AIBU to think that irresponsible dog owners are more rude and entitled than usual at the moment? They seem to be multiplying!!
No matter where I’ve taken DDog in the last few weeks I’m met with some sort of CF who can’t/refuses to control their own dog. We were walking on a National Trust coastal path today where there are signs everywhere saying that dogs should be kept on lead. All of a sudden a terrier came bounding up to us - it ran around DDog in manic circles, growling and trying to nip at her. I shouted to the owners (dandering about 300m away without a care in the world) that they needed to recall their dog. They made a half hearted attempt to shout for it and kept walking as slowly as humanly possible towards us. The dog was literally on top of mine at that point trying to cling onto her neck so I kicked it off - it wasn’t forceful but enough to get the bugger to snap out of it. The owners finally arrived and managed to catch it after all attempts at recall had failed. I told them they obviously had no control over the dog and it should not be off lead. They completely ignored me, didn’t even apologise and walked on.
Later on I met them again on the same path. Again, it was running wild off lead and went to bite DDog. I shouted and kicked it away. Owners had 0 control (surprise surprise!!) and when they eventually caught it again they made a remark about how it was not acceptable for me to kick their dog. I said that I was simply defending my own dog, no regrets whatsoever. DDog is young and still a bit reactive, she was distressed and at risk of snapping back at it. I told them one incident was an accident, twice was just taking the fucking piss and they ought to be ashamed of themselves. They walked off, no apology whatsoever!
How does everyone else cope with incidents like this? It’s at the point where I’m considering bringing a Pet Correct air horn everywhere we go!