Irresponsible Dog Owners (long rant included)

[Queenie]

Hi all,

I was wondering if there's anyone you can complain to about irresponsible dog owners in your neighbourhood? There is a lady who lives on my estate who takes her dog for a walk at least twice a day. I'd like to stress that the dog is totally ok and seems perfectly well cared for. Most days it is on a lead but the lead is one of those extendible ones and she never has it shortened. Every day her dog is allowed to run through everyone's gardens, in their flowerbeds and jump up at our front windows, sometimes I've seen it relieving itself there too. She never so much as attempts to get the dog out of the gardens, in fact on the times I've caught her eye she's given me a disgusted look as if I'm being rude by daring to look at her.

However today took the biscuit. Nearly every house on our street (most on the estate) are built open plan - I mean that from the street I can walk all the way around my house without needing to open gates or climb walls etc. I was stood in the back garden talking over the fence to our neighbours and one of the cats was sunbathing on the driveway, the other was asleep in the garden. I noticed the one on the driveway had stood up and was arching his back as he normally does if someone is walking a dog so I ignored it. Seconds later he comes racing down the drive towards me, chased by this woman's dog. He gets into the back garden and just manages to dive under the fence into another garden before this dog catches up with him. Of course the other one is now awake and has leapt up, dog sees her and goes for her, she manages to scramble up the fence just in time (again I'm not blaming the dog - it's natural behaviour, I'm blaimg it's owner.)

The owner now appears on the street and calls the dog back out of my back garden. She can clearly see me standing there and has seen her dog chase my cats. The dog goes back to her and she walks off without even bothering to put it on a lead. There is no apology to me or even any suggestion that she felt guilty for letting her dog run into my garden. There is no way I would let my dog do that to someones garden and not even apologise! I'm also worried as many families are on this estate who have kids that play out in the gardens and driveways, a huge dog running up at them would be terrifying!!

Sorry for ranting but this is really getting annoying as she just seems to have no respect for other people's property.

 

[saratogagirl]

that is appalling, I can't believe she didn't even apologise to you. Like you say you cant blame the dog as it is natural behaviour, if her dog chased my furbaby cats, I'd be tempted to kick her not the dog !! Your are totally right to be cheesed off ..

 

[angel659]

Hi

It might be worth speaking to your local council and see if they can write her a letter or something. Other than that I really do not know what you can do. Perhaps they can point you in the right direction.

Some owners are irresponsible and it annoys me too.

Good luck and see if you can train your cat to poo just outside her doorstep LOL

 

[Minniespal]

That is shocking behaviour. As you say it is not the dog's fault but that of the owners.

I'm not a fan of the extendable leads. We usually watch a friends dog a few times a year when they are on holiday and I always make sure the lead is locked until we get to the park.

Perhaps it would be worth speaking to your local council office or your local police station. There should be some sort of ruling on it because there are certain breeds of dogs that have to be kept on a lead at all times.

Good Luck ~ Hope you get it sorted out.

 

[Queenie]

I don't think the dog's vicious, it had one of those goofy expressions on it's face that you'd normally laugh at. I'm just concerned about it running into people's gardens and scaring their kids, it really scared me and I'm big enough to fight it off if necessary. The worst part is that the weather is hot here today so I have my patio doors open, if the cats had run inside to get away instead of shooting up and under fences I would have ended up with a dog in my house, good chance going upstairs too.

 

[AndRu]

Video the evidence. It's the best way of proving anti-social behaviour on the part of the owner.

 

[Dicky Knee]

Video the evidence. It's the best way of proving anti-social behaviour on the part of the owner.

Also, ensure the owner can see you doing it. This will make it obvious you are preparing evidence for the council. It may even get it through her thick skull to place the dog under more control before you need to go to the council.

Being visual as well means that if she gets abusive, its more power to you.

Good luck.

 

[jen_uk]

The council should have a dog warden that you can complain to. If you can get evidence of dog pooping in street then she should get a penalty.

 

[Cyrano]

As others have said a word with the council might prove helpful.

 

[jjpenguin]

Maybe you could check if other people in the area also have a problem with it and then go and have a talk with her. It seems a bit off to go straight to the council without talking to her first.

 

[Deedee]

Can't you phone the police and tell them you have nearly been attacked in your back garden by a dog let to run through the streets without a lead spice it up a bit because i think she needs talking to. Its a good job she doesn't live by me!!!!!

 

[MrsJobba1]

Can't you phone the police and tell them you have nearly been attacked in your back garden by a dog let to run through the streets without a lead spice it up a bit because i think she needs talking to. Its a good job she doesn't live by me!!!!!

Please do not report that you have been attacked by the dog, as thepolice/dog warden have the authority to take the dog and it could be treat as a vicious animal ie put to sleep.

Instead contact the council as it is the owner who is at fault, not the dog.

As an ower of 3 dogs I would be mortified if any of mine behaved like that.

 

[Queenie]

Don't worry, I wouldn't report that it attacked me, it never came anywhere near me actually. I have been attacked by a dog on the estate though, an enormous alsation which was again not on a lead. It almost knocked me to the ground, luckily I'd just been to college so I had a bag of textbooks which I swung around to keep it off me. The guy just casually called it back and told me he was "just playing". All very well except I'm now so paranoid about walking out there I avoid it at all costs (he walks it there every day - with no lead!) That one I did report.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

As everyone has said, your local City or District council will have a dog warden, normally in its Environmental Services Unit.
It is actually an offence to walk a dog in public areas not on a lead, as you are responsible for keeping it under conttrol.

A Dog warden will NOT confiscate a dog straight away and in many areas will need a court order to do so, however a word from a Dog warden to the owner will in normal circumstances do the trick

 

[Deedee]

Please do not report that you have been attacked by the dog, as thepolice/dog warden have the authority to take the dog and it could be treat as a vicious animal ie put to sleep.

Instead contact the council as it is the owner who is at fault, not the dog.

As an ower of 3 dogs I would be mortified if any of mine behaved like that.

I said nearly attacked just meant for this irresposible woman to have a stern talking to by the authorities i know its not the dog at fault. i love animals and wouldn't want anything to happen to the dog.