Irresponsible Owners

cauda equina

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One met it's end in mine when I had greyhounds. I didn't see it or would have gone shoo before I let them out. Unfortunately they did see it and that was that. It was awful. The whippets would chase the one that used to come in but the cockerel put paid to it's little rambles. Chased it out good style! It hasn't been back since.
'Like' for the cockerel chasing out intruders, but the other thing must have been horrible
There was a stray cat in our garden years ago; my terrier chased it and it went to ground in the engine bay of my son's Yaris
I shut him away and hope the cat made its escape - I never saw it again
 

Esmae

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'Like' for the cockerel chasing out intruders, but the other thing must have been horrible
There was a stray cat in our garden years ago; my terrier chased it and it went to ground in the engine bay of my son's Yaris
I shut him away and hope the cat made its escape - I never saw it again
I never want to see what happened in my garden that morning ever again. Thing is, I had prewarned the cat owners of the likely outcome if it kept coming over the wall. They seemed to think that I should restrict my dogs in their own secure garden, in order that their cat could do as it liked. You just can't help some folk. I was most upset.
 

CorvusCorax

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I never want to see what happened in my garden that morning ever again. Thing is, I had prewarned the cat owners of the likely outcome if it kept coming over the wall. They seemed to think that I should restrict my dogs in their own secure garden, in order that their cat could do as it liked. You just can't help some folk. I was most upset.

It's my worst nightmare and why I won't just let my dogs teach other peoples' pets 'a lesson'. I do my bit, it would be great if cat owners could do theirs, but I won't have their mistakes on my conscience.
 

Esmae

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It's my worst nightmare and why I won't just let my dogs teach other peoples' pets 'a lesson'. I do my bit, it would be great if cat owners could do theirs, but I won't have their mistakes on my conscience.
I wish I had actually seen the cat. It's a big garden. All happened very quickly before anything could be done.
 

Clodagh

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Walked down on the moor last week and met, on a narrow footpath with walls each side, a pointer x and a Weimarana. Neither on lead so I left my two off as well, mine were at heel. Then the owner turned up and apparently constantly repeating your dogs name in a high pitched and urgent way is 100% effective. Not.
They were either side of Scout, heads and tails up and very stiff. My poor boy was just head down fast walk trying to get away from them. The black one started to go for him and I absolutely belted it with my coat that I was carrying. It ran back to the woman who looked at my face and wisely decided not to defend fluffikins the furbaby. No harm done but mine are so well socialised and dog neutral it really peed me off.
She was lucky it didn’t get my boot up its bum, and only didn’t because I could reach better with my coat.
 

misst

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Well today I was called irresponsible :oops: by a neighbour we have never seen before. Walking back from a lead walk down the track to do some community litter picking with granddaughter (who is keen on eco stuff and is 7). We had a big sack of tins and wrappers we had picked up from the edge of the common. Ruby was on a lead as was Moti but I will admit hers was longer than it should have been. There are no cars on this bit of road and the front gardens open directly onto the track. The flower beds have no border. I was chatting to granddaughter when I realised Ruby was a couple of feet behind me on a flower bed sniffing a rose :rolleyes:. I sort of pulled gently and said come on Roo. I realised her lead was caught on the stem of the rose so stopped and unhooked it. A man came out of his house and starting shouting about irresponsible people who didn't observe their dogs (sort of true in that moment). I said there's no damage to your rose bush not a petal out of place. I am sorry. We continued along the way with Ruby now nicely at heel. Granddaughter trying to explain that Ruby is a good dog and was only exploring and it wasn't her fault. The man shouting after us. At which point I did turn round and said Just give a rest mate. Then under my breath "it was a crappy rose anyway"! I felt really aggrieved as I keep my dogs on lead out of the gardens and was actually doing something community minded! But hey ho.
 

misst

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People are bonkers.

What a bizarre reason to kick off at someone 😅
She's a very polite small JRT who was just sniffing not cr*pping or even weeing on his land. If you really object to dogs setting a toe on your land put a fence/border up. Lots of other people do. There are shedloads of dogs round here mostly well behaved and with good owners. If she was a big off lead dog rampaging across his lawn or destroying his plants I would understand his anger but FFS a 5.5kg JRT on a lead with two paws on his earth border.... oddly in 12 years I have never seen him before and I'm pretty sure he's not moved in recently so maybe he's a bit of a hermit.
 

Moobli

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I felt a tiny bit irresponsible last week 🙈 My wee collie was sitting quietly and patiently by my side (but off lead) while we waited for a couple with two Labs to finish what they were doing so we could get by them. The older lab was on a lead but the younger one came barrelling over when it spotted my dog. It was clearly friendly but my collie doesn’t like other dogs being all over her. I warned her to sit still (which I now realise was unfair, I should have let her get away if she wanted to) and the couple called their dog back. It went but then came back again and tried to get its nose up my poor girl’s behind so she snapped at it. Just once but I did feel a little embarrassed. I didn’t apologise though because I really felt they shouldn’t have let their dog approach and in such a rude manner.
 

splashgirl45

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I don’t understand why people have big dogs on harnesses… saw someone today in the distance, she put her huge Labrador on lead so I put mine on and when we got closer to her it was being really aggressive and lunging at mine, she could hardly hold it and as it was on a harness with the lead clipped at the back it could almost get to mine we were on the edge of the ditch so had no where to go. Luckily it didn’t get loose but it was a bit touch and go for a while. At least if she had the lead clipped on to a collar the head of the dog would have been closer to her rather than me and my dogs.. the woman was quite slim and not young , although not as old as me, so if I hadn’t walked away quickly it might have pulled her over.
 

Moobli

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I don’t understand why people have big dogs on harnesses… saw someone today in the distance, she put her huge Labrador on lead so I put mine on and when we got closer to her it was being really aggressive and lunging at mine, she could hardly hold it and as it was on a harness with the lead clipped at the back it could almost get to mine we were on the edge of the ditch so had no where to go. Luckily it didn’t get loose but it was a bit touch and go for a while. At least if she had the lead clipped on to a collar the head of the dog would have been closer to her rather than me and my dogs.. the woman was quite slim and not young , although not as old as me, so if I hadn’t walked away quickly it might have pulled her over.
Scary when that happens 🙁
 

Jenko109

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So this one is irresponsible, but it was also kind of heartwarming so I'll let it slide.

I saw a really elderly man, walking incredibly slowly using two sticks. He had what appeared to be an equally elderly greyhound with him.

The dog was off lead in a residential area. The dog would walk a few steps. Stop and wait for his owner to catch up. Then walk a few more steps and again, stop and wait for his owner to catch up.

I walked two of my dogs past on the opposite side of the road and his dog barely acknowledged their existence.

It was rather sweet...
 

Pearlsasinger

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So this one is irresponsible, but it was also kind of heartwarming so I'll let it slide.

I saw a really elderly man, walking incredibly slowly using two sticks. He had what appeared to be an equally elderly greyhound with him.

The dog was off lead in a residential area. The dog would walk a few steps. Stop and wait for his owner to catch up. Then walk a few more steps and again, stop and wait for his owner to catch up.

I walked two of my dogs past on the opposite side of the road and his dog barely acknowledged their existence.

It was rather sweet...
I wouldn't have said that was irresponsible, rather that the owner knew his dog well and was sure that he could rely on its good behaviour. The most irresponsible part is that the elderly man would probably have been better being accompanied by an able-bodied person
 

Jenko109

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I wouldn't have said that was irresponsible, rather that the owner knew his dog well and was sure that he could rely on its good behaviour. The most irresponsible part is that the elderly man would probably have been better being accompanied by an able-bodied person

Hmm. Each to their own.

I prefer to err on the side of caution with dogs around traffic.

After all, I'm sure we have all known a dog who we thought would absolutely never do something, who has then gone on to never like they have never nevered before 😅
 

Pearlsasinger

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Hmm. Each to their own.

I prefer to err on the side of caution with dogs around traffic.

After all, I'm sure we have all known a dog who we thought would absolutely never do something, who has then gone on to never like they have never nevered before 😅
You didn't mention traffic, I assumed, perhaps wrongly that there was little traffic in a residential area
 

P3LH

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Not another dog owner, but a general fool.

A delivery person who opens a front door & lets the dogs out (we don’t lock it if we’re home - we live in a dead cul-de-sac and it’s easier when we are coming n going) which is very clearly NOT a porch door - and even if you were somehow unsure you would see through the glass that a hall is on the other side, to leave a parcel.


(It is an inset door in Edwardian house; very clearly not porch. Even with sign stuck to it currently saying ‘ring doorbell not working, please knock) Then shouts at me from the driveway as the dogs do what they usually do when we are welcoming a visitor - potter around the drive looking for something to eat they shouldn’t, ‘get them away I don’t want to get bitten!’.



Disclaimer - I fully get as a delivery/postal person why dogs would be a genuine concern but couldn’t fathom this level of daft re the door and then inferring it’s somehow my fault.
 
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Titchy Pony

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Not another dog owner, but a general fool.

A delivery person who opens a front door & lets the dogs out (we don’t lock it if we’re home - we live in a dead cul-de-sac and it’s easier when we are coming n going) which is very clearly NOT a porch door - and even if you were somehow unsure you would see through the glass that a hall is on the other side, to leave a parcel.


(It is an inset door in Edwardian house; very clearly not porch. Even with sign stuck to it currently saying ‘ring doorbell not working, please knock) Then shouts at me from the driveway as the dogs do what they usually do when we are welcoming a visitor - potter around the drive looking for something to eat they shouldn’t, ‘get them away I don’t want to get bitten!’.



Disclaimer - I fully get as a delivery/postal person why dogs would be a genuine concern but couldn’t fathom this level of daft re the door and then inferring it’s somehow my fault.
I still don't get why anyone would just open a strangers door, delivery or not...

I'm feeling slightly insulted. The other night I was walking Liberty through the village on lead and some new neighbours shouted out that my dog was roaming a couple of days ago. This not possible because she never goes out of the garden alone and is in the locked house if I'm out. They'd mixed her up with Fat Aussie. They manage to confuse my sleek, shiny, slim and over enthusiastic dog with an obese, matted, neglected one!

PS I'm not actually insulted, lots of people mix dogs up. I still want to kidnap Fat Aussie, though.
 

Titchy Pony

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We have had delivery drivers here just open the front door it was a complete shock the first time and a couple of times I have come into the hall to find a box sitting there !
People are very strange and somehave a death wish .
That's shocking! I might be tempted to set up the creepiest scarecrow / mannequin I could find in the hallway and set up a camera for some laughs. Perhaps with one of them movement detecting noise makers as well.

I have to say I can't fault the delivery drivers here. If it fits in the letter box, it goes in the letter box. Otherwise if I'm not in, they phone up and variably leave it in the yard for me after assurances the dogs are locked in the house and with strict instructions to properly close the gate after them to stop the chickens escaping, leave it with my neighbours or even drive it round to my parents in the same village. My post lady knows who my parents are and interchangeably delivers to them or me depending on who is in.
 

Nasicus

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Delivery people just opening doors drives me nuts! We put a sign up on the gate to keep it closed, but they still opened it, so we ended up putting a lock on it. PITA if someone leaves the key in the locked front door, as you can't reach the bolt from the outside (intentionally), but luckily I can climb on the garage roof to get to the back door. But the peace of mind it provides is immeasurable when you have a flight risk dog.
 

P3LH

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All he could say to me was ‘assumed it was a porch door’ amidst shouting at me that he doesn’t need to put up with dogs. Despite much discussion he couldn’t quite grasp that a) whilst I appreciate the dogs had gone out when he opened the door but had gone straight past him as autopilot go to jump in whoever’s car is there, and eat leaves (I watched this happen - I even stayed that I’m aware the corgis barking could sound intimidating- the spitz is stupid and just runs around happy to be involved) and b) him opening the door had created what he had an issue with.

I can’t explain to you how clearly it looks not a porch door - it’s inset in an archway, where some neighbours have put a porch door. And as I say even if you made the mistake, as soon as you got close to the door you’d see through the side glass panels it’s a hallway on the other side. I was in the kitchen (which can also be seen from the front door!)
 

P3LH

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We have had delivery drivers here just open the front door it was a complete shock the first time and a couple of times I have come into the hall to find a box sitting there !
People are very strange and somehave a death wish .
Death wish is apt. Im still surprised that the Pembroke bitch didn’t kick off more when realising it was a stranger and not someone they know.
 

cauda equina

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All he could say to me was ‘assumed it was a porch door’ amidst shouting at me that he doesn’t need to put up with dogs. Despite much discussion he couldn’t quite grasp that a) whilst I appreciate the dogs had gone out when he opened the door but had gone straight past him as autopilot go to jump in whoever’s car is there, and eat leaves (I watched this happen - I even stayed that I’m aware the corgis barking could sound intimidating- the spitz is stupid and just runs around happy to be involved) and b) him opening the door had created what he had an issue with.

I can’t explain to you how clearly it looks not a porch door - it’s inset in an archway, where some neighbours have put a porch door. And as I say even if you made the mistake, as soon as you got close to the door you’d see through the side glass panels it’s a hallway on the other side. I was in the kitchen (which can also be seen from the front door!)
To which I would have answered - "Why did you let them out then?"
 

Errin Paddywack

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My front door is locked plus the inner door and the side gate too. No-one can get into my place without a key. Front door is clearly visible from where I sit so can see anyone approaching. The dogs don't have access to the front as it isn't fenced. Would really worry me if just anyone could open the front door. If I have a delivery coming and can't be in for it I can leave the front door unlocked and secure the inner door.
 

Goldenstar

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At the new house we have decided to have a parcel box outside the front gate which is going to be sliding and electric .
And we are having gates on the sides of house that keep the dogs away from the front of house it’s a great dog proof garden at the back .
It’s going to much better than where are now in that respect .
 

Titchy Pony

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I think I have an irresponsible dog! Just got back from taking the ponies their lunch and Liberty was standing over a poor little frog in the kitchen that she must have brought into the house somehow at some point. She picked it up and ran off with it but I managed to distract her away from the poor thing. It surprisingly seemed to be alive so I thought I'd give it a chance, scooped it up in the dustpan (sorry, I really admire amphibians and reptiles but I can't bring myself to touch them) and set of down the road in my slippers looking for an appropriate place to set it loose (the garden is a no-go because the chickens would have a feast). It suddenly revived, leapt out of the dustpan, landed upside down, righted itself and scurried off into the grass verge / hedge. Wishing the little creature a speedy recovery from its ordeal and a long life.
 

skinnydipper

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A woman whose dogs killed 15 sheep and injured a further 13 has been fined.
Evie Watson was walking her lurcher type dog Beans and Spanish Greyhound Patcho in the fields near her home in Littleover on 17 May.
Beans was off the lead but after Watson dropped Patcho’s lead while she untangled him, both dogs then ran off.
The dogs were found over three hours later in a field with a number of injured and dead sheep. In total 15 sheep were killed and a further 13 were injured, with the cost to the farmers being more than £7,400.
One of the dogs was found collapsed so Watson picked him up and took him to the vets before reporting the matter to police the following day.
In a victim impact statement, the farmer said: “I am hopeful that our financial losses will be covered by insurance but this really should not have happened in the first place. Farmers like us work hard, and our livelihood depends on us producing good quality livestock and is a long term enterprise. A disruption such as this can take years to recover from.”
Watson, 27, of Ryedale Gardens, was subsequently charged with being the owner of a dog worrying livestock.
She appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on 28 August when she admitted the offence and was fined £475 and ordered to pay a £190 surcharge and £85 costs.
Sergeant Chris Wilkinson, from our Rural Crime Team, said: “Livestock worrying can have a devastating impact on farmers who are working hard to make a living. This incident will continue to affect the farmers involved both financially and emotionally for some time to come.
“No-one ever wants to believe that their dog is capable of hurting other animals but as has been seen time and time again they can and do return to their predator instincts and chase livestock if given the chance.
“That’s why it is vital that dogs are always kept on leads around livestock no matter how much control you believe you have over them.
“Livestock worrying is a crime which could, as has happened in this case, land you in court, so it’s just not worth the risk. Don’t take the chance and keep your dog under control and on a lead.”



Derbyshire Rural Crime Team
For clarification, the farmer was financially compensated as the dog owner had public liability insurance for both dogs. Livestock worrying is an offence but frustratingly not a recordable crime and the maximum fine is £1000, therefore this outcome can be considered a positive one. Many instances of livestock worrying are dealt with out of court but due to the serious consequences of this particular incident it was felt that prosecution was the only reasonable resolution. It was an upsetting event for everyone involved but hopefully the publicity around the court result serves as a reminder for people to secure their dogs when likely to come into contact with livestock.
 
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