To wonder when the excess of dogs will die down

[OptimismvsRealism]

There's so much shit everywhere

There are so many feral horrible dogs pissing on front doors or prams or shop displays and barking terrifyingly at kids

I am sick of them!!!!! Is this it or will people learn their post COVID lesson and only get pets they can actually handle in the future?

Just to say I did buy my dog as a puppy, but if she passes I would definitely adopt not right to buy another puppy when so many need homes

I think it would, not because of a dislike of all dogs and dog owners, but because there are enough bad dog owners out there.

Which calls for a tightening up regulations around dog breeding and ownership as in many other countries.

Not banning.

"The cost to the NHS is an estimated £71 million. 60 people have died in dog attacks in the UK since 2000. There are 2,500-3,000 dog bites to postmen and women a year. In the past five years, 1,000 postmen and women have had fingers bitten off/amputated as a result of dog attacks through letterboxes."
5 Feb 2023

Pocket change compared to how much income pets generate for the government

• *£4.7 billion worth of sales a year is a sizable sum, and this raises £1.6 billion for the government in tax.
• Owning pets also saves the government money by reducing costs of the UK National Health Service (NHS) by an estimated £1.4 billion a year.
• Adding the £1.6 billion raised in tax and the £1.4 billion saved from government spending gives us a figure of £3 billion. Now convert this figure into a 9 year Economic Cycle and we have £27 billion – this number is not far off 1p on the basic rate of income tax (ProPets, 2009)!

Let's not forget 20% of your vet bill is VAT

If YOU think there are too many dogs there we are. 🤷‍♀️I'm not sure what there is to indicate that

Well, the stats speak for themselves and indicate 'too many dogs' quite clearly.

Also, I didn't state that ' Perhaps English people have dogs because of a lack of social skills to get on with other humans properly?' as a fact to support my argument that there are too many dogs.
It was a theory and a question - as indicated by the starting of the sentence with 'perhaps' and ending with '?'.

It was a theory and a question - as indicated by the starting of the sentence with 'perhaps' and ending with '?'.

You were genuinely putting across a theory? I think it was a way to have a snark.

And pretty sure it's not just me getting that.

Very cringe.

And frankly " too many dogs " is a subjective judgement. How much is too much? Too many for you?

If it is indeed borne out by the facts - speak to your MP like the other posters on here who claim to be armed with that knowledge.

UK animal centres are at bursting point with abandoned dogs.
There are therefore too many dogs.

I don't know why dog owners are so touchy about this.

I have a cat but I would freely admit there are way too many cats. They are decimating our wildlife. Once this one dies I won't be getting another, no way.

There are too many dogs, there is too much dog shit, too many dogs in cafes, restaurants, parks and natural places. They are literally everywhere - go take a look.

I think you’re batshit to hide it. FFS if you hate dogs that much why are you stroking them? Your friends are adults, I’m guessing, not kids? They will cope.

And I am very sorry that happened to that lady.

But given the financials quoted just upthread, it looks as if dogs are a net benefit.

And if you're going to ban dogs because sometimes someone is injured, you need to ban leisure cyclists because they sometimes injure pedestrians or cause road accidents, and rugby, because sometimes spectators get badly injured (happened to someone I know).

People will not say what they think about dogs but they will be disgusted as you pick a sloppy shit up and leave most on the pavement

I do not pretend to like friends dogs but I of course tolerate them and when they talk about them and their life and holidays revolve around them, and I have a childless friend that treats the thing like her child, I do feel it is a bit much. I laugh if it does something funny and I think baby animals especially are cute and I would not see anything mistreated, I do not eat meat and care for animal welfare, but it does not follow that I like dogs as they are kept by these owners, particularly in relation to poo and taking in to shops. Friends dog jumped up and scratched my legs in shorts once, really left marks, cut it’s nails fgs and if it rears up pull it away…she thought it was indearing aw it wants a pat….she does not know that I dislike it and rather it wasn’t there. So, I think the mn dislike is indicative of the sentiment out there actually.

UK animal centres are at bursting point with abandoned dogs.
There are therefore too many dogs.

Extrapolate like that if you wish. It's not the only way.

I don't know why dog owners are so touchy about this

I think the lacking social skills etc approach puts things on a bad footing tbh.

There are too many dogs, there is too much dog shit, too many dogs in cafes, restaurants, parks and natural places. They are literally everywhere - go take a look.

In your opinion.

Which of course you are totally free to have.

Honestly parks and pavements are just now layers of smeared piss and shit, you cannot see it fully but it’s there. You can smell it too,

why are dogs some kind of exception?

Dogs as animals are amazing. It's having them in the home as pets that I can't get behind, ever.

If they come over for a stroke (they seem to love me for some reason), I will stroke them, but then I have to wash my hand. I hate the smell, I hate the dribble, I hate the farting, I hate the scratching and arse licking.
The dog itself, it's character, it's vulnerability due to being completely dependent on the human in charge, I feel sorry for. Especially the ones with the inbred brachycaphilic characteristics, the weakened spines, the legs to short to jump, the arthyritis etc etc etc.

Dog ownership is just despicable. I literally can't think of one benefit to the canine world by keeping them in a human home. They don't consent to it. It's their lot. They exist now but it's time that humans grew up and found another muse.

Dogs have no choice, none whatsoever.
Poor sods.

I live in a fairly nice town and there is dog poo everywhere, have to get my son to skirt around it. Plus I organize a fairly upmarket outdoor event where dogs are allowed and have recently had complaints from stall holders saying dog owners are letting their dogs piss against their stands/marquees including food stands - disgusting! It's lazy disgusting owners unfortunately!

Dog ownership is just despicable.

And here we are.

Pick the one sentence you don't like and ignore the rest of the entire post @sunglassesonthetable

I'll rephrase that just so I'm clear:

Pet ownership is despicable.

. . . and one day it will be seen for what it is: a means of dominance, self amusement and selfishness.

Is that better?

My poor dog!

You can’t really see it but she’s wagging her tail.

It knows nothing else than human ownership, controlled feedings, controlled walkings.

I'm sure it's very happy. It knows nothing else.

Pick the one sentence you don't like and ignore the rest of the entire post @sunglassesonthetable

Well you said it. And it is the standout, extremist sentence. 🤷‍♀️

With a view like that - there will ALWAYS be too many dogs.

what's in it for cats then, out of interest.

@NRTFT

What's in it for cats?
Nothing at all either.

Why do you see it as 'extremist' to think dog ownership is despicable?

Oh no not again

I live in a pretty poor area and there are a lot of dogs and yes the occasional turd, but nothing like you describe

My kids get controlled feedings, controlled by what time they get up, ready, to school etc.

They have no choice either! But they too no know different

Dunno mine is partial to a midnight head scratch