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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Flaxmeadow · 24/03/2021 02:13

To me it's about bringing something into the world that should never have been here in such large numbers naturally and was never intended to be a pet

I love watching animals in the wild on TV, even wild dogs, and even Safari parks I think have their place, the animals are in a natural setting but the dogs we know now as pets were never meant to be here, never meant to be at all. Its unnatural and they are extremely confused animals and with many deformities

CayrolBaaaskin · 24/03/2021 02:16

@Flaxmeadow - “extremely confused animals with many deformities”? Wtaf

Flaxmeadow · 24/03/2021 02:19

What do you think selective inbreeding over thousands of years does to an animal?

Flaxmeadow · 24/03/2021 02:30

...did you seriously think a dog that has an ancestry, a family tree if you like, of being bred to fight or attack is suitable to be in a family home. That it will be able to overcome it's breeding easily if you "train" it? Whatever "train it" even means.

The dog that attacked that seal was a staffie, don't deny it. Why do they have such big jaws? Do people think that's natural?

Starrylight · 24/03/2021 02:39

@Flaxmeadow I'll go out on a limb and suggest it's humans who've been the common denomination in the changes to animals. We've cultured animals to fit our own narative for food or as pets. So unless humans actually die out as a race (probably the most destructive on the planet). Then it boils down to an unfortunate case of sometimes instinct and nature will out. It's horrific what happened to the seal, the owner should have been so much more on top of it not occurring. But the reality is animals do kill animals in the wild. It's their natural instinct. It's what they 'do'. The reality is that a domestic dog is breed to have less attack/killing instincts than its wild ancestors. Nobody would suggest we harpoon a killer whale for killing a seal. Yet as humans we're a whales biggest threat. So where do is really all end?

tabulahrasa · 24/03/2021 02:46

“The dog that attacked that seal was a staffie, don't deny it.”

Well if you ignore it being called a cross-breed in all the reports and the photos where it looks like a patredale cross... sure it could be a staffy, but I mean if you ignore what they are and what they look like, most dogs are too...

Flaxmeadow · 24/03/2021 02:46

I agree and disagree Starrylight

I agree that humans are responsible. We have been using dogs for thousands of years, pulling loads, attacking, guarding, for sport (pit bulls obviously)

The problem is, after thousands of years of this forced inbreeding, we now expect them, in the last couple of hundred years, to be like an animated teddy bear, a fur baby, in our homes.

Because of the time scales, they have MORE not less of these inbred impulses and it's getting worse. Dog attacks rise every year. This is especially worrying if a dog has attack or fighting inbred features

Flaxmeadow · 24/03/2021 02:48

sure it could be a staffy

It's a staffie, sure as eggs is eggs

Flaxmeadow · 24/03/2021 02:50

One of the most obvious, and pretty revolting at times, manifestations of this inbreeding is a dogs pathological obsession with food.

Aberteifi · 24/03/2021 02:52

That's definitely not a Staffie it looks like a Patterdale Terrier

LibertyMole · 24/03/2021 03:39

Well there wouldn’t be dogs without humans.

But without humans creating somewhat controlled environments a lone seal outside of a colony couldn’t bask in the sun in an open space without being quickly picked off by a predator either.

The poor thing was probably miserable and confused by the environment it had ended up in before the horrible attack happened.

chaosrabbitland · 24/03/2021 06:47

@missbridgerton

She was frightened of that dog. Hence she was stood back looking awkward while others went straight for her dogs collar.

That's the bit I'm angriest about. She didn't even try and help that seal.

Bitch.

i would have been diving straight in there to batter the dog around the head until it was senseless to be honest , those pictures the daily mail are putting up of it attacking that poor seal are heartbreaking , , im sorry if it makes me cold but if id have had to kill that dog to save the seal i would have
userxx · 24/03/2021 06:54

@Aberteifi

That's definitely not a Staffie it looks like a Patterdale Terrier

Yep, looks like a patterdale to me too.

I think the daily mail are completely wrong to have named the lady and given us the valuation of her home. What's it achieved.

motherrunner · 24/03/2021 07:05

Last month a friend came round to drop off some clothes that her DD had grown out of and whilst we we’re having a little SD on the doorstep my neighbour’s dog (off lead and just back from a muddy walk) ran past us, through my open door and round my house. My neighbour giggled.

Fucker.

Wizbit99 · 24/03/2021 07:07

@Flaxmeadow

pepper spray

Yes that's happening here. People have to arm themselves, just to take a walk or exercise, because so many dogs are let off the lead.

The dog in the photos attacking the seal is obviously a staffie. Why are people denying this?

People are denying it's a staffie because it's not a staffie. It looks absolutely nothing like one. Give your eyes a good rub and have another look. You're hilarious.

Pomegranatespompom · 24/03/2021 07:10

People shouldn’t impose their choices on others- your dig should not be a risk to my child.

Pomegranatespompom · 24/03/2021 07:10

*dog

LST · 24/03/2021 07:11

@flaxmeadow just so you know, I spent most of my night awake in pain last night (kept company by my terrible beast) and dp has just given me a brew and we have just sat while I read through your ridiculous comments and you've given us a right laugh. So thank you for already making me feel better!

(And it 100% isnt a staffie hth)

userxx · 24/03/2021 07:14

Maybe it's a patterstaff ?

@Flaxmeadow It's obviously you despise dogs, especially Staffies but you're making yourself look a little bit silly, maybe it's time to stop now.

LST · 24/03/2021 07:21

@Pomegranatespompom

People shouldn’t impose their choices on others- your dig should not be a risk to my child.
Is that aimed at everyone? As most dog owners know this and keep their dog under control
Pomegranatespompom · 24/03/2021 07:23

I explained up thread about my DD.

Sansaplans · 24/03/2021 07:25

She's rich and posh though so it's fine.

LST · 24/03/2021 07:33

@Pomegranatespompom

I explained up thread about my DD.
That was 1 idiot owner. Your comment seemed aimed at everyone.
Jocasta2018 · 24/03/2021 07:34

I would've thought the owner should be fined & the dog destroyed.
It's already shown that when the urge to attack comes over it, there's no off button. It's tasted blood.
The next creature it attacks could be a child.

Steph64 · 24/03/2021 07:35

I despise dogs and their invariably gormless owners.