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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be so sick of selfish dog owners...The seal pup in London

769 replies

TickTockTick21 · 22/03/2021 20:25

It’s in the news that a seal pup has been mauled by an off lead dog. The seal pup now is likely to be put down.

Recent story of an off lead husky attacking lambs and sheep . A few months ago an off lead dog mauled a deer which had to be destroyed.

Numerous stories of swans being mauled by off lead dogs. On top of the numerous stories of children being attacked by off lead dogs.

Ffs why are people so bloody stupid and selfish! Keep your dog on a lead near wildlife!

I feel so sad for the seal pup . AIBU to think laws need to be tightened around off lead dogs?

I say this as a dog lover and owner .

OP posts:
Liddeligo · 23/03/2021 18:15

I'm going to buck the trend on this one. To all you urban dog owners, with well-behaved dogs that you're happy to let off the leash, because they always come when called and never hurt other living creatures, how can you possibly know how they'd react on seeing a seal for the first time? The smell alone may have triggered an unusual reaction from this dog. It was walking alongside the River Thames, not a beach, so seeing a seal is an unusual event and not something the average dog walker would anticipate. The seal had been in the Teddington area for a long while, was re-located to the Thames Estuary in February, and had then travelled back to the Barnes area, so local dogwalkers wouldn't necessarily know it was there.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 23/03/2021 18:16

@chaosrabbitland

i love seals , he looked so cute and cuddly , it was so terrible he was attacked like that , he must have been in so much pain and so frightened , i only clicked on the daily mail last night for a quick look and i was so pissed as all the pictures came up straight away with the headline so there was no choice but to see it and i wish i hadnt . it made me very upset , why oh why do papers feel the need to put the picture up ,just a headline would have been enough , crys .. i only wish that he had been taken by a wildlife rescue service when he was first sighted there and im amazed he wasnt , sadly he was always going to be at risk staying there
I am surprised he wasn't taken to a rescue but the British Marine Divers rescue have a policy not to do that unfortunately. We went to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek a few years ago and I would have loved for him to end up in their care.
LST · 23/03/2021 18:16

@Flaxmeadow

Ridiculous

What is? Why are you posting laughing emojis at my post? Do you think dog attacks are funny?

No I think you thinking all dogs should be banned is
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 23/03/2021 18:19

@Wolfiefan

No but your suggestion that the solution is to get rid of all large or powerful dogs is. You sound bonkers. Glad I have my giant dogs to protect me. Oh wait. They are more likely to be scared of you and hide behind me. Hmm
My Mum had a Rottweiler cross Labrador and she was the softest dog you could meet and I'd have been protecting her if anything happened when we were out. Mum fell over once and the dog wouldn't leave her and sat on her!
Leonberger · 23/03/2021 18:27

@PinkSparklyPussyCat unfortunately spaces in rescue for seals are very limited. Often they have to be sent on a massive road trip to get rehab!
Usually we treat as best we can and return to the sea under monitoring of the marine rescue services. Only the very sick, young or severely injured can be considered for a space due to resources. Adult seals are often not sick and are just trying to mind their own business!

There are also issues with cross contamination between the different seal types meaning rescue spaces are even more sought after.

The vast majority are abandoned youngsters, often where the parent has left the pup on the beach and has been disturbed by people.

They are also anything but cute and fluffy Grin
They are incredibly aggressive and can be agile when they want to be, just not as quick as a dog on land, sadly.

LST · 23/03/2021 18:27

@Liddeligo

I'm going to buck the trend on this one. To all you urban dog owners, with well-behaved dogs that you're happy to let off the leash, because they always come when called and never hurt other living creatures, how can you possibly know how they'd react on seeing a seal for the first time? The smell alone may have triggered an unusual reaction from this dog. It was walking alongside the River Thames, not a beach, so seeing a seal is an unusual event and not something the average dog walker would anticipate. The seal had been in the Teddington area for a long while, was re-located to the Thames Estuary in February, and had then travelled back to the Barnes area, so local dogwalkers wouldn't necessarily know it was there.
Mine has seen a seal actually. On a beach. Never knew there were seals there and this beach was not known for them. My dog didn't go near as he knows not to approach other people or dogs so his intelligence must've stretched far enough to not approach a seal. He doesn't chase squirrels either.
stayathomer · 23/03/2021 18:38

What a horrible thread. Horrendously sad about the seal but this is just a pile on of dog haters (not a dog owner btw)

LST · 23/03/2021 18:39

@stayathomer

What a horrible thread. Horrendously sad about the seal but this is just a pile on of dog haters (not a dog owner btw)
They all end up the same!
Fridacaninelo · 23/03/2021 18:42

Tbf, and whilst I agree that large does not necessarily equate to aggressive, you'll have a harder job defending yourself from an aggressive bull mastiff than an aggressive chihuahua.

missbridgerton · 23/03/2021 18:49

The issue is purely and simply that the dog had no recall. The owner must have seen what was happening, but couldn't get the dog back. So that dog should never have been off lead. And she deserves to be named and shamed for it.

I've got 2 spaniels that i work tirelessly with on their recall. It's all day, every day. Because that's what responsible pet owners do.

Lindy2 · 23/03/2021 18:51

The seal pup was much loved by the local community. The Police are now investigating and I hope this person is held to account.

Totallydefeated · 23/03/2021 18:55

T

stayathomer
What a horrible thread. Horrendously sad about the seal but this is just a pile on of dog haters (not a dog owner btw)

Oh come on. What a silly comment. Are you usually so reductive in your thinking?

It’s not an anti dog thread Hmm But people are quite rightly very upset at the seal’s totally unnecessary suffering and death, and also fed up with SOME anti-social dog owners who fail to control their dogs or ensure they’re not causing distress or injury to others.

It’s possible to have a problem with SOME aspects of an issue without being opposed to it entirely, you know.

Fridacaninelo · 23/03/2021 18:56

The fact of the matter is that responsible dog owners who actually give a shit about the welfare of their pets keep their dogs on the lead at all times in busy public places and near wildlife.

If you do that, this thread isn't about you or your dog.

LST · 23/03/2021 18:56

@Totallydefeated

T

stayathomer
What a horrible thread. Horrendously sad about the seal but this is just a pile on of dog haters (not a dog owner btw)

Oh come on. What a silly comment. Are you usually so reductive in your thinking?

It’s not an anti dog thread Hmm But people are quite rightly very upset at the seal’s totally unnecessary suffering and death, and also fed up with SOME anti-social dog owners who fail to control their dogs or ensure they’re not causing distress or injury to others.

It’s possible to have a problem with SOME aspects of an issue without being opposed to it entirely, you know.

I disagree. Have you read most of the comments? Calling for ALL dogs to be leashed at ALL times. One pp even goes as far as to say she'd ban all dogs that were not working dogs! Pretty anti dog if you ask me
Fridacaninelo · 23/03/2021 18:57

The owner must have seen what was happening, but couldn't get the dog back

She knew what was happening the minute it ran away. She said she was worried it was going to go for the seal.

It should never have been off the lead.

Fridacaninelo · 23/03/2021 18:58

Calling for ALL dogs to be leashed at ALL times. One pp even goes as far as to say she'd ban all dogs that were not working dogs! Pretty anti dog if you ask me

If you think that's "all" the comments I'd work on your counting skills.

LST · 23/03/2021 18:59

@Fridacaninelo

Calling for ALL dogs to be leashed at ALL times. One pp even goes as far as to say she'd ban all dogs that were not working dogs! Pretty anti dog if you ask me

If you think that's "all" the comments I'd work on your counting skills.

Please tell me where I said all. I think I'd work on your reading skills
Liddeligo · 23/03/2021 19:00

@LST: Mine has seen a seal actually. On a beach. Never knew there were seals there and this beach was not known for them. My dog didn't go near as he knows not to approach other people or dogs so his intelligence must've stretched far enough to not approach a seal. He doesn't chase squirrels either.

Do you realise how sanctimonious that sounds? If your dog had reacted differently, it would be your picture in the Daily Mail and everyone would be vilifying you. If the police interview her and it turns out that the dog had a track record of reacting that way, I will eat my words, but I'd bet a pound that it had previously never hurt a fly.

Totallydefeated · 23/03/2021 19:01

LST

I’ve read every single comment - I’m very invested in this, you see, as a local animal lover. I have seen a handful of comments as you mention, but the rest have seemed very measured to me. No doubt the more negative ones touched a nerve with you, and they’ve coloured your experience of the thread.

I get it, I do, as a former dog owner I know the love you can have for them, you want them to enjoy themselves of course, and it’s incredibly joyful to see your dog bounding around off the lead happily. I just don’t think that can trump the safety of others, unfortunately. The feckless owners spoil it for the rest.

I would like to see more fenced off areas in parks reserved for dogs, with a requirement to be on lead elsewhere. No dog can be trusted 100%. There’s never a need to have a dog off lead on a pavement in an urban area.

Fridacaninelo · 23/03/2021 19:01

Please tell me where I said all. I think I'd work on your reading skills

I apologise, I meant most. It definitely still wasn't most comments. Mostly people just calling for dogs to be leashed in public spaces, which isn't unreasonable.

I'm a dog lover BTW.

Lockheart · 23/03/2021 19:02

The owner has been identified and photos / name / job / address being plastered all over social media and certain newspapers.

This is verging into lynch mob territory now. This is a matter for the police, and no-one else.

LST · 23/03/2021 19:03

[quote Liddeligo]**@LST: Mine has seen a seal actually. On a beach. Never knew there were seals there and this beach was not known for them. My dog didn't go near as he knows not to approach other people or dogs so his intelligence must've stretched far enough to not approach a seal. He doesn't chase squirrels either.

Do you realise how sanctimonious that sounds? If your dog had reacted differently, it would be your picture in the Daily Mail and everyone would be vilifying you. If the police interview her and it turns out that the dog had a track record of reacting that way, I will eat my words, but I'd bet a pound that it had previously never hurt a fly.[/quote]
It was a beach with about 40 other people all with their dogs off lead on a beach where dogs were allowed to be off lead. There were some rocks and a rogue seal. My dog saw it (not close) and completely ignored it. If he didn't have reliable recall I would never let him off. I owned a dog that didn't have good recall and he was never allowed off lead.

Fridacaninelo · 23/03/2021 19:04

but I'd bet a pound that it had previously never hurt a fly.

You'd hope so wouldn't you but given she was immediately worried it was going to to for the seal when it ran off, I'd hazard a guess she knew exactly what would happen.

People never think their precious dog would do anything wrong, much as people think their precious son/husband/brother etc would mistreat a woman, or their precious child would bully another child.

A lot of defensive bleating on this thread from (irresponsible) dog owners.

LST · 23/03/2021 19:05

[quote Liddeligo]**@LST: Mine has seen a seal actually. On a beach. Never knew there were seals there and this beach was not known for them. My dog didn't go near as he knows not to approach other people or dogs so his intelligence must've stretched far enough to not approach a seal. He doesn't chase squirrels either.

Do you realise how sanctimonious that sounds? If your dog had reacted differently, it would be your picture in the Daily Mail and everyone would be vilifying you. If the police interview her and it turns out that the dog had a track record of reacting that way, I will eat my words, but I'd bet a pound that it had previously never hurt a fly.[/quote]
Oh and also I believe the owner was worried about this particular dog 'getting to the seals' so it must've had form. Whereas my dog doesn't.

Fridacaninelo · 23/03/2021 19:05

Tbh I tell you what I don't understand- if your dog is so impeccably trained that it walks directly alongside you, ignoring everyone else and not even chasing squirrels, then what exactly is your objection to having a lead on it, other than entitlement pure and simple? A well trained dog should be perfectly happy to be walked on the lead.