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?

Both my dogs (owned at different times) have caught numerous squirrels. It’s not so bad if they kill them quickly but I’ve had to bash their brains out a few times to put them out of their misery if badly injured

Edit to say I agree with OP and would never deliberately allow my dogs to chase any wildlife

Not where I live - there are some huge dogs that just run at small children and other dogs and the owners are quite aggressive about it.

I agree that dogs should always be leashed in public. However, its highly unlikely a dog would catch a squirrel. Have you seen how fast they race straight up a tree?

Better to have a presumption dogs are always kept on the lead except in specially designated dog-walking areas which could be clearly signposted.

"Specially designated dog-walking areas"?!

I completely agree with you. I never let dogs that I walk chase squirrels, birds or any other living creature. It appals me that people regard a living being as a toy for their dog to chase.

If we applied this logic then no dog could be off lead ever.

That is exactly how it should be.

The speed of a squirrel i doubt the dog would have got it.
What a bout cats do you tell them off for chasing birds squirrels and mice.

My dog catches squirrels

Freedom of speech and all that, you are entitled to show yourself up in public I guess.

Personally I'd pick your battles and save it for the absolute muppets feeding squirrels, deer and horses.

You do realise it’s not much fun for the squirrel?

Great. And then we would have millions of dogs who are bored, destructive and badly behaved because they can't burn off the energy they need.

We have 3 dogs (two are working breeds). They are all rescues. They HAVE to be able to run off lead to be exercised properly. A walk round the block or throwing a tennis ball for them in a park a few times isn't going to cut it.

That being said, they are exceptionally trained and have superb recall when it comes to other people / dogs / cyclists etc. Wildlife however is another story....

I think YABU. Not because I agree with their behaviour but I am very cautious around idiots I encounter in the wild. You just never know how people are going to react, particularly those who act like utter fools. Keep yourself safe first.

What is it specifically that you are confused by?

I was just about to say this!

Meh. Dogs chase squirrels. They are an invasive species. This is not a big deal. What about the 100,000s of tiny mammals and birds killed by outdoor cats every year?

Who are the sociopathic 33% who think it's okay to set a dog on a squirrel? FFS.

I'm not confused. But please explain how you would create a designated dog walking area where dogs can be off lead and there is absolutely no wildlife around?! We live rurally and there is wildlife everywhere. We have squirrels in our back garden which the dogs try to chase. What am I meant to do about them?!

Yes. Have you read the legislation?

If it’s the kind of park that permits dogs to be off lead then the squirrels will be wise to the dogs. I’m guessing op you don’t like dogs.

Literally this😂

Animals co-exist everywhere. Very few dogs could actually successfully catch a squirrel.

I don't think being flattened by a car is either but that happens every day to thousands of squirrels up and down the country.

Squirrels are rats with better PR. I wonder how people would react to a rat infestation at home.

I don't think rats find it much fun to be poisoned or even being humanely trapped and removed must be fairly distressing for the poor things. What they love is running around your cupboards, eating everything and pissing everywhere and having lots more rats.

I think it would be ideal if no dog were off the lead, ever.

Well yes, for you. But it wouldn't be for the dogs would it?

It would be like having kids and not letting them ever run round to burn off energy.

But you know that the non-human part of the world is absolutely full of fear and predation and violence, right? Animals kill other animals all the time. It’s completely normal and necessary.

I hate to break it to you, OP @TLOAS but people regularly kill wild rabbits and eat them.

I imagine squirrel is a a little too gamey.