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?

No, it isn't. Please read the relevant legislation.

While Grey Squirrels are considered an invasive pest. They are still classed as "wild mammals" and covered by the general prohibition on using dogs to hunt them.

Setting your dog on a Grey Squirrel would be engaging in "pursuit of wild mammal" which is defined as illegal hunting under the Hunting Act 2004.

Also, under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
A dog is deemed to be Dangerously Out of Control if it injures an animal or causes a person to to believe they will be injured. If anyone present thought the Dog would injure them or their pet or any other wild animal then the offence is complete. Setting your dog on any animal/mammal or person in a public place like a park, is absolutely 💯 an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Regardless of the designation of the animal it is attacking.

Basically, if anyone thinks your dog is going to harm them, or another animal. And they have reasonable grounds for doing so. And deliberately setting a dog on another animal would be reasonable grounds, then you commit the offence of Allowing a Dog to be Dangerously Out of Control. The dog doesn't actually have to have caused any injury or attacked anyone. The fear of it doing so is enough to make out the offence.

Surely all animals should be allowed to run free, even the ones we've chosen to domesticate...

No. You’re the twat. Imagine having such a small, insignificant life that you get this worked up about nothing happening 🤣
Unless someone’s committing a crime or causing harm to others, mind your own business.

I think you are looking at this in isolation. You see one moment where they let there dog off and it chases a squirrel and think that's cruel. From the other perspective - owners walk their dog and let them off the lead regularly at that park. They see and chase squirrels and the squirrel runs up tree many many times , nothing else happens. On this day the dog chased the squirrel straight away but on others it might be midway walk. The owners know this and aren't worried. In reality no owners would look for squirrels before letting the dog off the lead. If it were a squirrel killer it would be leaded. So all in all you should mind your own really

So if you were walking near a field of sheep and your dog pulling and snarling to get on the sheep, would you let it off the lead knowing what would happen? What if it was a dog snarling to get to another dog or child, would you let it off the lead? Do you see the issue now? It's not about not letting dogs off leads but you can't just let them go and tear things apart if you can see what's clearly going to happen. This why so many attacks and dog on dog fights happen because too many owners refuse to take preventative measures.

There is a big difference between the unforeseen encounter whilst a dog is already off a lead and deliberately letting a dog off the lead when you can see it wants to attack something! If you walk past a dog and it's snarling and straining to get at you, would you want the owner to let the dog off at that moment! This why there are so many dog attacks now against people and dog on dogs because so many refuse to take preventative measures & hate using leads. I have a lovely walking path near me and it's popular with dogs, I've had dogs snarl at me as I've walked past, there's been a few dogs attacked by other dogs down there in the last year or so.

No, I don't think that is what OP is saying. Animals do chase others but when you are fully aware that there is an animal close by that is going to be scared when it is definitely chased by another, why would you encourage that?

Would they have done that if it was, say, a deer? a sheep?

It's illegal to allow a dog to hunt a wild animal under the 2004 Hunting Act. Technically this would fall under the legislation. Report them next time.

Please tell me where theses imaginary places are and if they are within 5 miles of my house I’ll gladly go.

Two points:
Squirrels run up trees.
They are classed as vermin.
You are being ridiculous.

Isn’t it only classed as hunting with dogs if there are two or more dogs?

Two wrongs don't make a right.

Who classes them as vermin? I don't. I loved seeing some parent squirrels with their baby in my garden earlier this year. But it's also wrong that squirrels always run up trees - our dog caught one once that ran around the tree and then straight at him. I think it's sad you think that hurting animals - even "vermin" is OK.

This.

My dog would chase a squirrel. The squirrel would go up a tree - no harm done. But I’d never let my dog off its lead simply to chase a squirrel. That’s not ok.

Why are we imagining dogs are snarling? This is just in your head...many dogs that chase do so to chase, not to 'tear things apart' 🙄.

I have a Springer who loves chasing. When we get to the beach I unclip her lead in the full knowledge she will immediately run at the numerous birds on the sands. In the woods I do the same, knowing she will immediately run at the squirrels.

Birds fly away and squirrels run up trees within seconds. I'm ok with it.

Do I let her off in fields of sheep? No. Because i've yet to see the sheep fly away or scale a tree. As soon as I see that, yes, i'll let her off there too.

Report to who exactly, the police??
Are you seriously suggesting the op should’ve rang the police to report a dog chasing a squirrel in the park.
I hardly think the dog was “hunting” a wild animal, my dog chases wasps and bees and has had the swollen mouth to show for it, should that be reported too 🙄

Only OP wasn't saying that. She was referring to the fact that they let it off the lead deliberately to chase the squirrel once it had clocked it.

Because I've had dogs snarl at me, not many but it's happened because I live near a popular dog walking spot! I've had a collie do it to, I've had a little white dog do it! Why on earth would you accuse of me being ill and fantasising it? All the dog attacks that happen and you think there's no such thing as dogs that snarl and pull towards people or other dogs etc? Jesus!

Why on earth would you accuse of me being ill and fantasising it?

Er...what? First day on the internet?

I agree with you OP, they were twats. I also hate people letting their kids chase pigeons, it’s just unnecessarily dickish behaviour.

Squirrels are bright and agile and used to dogs especially in public parks. Highly unlikely that it would have been caught. If our dog sees one off lead she will chase it and usually they shoot up a tree and taunt her. If she was straining on the lead and one was in front of her I wouldn't unleash her like them (agree with OP they sound like twats) but it sounds as though no harm was done. I would have probably done an eye roll to myself but I wouldn't have shouted at them.

https://www.cps.gov.uk/prosecution-guidance/hunting-act-2004

For the purposes of this Act a reference to a person hunting a wild mammal with a dog includes, in particular, any case where:

1. a person engages or participates in the pursuit of a wild mammal, and
2. one or more dogs are employed in that pursuit (whether or not by him and whether or not under his control or direction)

The Act therefore makes clear that hunting with dogs includes engaging alone or participating with others in the pursuit of a wild mammal where a dog is used in that pursuit.

Are these the grey invaders who've almost killed off our native red squirrels? Poor little things.

I don't think you can call it dangerously out of control on the little information provided.

Yes you can.