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

[TickTockTick21]

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 .

@Fridacaninelo

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.

He plays with a ball

He plays with a ball

Presumably in a wide open space without other people around though rather than on a busy public footpath.

@Fridacaninelo

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.

That is unreasonable as a dog owner who is responsible with a well trained, reliable dog.

That is unreasonable as a dog owner who is responsible with a well trained, reliable dog.

As a dog owner with a similar dog, I disagree. Anywhere your dog is in close contact with humans or wildlife it should be on a lead.

@Fridacaninelo

That is unreasonable as a dog owner who is responsible with a well trained, reliable dog.

As a dog owner with a similar dog, I disagree. Anywhere your dog is in close contact with humans or wildlife it should be on a lead.

You can disagree all you like. It doesn't make you right.

So basically you think your dog's right to play with a ball trumps everyone else's right to safety. Okeydokey, you crack on then.

Oh come on. What a silly comment. Are you usually so reductive in your thinking. It’s not an anti dog thread

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.

I suppose that depends on your perception. I've read every answer too and I think there's a lot more pure hatred on here than measured answers.

@Fridacaninelo

So basically you think your dog's right to play with a ball trumps everyone else's right to safety. Okeydokey, you crack on then.

So you think my dog shouldn't be allowed to play in a field where most of the time we are alone or far away from others? Even though he has never ever not come back to me when called? Really? I will crack on as I am doing absolutely nothing wrong whatsoever. Thanks for your support

So you think my dog shouldn't be allowed to play in a field where most of the time we are alone or far away from others?

I quite clearly said dogs should be leashed if in close contact with people or wildlife. In a wild open empty field that clearly doesn't apply.

We had a similar walking set up with our dog and whenever people, other dogs or wildlife were present, we leashed her. It's not rocket science.

So, she's been identified.

Why are people so bloody ill mannered? I would never have allowed my toddler to climb and drool over strangers, niether would i have allowed them to pull the ears or tails of random dogs, so why do moronic dog owners think it is ok to allow their mutts to run at strangers and other dogs ? Bloody ill mannered oiks. I don't give a stuff how friendly your dog is, keep it on a leash.

@Fridacaninelo

So you think my dog shouldn't be allowed to play in a field where most of the time we are alone or far away from others?

I quite clearly said dogs should be leashed if in close contact with people or wildlife. In a wild open empty field that clearly doesn't apply.

We had a similar walking set up with our dog and whenever people, other dogs or wildlife were present, we leashed her. It's not rocket science.

He might be though. Someone can come onto the field and I wouldn't put him on a lead. When we go camping we go to a campsite that allows their dogs to roam and people can have their dogs off lead. Its next to a woodland so there is wildlife. My dog doesn't get leashed for the whole time we are there. Sometimes other campers kids come and ask us if they can play with him so off he goes. With my ok. Some people on this thread don't think dogs should be allowed off lead AT all. This is not fair.

@TickTockTick21

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 .

If people allow their dogs to attack sheep, the farmer can legally shoot them. Farmers of course have their own dogs but it doesn't stop them wanting to protect their sheep by killing the attacker.

We need more enforcement of dogs which are out of control in a public place. Sadly, it takes a horrific case of a child being seriously injured or even killed by a dog for an owner to be prosecuted. Police seem to be keen to crack down on social distancing transgressions in a public place but dangerous dogs don't seem to be important.

My sister has a small holding (keeps animals) and is surrounded by other farms and fields with animals.

She has dogs - as so all the other farmers and they all know that their dogs will be shot if they start worrying the livestock, and by hell that certainly makes you have incredible well trained dogs.

@AnaofBroceliande

YANBU. It should be mandatory leads in public.

There are plenty of well behaved dogs who dont need this. The problem is a lot of people get dogs because they look lovely or status-y, and don't consider training them. I think it should be mandatory for dog owners to do something like the kennel club good canine citizen scheme training which would weed out a lot of people who aren't prepared to put time and energy into their dogs, and maybe a license scheme would be helpful too. It took a year of training classes to get my dog to the point of being under control off lead, but I wanted her to be well behaved so was ok spending the time and money. I walk her off lead all the time, and if someone looks scared or wary, she will come to heel and we stand aside or go around them. If there are animals around, she is put on the lead. This stuff is not rocket science.

@incywincyspiders

I have a chihuahua. I never ever let her off the lead. It's not only wildlife you hear of bigger dogs attacking little dogs all the time and I wouldn't risk it.

At the same time, I know this is off topic but I've had so many parents let their child fuss my dog without my permission. Just because she's small it doesn't mean she's a free for all.

I think there must be some work happening in schools in my area as almost all the children ask if they can pet my boy before running at him. I try to always thank them for asking.

Oh dear, she's now lead story on the DM. And a QC to boot.

That's all a bit #awks that she didn't go to the Police herself............. thank god for the photographer who captured it all.

I always think there’s something a bit wrong with ‘dog lovers’. Filthy, stinking, arse sniffing, shit eating creatures that they are.

Especially ones who think anyone else gives a toss about a pet that they chose to have and it’s everyone’s else problem that they don’t have private land for it roam on and shit on.

Dog licences definitely need to be brought back but need to be expensive enough to pay for dog wardens, shit cleansing and dedicated dog parks so they can banned from everywhere else. Why should non dog owning people have to contribute to it through council tax? Ideally it would be prohibitively expensive so very few people can own them, or at least not more than 1. People who don’t pay would have their dogs removed.

There is that strange photo of the photographer trying to get the dog off the seal, but he has to do it while juggling camera equipment in his other hand. Meanwhile, the dog owner is standing back not grabbing her own dog, which suggests she is scared of the dog.
Does anyone else get that impression?

It's also a surprise as so many social media comments immediately after the event made the assumption it was a 'chav' dog owner.

@SmashedAvocado

I always think there’s something a bit wrong with ‘dog lovers’. Filthy, stinking, arse sniffing, shit eating creatures that they are.

Especially ones who think anyone else gives a toss about a pet that they chose to have and it’s everyone’s else problem that they don’t have private land for it roam on and shit on.

Dog licences definitely need to be brought back but need to be expensive enough to pay for dog wardens, shit cleansing and dedicated dog parks so they can banned from everywhere else. Why should non dog owning people have to contribute to it through council tax? Ideally it would be prohibitively expensive so very few people can own them, or at least not more than 1. People who don’t pay would have their dogs removed.

What would happen to those dogs? Hypothetically?

I've had outrage from people on this site before calling me cruel because I don't let my cats roam.

I don't want them shitting in other people's gardens, killing birds and I also don't want them hit by a car or savaged by a dog (or another cat).

If you have a pet you have to accept that's what they are - a pet, not a wild animal.

Yes, there are many other animals maimed and killed by loose dogs every year. Should only be outdoors on a lead, with fines if not. I'd bring back dog licences (but at a suitable cost) to pay for wardens, cleaning up shit etc.

YANBU poor seal.

Oh dear, she's now lead story on the DM. And a QC to boot

She is about to be destroyed.

Meanwhile, the dog owner is standing back not grabbing her own dog, which suggests she is scared of the dog. Does anyone else get that impression?

I find it really odd that she's not throwing herself into the chaos her dog caused and trying to get it off the seal pup. Honestly, if that were my dog, I'd be on him like a rash. I can only think they must have told her to stand back and let them handle it? I have no idea. But from my experiences this past year with my dog being attacked, I am astounded by how lazy passive owners are when their little precious psychos go berserk. My dog was attacked a couple of weeks ago by a staffie-jack russell cross. The owner did nothing. Just stood back and called his dog's name as if that's going to work. Zero control. I just threw my body onto my dog which forced the little shit out of the way and the owner was eventually able to grab him with the help of others. He then admitted the dog was a recent rescue and that this very day was the first time the new owner decided his 'reactive' (his word- so he confirmed his dog has issues) dog could go off lead in a field with children, dogs, and a nearby playground. The dog had only ever been walked on a lead at night up until that day. Smart owner.