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

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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 .

[quote Pomegranatespompom]@PinkSparklyPussyCat my DC stay away from dogs, the dogs jumped on them with no encouragement at all.[/quote]
Sorry, that wasn't directed at anyone in particular! I think it's less common now for kids to run up to dogs thankfully.

Everyone thinks their dog is well behaved and under control until it's not. That's why I do support mandatory leash laws. Although I think there should be exceptions to this in the way of designated places that dogs are allowed to get off leash like some woodlands, beaches and country parks. It's really no big deal to keep your dog on a lead and it would solve so many problems. If they did this I would also advocate to abolish the banned breeds legislation. It was a knee jerk response to some high profile attacks in the eighties and it has failed to keep the public safe as dog attacks continued to increase after it was passed. If everyone was responsible and we have better rules/regulations then we wouldn't need to ban certain breeds. Deed not breed, that's what I think. I have a lovely staffie cross who I adopted from a rescue. I have been on the receiving end of not nice comments before because of ignorant people.

@supernova89

Everyone thinks their dog is well behaved and under control until it's not. That's why I do support mandatory leash laws. Although I think there should be exceptions to this in the way of designated places that dogs are allowed to get off leash like some woodlands, beaches and country parks. It's really no big deal to keep your dog on a lead and it would solve so many problems. If they did this I would also advocate to abolish the banned breeds legislation. It was a knee jerk response to some high profile attacks in the eighties and it has failed to keep the public safe as dog attacks continued to increase after it was passed. If everyone was responsible and we have better rules/regulations then we wouldn't need to ban certain breeds. Deed not breed, that's what I think. I have a lovely staffie cross who I adopted from a rescue. I have been on the receiving end of not nice comments before because of ignorant people.

It is a big deal actually. My dog needs off lead exercise and I live no where near woodland, beaches or a national park

@LST
Why does your dog need to get off lead?

Lots of dogs cannot get off lead for various reasons. How do you think they cope? There's loads of stuff you can do to remedy this. People underestimate the benefits of mental enrichment when it comes to dogs. Did you know ten minutes of scent work can be equivalent to an hour off the lead? Theres canicross, jogging or cycling with your dogs. There's always the long line option also. If they did implement mandatory leash laws it would also be ideal if they also invested in more dog parks, ect like they have in other countries so we could still let our dogs off to play ball, ect. It may feel unfair if your own dog is very well trained but if it stops these things happening than I'm afraid it feels like a fair trade,

[quote supernova89]@LST
Why does your dog need to get off lead?

Lots of dogs cannot get off lead for various reasons. How do you think they cope? There's loads of stuff you can do to remedy this. People underestimate the benefits of mental enrichment when it comes to dogs. Did you know ten minutes of scent work can be equivalent to an hour off the lead? Theres canicross, jogging or cycling with your dogs. There's always the long line option also. If they did implement mandatory leash laws it would also be ideal if they also invested in more dog parks, ect like they have in other countries so we could still let our dogs off to play ball, ect. It may feel unfair if your own dog is very well trained but if it stops these things happening than I'm afraid it feels like a fair trade,
[/quote]
Because he is a collie who is 9 years old and has had off lead walks with his ball every day of his life. I am not changing that. I also don't drive. So a dog park is no use to me unless they create one on the field we already go to

Also. I am disabled so jogging and running with him is a complete no go.

I'm a dog mum and would actually prefer if things in the UK where I live now were set up similarly to in the USA where I used to live. Over there people take their dogs to dog parks which are enclosed and the dogs go in and run around and play with each other while the owners chat. These are kept totally separate from the play areas for children. Over here dogs are expected to trot alongside their owners as they walk around the park robotically keeping to themselves which is surely less fun for them. My sister calls these stepford dogs!

I think if your dog needs off lead exercise and you live nowhere near a beach or woodland nor have a big enough garden, then you've got the wrong sort of dog for your personal circumstances

@LST why did you get a collie then? everyone knows they're an energetic breed of dog. you choosing a dog that's unsuitable for your lifestyle doesn't mean everyone else should pay the price.

[quote mediciempire]@LST why did you get a collie then? everyone knows they're an energetic breed of dog. you choosing a dog that's unsuitable for your lifestyle doesn't mean everyone else should pay the price.[/quote]
He isn't unsuitable for my lifestyle. I can give him the off lead walks he needs as I have already explained.

[quote mediciempire]@LST why did you get a collie then? everyone knows they're an energetic breed of dog. you choosing a dog that's unsuitable for your lifestyle doesn't mean everyone else should pay the price.[/quote]
Erm...Maybe she was fully able when she got her dog then acquired a disability afterwards... stranger things have happened.

It's not fair to say other people are paying the price if her dog is under control at all times, which according to her it is, so don't see how other people are paying a price...

@LST he is unsuitable for your lifestyle if you can only give him the off-lead exercise he needs by being inconsiderate of other people and you can't make adjustments that are relatively minor for him still to be able to have off-lead exercise without being inconsiderate to other people.

@supernova89 she hasn't said that's what's happened. and yes, of course every dog owner has their dogs under perfect control with perfect recall. that's what they all say.

I know someone who takes their very high energy breed dog to the same smallish park everyday and in her words “let’s him run around like a mad thing tiring himself out so I don’t have to walk far”. She often doesn’t recall it for the whole time as he likes meeting dogs and people and chasing squirrels (and he has unreliable recall). Each to their own, but I do sometimes think the dog and her would get more out of the experience if they went on an actual walk through another environment (we live near lots of lovely countryside) rather than standing in the same park near a busy road everyday while dog runs round the same small place in circles -but she doesn’t really like walking far. It seems odd that you’d choose to get such a high energy dog (collie) if you don’t like walking-obviously different if you’re disabled. But at least the dog is getting exercise and it’s her choice.

I see quite a few dog haters on here, which is very sad. No dogs should not always be on a lead. Dogs that are not under control should be on a lead, dogs being walked on roads should be on a lead, dogs near children should be on a lead. Dogs in fields and woods should be able to have a good run as long as there is no wildlife around, have good recall and the owner picks up their poo.

I feel incredibly sad that this poor seal got attacked, and I now feel sorry for this woman who is being vilified when her lead snapped and her terrier followed its instincts.

And no, a lot of bull terrier type dogs are incredibly friendly. And police are able to seize any dog they suspect of being a pit bull.

Until I had DS I had rescue dogs and never would I ever have them off lead in a public place. They were always on lead, and if in a busier area, a short lead so as not to frighten those who aren't fans of dogs.
The only time I would have them off lead was a huge great field near a disused old boating lake, there was no wildlife around and it was a two minute walk from my home at the time. Then which ever one I had would go off lead but they had excellent recall- if they didn't immediately turn tail and run back on command that was them straight on a lead and walked round the field until they learned.

I am appalled by these incidents, there is no excuse for it and thank you for blaming the owners, not the animals.

It used to irritate the arse out of me when off lead dogs with no recall would run over to one of mine, one got bitten severely one time whilst on her lead, my hand was bitten to bits from trying to get this animal off my dog.
My dog was being mauled and eventually, she did snap at the dog who was attacking her, more as a warning or defence. The owner walked over and I shouted "recall your dog, now". Instead they kicked my dog hard in the side, shouting that he had seen her snap- this was after his vicious untrained dog had put puncture wounds across my dogs body and ears. He then grabbed his dog saying mine would be put down!
I was in tears, my poor girl was whimpering in pain, she had bruised kidney, and multiple bites that needed antibiotics. She also had issues with her hip afterwards. I had a hefty bill. The police weren't interested in the slightest.
After that the poor girl wouldn't go outdoors anywhere with any people or dogs.
That poor seal incident made me so upset, she had no control at all. She should be banned from having any further pets. Imagine if that was a child?

YANBU
And I am sick of people allowing their great big (or small) muddy dogs to jump up at me or my 2 mall DDs covering us in mud and knocking one of them over, when we are out for a walk. "Ahhhh, he's just being friendly," they say with a look of amused pride. These people would have something to say if I let my kids do that to them when covered in mud.

I can't comprehend people think it's ok for their dog to jump at strangers. None of mine/my family's would ever be allowed anywhere near a stranger let alone jump at them. It's such a weird and dangerous attitude.

According to the news article she didn’t have it on a lead and now wishes that she had done.

Just back from the (fenced off) children’s playground where some gormless school run dad was letting his youngish dog run around with another dog under the supervision of what looked like a couple of 5 year olds. Obviously it got into the playground and obviously it came and slobbered and licked all over my 3 year old’s face because she was sat down playing on the ground. It’s fucking infuriating. I’ll just go and lick a dog’s arse and then lick your child’s face, shall I?

I have a Lhasa Apso. I never let her off the lead as I can’t guarantee she will come back to me , as she follows her nose and just goes, and I can’t run after her! She also hates big dogs, cyclists, people who wear fluorescent jackets , hats and joggers particularly if they take her by surprise. I do my best to keep her on a short lead if I see such people coming. I KNOW she’s a pain, but I do my best to minimise trouble. I wish others, especially those who let their dogs run free, would do the same. “S/he’s just being friendly” is not a excuse! My dog is friendly... when she knows you and isn’t defending “her” territory. Unfortunately, Lhasa Apsos are very territorial.

YANBU in the last couple of weeks both my young children have been knocked to the ground by “friendly” dogs and I’ve had a sandwich stolen off my knee. Keep them on a lead in public spaces.

@Beverley71

I see quite a few dog haters on here, which is very sad. No dogs should not always be on a lead. Dogs that are not under control should be on a lead, dogs being walked on roads should be on a lead, dogs near children should be on a lead. Dogs in fields and woods should be able to have a good run as long as there is no wildlife around, have good recall and the owner picks up their poo.

I feel incredibly sad that this poor seal got attacked, and I now feel sorry for this woman who is being vilified when her lead snapped and her terrier followed its instincts.

And no, a lot of bull terrier type dogs are incredibly friendly. And police are able to seize any dog they suspect of being a pit bull.

Her lead didn't snap. The dog was off lead.

I appreciate her statement but she was totally in the wrong for her carelessness.

I think this is so sad and I feel so sorry for the poor seal, but equally it's also just a complete fluke and things like this can happen.

I don't know what happened re the dog being on the lead but it did look like it had snapped in the pictures so maybe the owner did have it on one until then. Dogs chase and hunt other animals at times, just like how cats will chase and kill mice or birds. It just seems more horrible as it was a seal and very much more public.

It's awful but I don't think the dog should be put to sleep for it?!

As a dog owner, I believe dogs should be on lead in public places, end of! We should have dog parks like in America where they're fenced and cleaned etc for people who want dogs to run loose. My rescue dog gets very stressed if approached by dogs off lead meaning he never truly enjoys a walk anywhere busy, all well and good when I can take him to somewhere less busy, but no fun for him or me if we go to the seaside etc