To tell couple off in park?

[TLOAS]

Walking through the park this morning. It’s a lovely park with lots of woodland but big open grass area in the centre and home to lots of wildlife. The squirrels were running round this morning when I see one couple stopped with their dog who was pulling on the lead while looking at a squirrel. The couple, fully aware of this, lean down and upclip the lead and dog pelts at the squirrel.

I shout over, I say shout but it was a little windy and about 20ft away, and say why would you do that? They asked do what so I said “why would you purposely take the dog off the lead knowing it was going to chase the squirrel?” They shouted back some nonsense about it only being a squirrel and that their dog is only small and to mind my own business.

WIBU to tell them that the size of their dog doesn’t entitle them to purposely release it on a squirrel and terrorise wildlife?

Grey squirrels are an invasive species, which threaten the existence of our own red squirrels.

Some people actively hunt and kill them, in an attempt to help our red squirrels survive.

Putting that issue aside, obviously the squirrel in question escaped, as if it hadn’t, the OP would have said. The squirrels on my local park are well used to being chased. In 20 years I’ve never seen one caught.

I have this argument quite frequently in our local nature reserve about people’s dogs chasing the geese. I always get a mouthful and told the dog won’t hurt them. The geese don’t know that and I have seen dogs hurt them. Fed up of people thinking it’s acceptable for their dog to chase wildlife.

That's so lovely! Nature rehabbers such as yourself are worth your weight in gold. Deffo made up for the prick!! Glad had a vet on side - I bet you learned a lot as went on.

We helped a grey baby once, was climbing up people's legs (sign of desperation) in a park next to a very busy road. Waited around to see if mum was about for a couple of hours and then took it home at dusk, presuming mum been harmed and no sign of other babies. Heat source out in the garden in a cozy wooden box (it freaked indoors), food, animal milk and he/she stayed with us for a few weeks until big enough. He built a nest up in our tree before then going on to squirrel life elsewhere, but have a lovely photo of it sitting on partners head for memories. All creatures deserve a chance to live :-)

Cats aren't (usually) kept on leads as you've rightly stated. I think you've answered your own "whats the difference" question here. Cats and Dogs are different species, maybe start your own thread to discuss cats, if cats are your chosen subject.

Dogs are kept on leads to exert a level of control when they're being walked. Consciously taking a dog out of your control so it can frighten and potentially hurt something else whilst out on a walk with you is weird and distasteful behaviour. These people are weirdos.

Thank you, thats a very interesting and detailed post. However, I would like to make a couple of points.
Speaking as a Scientist, how can we tell what squirrels, or any other animal experiences when they are pursued?
Also, many pet owners claim that their pet is harmless and seem to know, or think they know, what their pets are feeling or thinking?
There are plenty of reliable official statistics recording how many dog attacks on humans there are each year. (A and E figures are in the hundreds of thousands.)
Should we place dogs above livestock? Above wildlife? Humans?

You don't know, it might be sitting in the tree having a laugh at the silly dog.

He just sounds like a grim person. Like he likes killing things and pretending it's for some kind of greater good. What an oddball

Had a couple come back to visit me and they'd take food out my hand

I missed this bit! That's just beautiful :-)

@Megifer

Dangerously out of control 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

It sounds like they did it deliberately, when there was no need. But I once saw a squirrel in the lion enclosure at Knowsley Safari park and though two of them darted at it just like regular cats would when one runs by, and they can obviously climb most of a tree in one movement, it got away smoothly.

I know, I really miss them. Their fur is so soft and they really are sweet little things, i dont rehabilitate anymore sadly but i do pick up acorns I see when im out and about and scatter them around our garden 😊

That's outrageous. Have you told the people who run the reserve?

Perhaps you should read the legislation before you comment 🙄

You are being ridiculous with this one.

Perhaps you should read the legislation before embarrassing yourself any further.

And Tbf, a squirrel is vicious! If a dog caught one, it wouldn’t be doing so twice.

My own dog has caught 2 squirrels during her very long life, but she is a greyhound and was very fast. I figure that a squirrel that can not escape a dog was weak in some way. Survival of the fittest and all that.

But I never encouraged her, and if I saw a squirrel before she did, I would distract her and walk away from it.

Exactly - cat owners just let their cats roam out of sight and out of control, shitting in gardens and parks, spreading disease, indiscriminately killing wildlife, running out in front of traffic, raiding bins etc. etc.

A dog chasing vermin does not bother me in the least.

Just today my dog managed to get a full 10 feet up a tree. Still didn't catch the squirrel.

So cat chasing and scaring/killing a squirrel - excellent, good vermin control
Dog chasing and scaring/killing a squirrel - naughty bad out of control dog

?????

The council who own the land are not interested, it’s looked after by volunteers and they are fully aware of it however can’t stop it. Saturday my son was feeding the ducks and geese to have them chased off by 4 dogs. The response I had was “they are dogs, what am I supposed to do?” so I suggested putting them on a lead. I’ve had a cat killed by a dog on my drive 2ft from my front door and been bitten twice. Each time I’ve been told the dog is ok. Unfortunately it’s a subject I feel quite strongly about.

That's appalling. There must be laws/bylaws about dogs on leads? and if it's a designated nature reserve surely it must have to conform to certain rules.

I love it when my dog chases squirrels, it’s like seeing nature in action, a real tonic for the soul. She’s doing daft urban squirrels a real service by sharpening their reflexes and helping boost their cardio. They may even get a nice dopamine kick from it when they sprint up a tree and realise they’ve just outsmarted my lab.

Have you ever seen those fat, lazy squirrels lounging around National Trust car parks, barely bothering to move out of the way and almost getting run over? They’ve become so slow and complacent, waddling about on a diet of junk food. My dog should really charge a fee for her services, she’s practically a personal trainer for the local 🐿🐿.

Grey squirrels are not indigenous (don’t belong in UK) & they steal apples off the trees in my garden🤬.
That said there are a huge amount of out of control dogs about nowadays. I think people should take lessons & become qualified before obtaining & owning any sized dog.

I suggest OP takes photos of the offending couple & dog & sends to local paper.

I am going to start taking photos of parents who encourage their kids to run into flocks of birds that are on the ground. I see it all the time.