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AIBU?

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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:
spaceghetto · 22/03/2021 22:54

Yanbu. I get so fed up of dogs running up to my children scaring them. I never get a "sorry," i know they must thing my ds (and me) are silly but i find dogs scary. I was bitten by one when younger, ds1 by a family dog and ds2 had his hat taken recently

Totallydefeated · 22/03/2021 22:59

Would I expect to come across a seal whilst walking along the Thames? No, so he would likely be off lead

The seal’s presence had been very well publicised for some weeks.

In any case, the paths along the Thames in this area are chock a block at any time, and more so since lockdown, since the world and his mother’s aunt decided that’s the best local spot to exercise. No dog should be off the lead in busy places where there are kids, cyclists and wildlife.

babyinthacorner · 22/03/2021 22:59

This is just awful. My friend and I were saying we’ve noticed so many people bringing their dogs on the school run and into the playground recently. None off lead, but still. School is on a busy road with narrow pavements - it’s an accident waiting to happen. And don’t get me started at all the shit on the pavements...

Totallydefeated · 22/03/2021 23:01

Dog owners will never win.

They very much will if they keep their dogs on leads.

Exactly. You can very much ‘win’ by keeping your dog on a lead anywhere it might be able to damage another creature. Unless it has top notch recall.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 22/03/2021 23:03

I jsed to walk my dog off lead (not uk) BUT that was just because he was trained and would recall every time I used command.
Plus I wasn't stupid.

There are so many people not training at all and then thinking they can do whatever. Training for dogs AND oeners should be mandatory.

Totallydefeated · 22/03/2021 23:06

Because ValleyClouds has had a dog chase her wheelchair, and because Mummywantsaweewee had a dog jump up and scratch her once whilst pregnant, our completely unrelated dogs have to be penalised and restricted confused

Genuine question: do you think your dog’s right to run about enjoying itself off lead in a public place trumps the right of people and other animals not to be mauled?

Septbaby2 · 22/03/2021 23:08

I agree so much! I am a runner and have developed a serious dog phobia in the last couple of years after several scary incidents with dogs left off the lead. I often get "don't worry they're friendly" but they are still heavy enough to knock me over by jumping on me (that's happened to me before) and i don't appreciate my calves being "playfully" nipped at while I am being chased. Horrendous and traumatic.

Sunshinemummy7 · 22/03/2021 23:08

@ArcherDog from what I’ve read from locals, there was loads of signage up in that area to say dogs had to be on leads

Lockheart · 22/03/2021 23:10

@Totallydefeated

Because ValleyClouds has had a dog chase her wheelchair, and because Mummywantsaweewee had a dog jump up and scratch her once whilst pregnant, our completely unrelated dogs have to be penalised and restricted confused

Genuine question: do you think your dog’s right to run about enjoying itself off lead in a public place trumps the right of people and other animals not to be mauled?

Dog attacks are rare.

It's possible for dogs to have off-lead exercise as well as avoiding dog attacks.

Septbaby2 · 22/03/2021 23:11

@Dazedandconfused28 i have a LO that age and that sounds horrible, sorry it happened to you. Luckily all my bad experiences so far have been on my own. Really wish dog owners would start being more considerate

Totallydefeated · 22/03/2021 23:11

@ArcherDog from what I’ve read from locals, there was loads of signage up in that area to say dogs had to be on leads

I’m local. There were signs.

Wasn’t much to ask, was it?

Lockheart · 22/03/2021 23:12

[quote Sunshinemummy7]@ArcherDog from what I’ve read from locals, there was loads of signage up in that area to say dogs had to be on leads[/quote]
I'm not "next-door" local, although I do live in London and have been walking there recently.

I don't recall signs about dogs on leads in the area, but there has been new recent signage about not jogging or cycling on paths and in local parks between certain hours since covid hit, and there has been some new signage near the slipway where the seal was saying to keep dogs off it.

ArcherDog · 22/03/2021 23:13

@Totallydefeated

Because ValleyClouds has had a dog chase her wheelchair, and because Mummywantsaweewee had a dog jump up and scratch her once whilst pregnant, our completely unrelated dogs have to be penalised and restricted confused

Genuine question: do you think your dog’s right to run about enjoying itself off lead in a public place trumps the right of people and other animals not to be mauled?

Do I think someone else’s fear of dogs and someone else’s untrained dog means mine should be penalised?

The dog that jumped up, should be on a lead.
My dog who has never jumped up and doesn’t really take any notice of other people, should not be on a lead.

In some areas, where it’s busy, or there is wildlife, or lots of bikes/runners that my dog may accidentally cut up, then he is on a lead.

Each dog, each owner, each location is a different scenario. Having a blanket ‘dogs on lead’ rule is stupid.

Lockheart · 22/03/2021 23:13

We also still don't know if the dog was originally on a lead and if it was, how it came to be loose.

VooveyClickwot · 22/03/2021 23:14

I think the law should ban all bull breeds too as it’s impossible to distinguish a pitbull cross (banned) from a staffie cross (not banned but often dog aggressive). Bull breeds were bred for bear baiting, bull fighting and then dog fighting (which still goes on even though it’s illegal).

What a load of tosh 😂

ArcherDog · 22/03/2021 23:15

Already we are having conflicting stories about whether dogs have to be on lead, where the signs are, how long the signs have been there.

Yet apparently it’s unthinkable that the dog owner may have really not realised or seen the signs, and make a mistake.

RunningFromInsanity · 22/03/2021 23:16

@VooveyClickwot

I think the law should ban all bull breeds too as it’s impossible to distinguish a pitbull cross (banned) from a staffie cross (not banned but often dog aggressive). Bull breeds were bred for bear baiting, bull fighting and then dog fighting (which still goes on even though it’s illegal).

What a load of tosh 😂

Especially as the dog involved was a terrier Grin
VooveyClickwot · 22/03/2021 23:16

I've been a dog owner for almost 20 years and I'm a firm advocate of dogs on leads in public places.

They don't need to be run off lead, just walk them further and more frequently and if you don't have the time or can't be bothered then don't get a dog.

MaizeBlouse · 22/03/2021 23:16

I agree OP. The amount of dog shit on the pavements in my area is unbelievable. I have to play dodge the poo on the school run every morning.
Then there's the owners who let their off lead dogs run through your picnic and give you a look as if you're to blame!
I don't have a dog but it would annoying me so much that the minority can give the majority a bad name.

Totallydefeated · 22/03/2021 23:17

Having a blanket ‘dogs on lead’ rule is stupid.

Not when you consider the proportion of society who are feckless. And not when you consider dogs are unpredictable, and even dogs that are normally behaved well can surprise you.

Totallydefeated · 22/03/2021 23:18

Some of the parks near me have a gated dog run area, where dogs can freely run about off lead, away from children and anyone else who doesn’t want to get too close. The perfect solution.

There’s one less than a mile from where the seal was. Pity the owner didn’t take the dog there to exercise it.

Fridacaninelo · 22/03/2021 23:18

Yet apparently it’s unthinkable that the dog owner may have really not realised or seen the signs, and make a mistake.

If you need a sign to tell you you should keep your dog on a lead on a crowded path then you're a moron who shouldn't own a dog.

Totallydefeated · 22/03/2021 23:19

Yet apparently it’s unthinkable that the dog owner may have really not realised or seen the signs, and make a mistake.

It’s an urban, paved area. The dog should NOT have been off the lead, regardless of signage or no.

Defender90 · 22/03/2021 23:20

We live rurally and I would never trust my 'bomb proof' dogs around livestock. From the start of calving or lambing we walk where I know is safe.

Totallydefeated · 22/03/2021 23:20

If you need a sign to tell you you should keep your dog on a lead on a crowded path then you're a moron who shouldn't own a dog.

You said it best Frida