can't possibly control it? You are correct. It's not the breed, it's the owner. And you are an irresponsible owner.

Magpiemagpie · 31/07/2017 12:40

Your an idiot OP
If you let your dog off the lead muzzled or not if your caught or reported
Your dog that you love so much will be put to sleep

If I was one of those people object to your dog so much I would film you on my phone and take it to the police and dog warden and post it on local face book pages

Actually I wouldn't as I don't think it's fair to destroy a dog because it has idiot owners but if you walk at the same time each day it would b easy for someone to do this to you .
Or just report you to the dog warden for breaking the law and let them wait for you to catch you

The dog wardens where I live love to spy on people not picking up there dogs pooh so you would be a prime candidate as your clearly breaking the law

TheClaws · 31/07/2017 12:40

I have to admit I'm a bit biased here as I've been bitten by a dog on the loose. Not a pitbull, a terrier, but owned by someone who thought it was okay for her just wander about the street untethered. "Oh, she doesn't bite!" I was told in amazement. I held out my bruised leg with holes in it in reply. I can't walk around my own neighbourhood now as now I'm afraid of the dogs escaped their yards. I have a little sympathy for you, OP, but not much.

Original poster
Mumzzy88 · 31/07/2017 12:40

Please read my posts my dog does not run off he's very close to me and doesn't like to stray due to his past owners trying to abandon him

OP posts:
MinceSpies · 31/07/2017 12:40

I'm not a big fan of dogs and my children are pretty scared of big dogs, it annoys me when people let their dogs which are bigger than my children run up to their faces and then laugh and say 'he won't hurt you' when the child gets scared. No one can ever say 100% that their dog would never hurt someone.

Well done for rescuing him, it really upsets me to hear of animals being mistreated so badly. You clearly love him, it doesn't mean everyone else will though.

Original poster
Mumzzy88 · 31/07/2017 12:41

And at 8pm it's not dark in the winter il go around 5-6pm so yes I can see for miles across the lands

OP posts:
Notreallyarsed · 31/07/2017 12:41

Whether you like it or not OP, the law states that a registered pitty has to be on a lead at all times, so you're risking your dog's life letting him off.
He's a beautiful boy, and I personally think the laws are ridiculous, given that any breed of dog can turn, but the fact is that the law is in place and you can't just not follow it.

PoppyBucket · 31/07/2017 12:42

the time s neighbour said that dog should be on a leash he was INFACT on a leash he felt the need to tell me despite him being leashed that THAT DOG should be on a leash
In other words never let off

This isn't making sense. What about all the other people who say it nearly every other day?

IdentifiesAsYoda · 31/07/2017 12:43

I don't know about PitBulls

But I think the word has got out that staffies can be trained to be nice dogs. So many of them are rescues.

If I see a muzzled dog I think that they must have a responsible owner

I've been more bothered by "nice people's" mutts that jump up and are a general bother

LizB62A · 31/07/2017 12:44

Please read my posts my dog does not run off he's very close to me and doesn't like to stray due to his past owners trying to abandon him

FFS - he only has to run off ONE TIME, attack someone/another pet and he will be taken from you and, more than likely, destroyed.

The requirement to keep him on a lead applies 100% of the time that you're out, not when your magical superpowers allow you to see all the way across a dark field at night and be sure that there is nobody there....

Original poster
Mumzzy88 · 31/07/2017 12:45

I'm very responsible I know him well and he's very well trained and when I first had him it took a lot of knowledge and help from my local vet to do all that was necessary to keep him safe and others which I have done I will get an extended long leash thank you for that advice I'm seeking one online right now :) as others have said I didn't want to give up on him and have gone to great lengths to care for him and will continue to do so is very well behaved and extremely loyal to us all bless him. Thank you to all that have replied the leash thing I 100 percent agree with il get a long leash as I couldn't risk loosing him under any circumstances :(

OP posts:
Magpiemagpie · 31/07/2017 12:45

If you love your dog as you proclaim keep him on a fucking lead
If you don't - well let him off to run or walk around it's only needs one incident and your fucked and so is you dog

It's not you that will be put down its your dog

Although in some cases I really think the idiotic owner should be put down and the dog left alone

BananaSandwichesEveryDay · 31/07/2017 12:50

Given that you've already said he is off the leash and that you put it back on when you see anybody around, then you say he is always leashed, I'm afraid I find it hard to believe he is always muzzled as you claim. As much as you did a good thing in stopping his suffering, I'm not sure I trust you to be responsible.

LizB62A · 31/07/2017 12:50

Just to add I walk late at night now
And at 8pm it's not dark

8pm isn't late - loads of people who work during the day will surely be out walking their dogs then (they are round here anyway)

You keep changing what you're saying - hard to know what the truth is !!

KittyVonCatsington · 31/07/2017 12:50

But nearly every day people stop me and demand I put THAT dog on a lead ( in a huge field) or how could you own such a monster!

Agree with the other posters that your dog is not always on a lead, by your own admission. Your posts keep changing, so you can't blame people for being confused by your changing stories.

LML83 · 31/07/2017 12:51

It wouldn't be disgust or judgement from me. It would be terror.
If we were friends I may grow to love your dog and see the gentle, loving animal he is. It would take a long time though.

In the park, off the lead it's like seeing a wolf to me. The headlines flash in my head and it's got worse after having kids as I worry for them.

Yes it's a small chance but how do I know ur dog is that nice. I don't know u or it dog. I would steer well clear. If I had to ask u to put it on the lead then it means we are close enough to speak and my anxiety would be through the roof. So my voice may not be as pleasant as usual. I am imagining worse case scenario.

As we pass and I calm down I might glance back and notice him playing nicely with your kids and tell myself off for worrying but at the time I am genuinely too scared.

So keep him on the lead, not to avoid judgement but to be sensitive to the concerns of strangers who don't know you or your dog. If your dog was still living with previous owners he prob would be a danger. And I don't know how you treat him.

Floggingmolly · 31/07/2017 12:51

He's a beauty. But, you really, really need to keep him on a lead. All the time.

TeamCersei · 31/07/2017 12:51

But nearly every day people stop me and demand I put THAT dog on a lead

So not just your neighbour.

LizB62A · 31/07/2017 12:52

Although in some cases I really think the idiotic owner should be put down and the dog left alone

Seconded.
The dog doesn't know the law - the owner should.
This owner clearly seems to think the law doesn't really apply all the time...... It is law, not guidelines

Original poster
Mumzzy88 · 31/07/2017 12:53

I get that when no ones around I feel sorry for him I admit iv let him off to just run and in six years no problems yet but your right he shouldn't be off it's me that wants him to just run although he don't go very far .
I will accept it's the law I'm just to soft he's never had much freedom so the long leash is now ordered and prime so will be here tomorrow

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumzzy88 · 31/07/2017 12:56

Really no need to be so aggressive and swearing Shock but thank you

OP posts:
TeamCersei · 31/07/2017 12:57

He looks very young in the photos.
Have you thought about dog training classes? He might be young enough for it to work.

Would a Pit Bull be accepted onto one of those classes? Anyone know? Confused

You also say it's the first time you've ever owned a dog.
Which is a bit worrying.
Even a seasoned dog owner would have to be really switched on and clued up about dogs before taking on a pit bull.
Never mind a person who's never owned a dog before.
You sound like a lovely caring person OP, but your naivety surrounding the whole business is slightly worrying.

ChuffMuffin · 31/07/2017 12:59

It wouldn't be disgust or judgement from me. It would be terror.

And this is all it would take for someone to call the police, and your dog would be taken away and destroyed OP. Please keep him safe by keeping him muzzled and on a lead at all times.

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