Oh No You Didn't! LEASH YOUR DOGS!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Well, I had a day today. It started off pretty good and then I went up to our State Park to walk the dogs. We had just gotten out of our car and had not gone far, when out of the blue, to the left of us I see an unleashed Doberman running full speed, straight at us. The owner was behind him and I started yelling for him to get his dog before we had a dog fight on our hands. 

In my experience, it always seems that the people who have no control over their dogs are the ones who insist on letting them off leash and this guy was no exception. He yelled for his dog, but the dog would not listen, and meanwhile was circling my dogs. My dogs were surprisingly good. Vern stood pretty still, but Fudge was on edge and I just wanted the guy to get his dog before we had a problem. 

This makes me so mad and I yelled at the guy that his dog was supposed to be on a leash and he said, "I know lady, so shut your mouth." OK, I don't do well with being told to shut up and without thinking I reacted and told him that he could shut the _______ (fill in the blank) up and went on to add that he was in the wrong, not me, and all I was doing was trying to walk my dogs and my dogs were leashed.  I also added that my dogs and I should not be put at risk, because he didn't feel like following the rules. 

Meanwhile, his wife or who knows, stood back and kept saying, "you are right, you are right," but did nothing to prevent her small dog, a Westie, from approaching my dogs. Of course, this dog was unleashed, too. At no time did this guy apologize and he could not round up his dog. He did continue to tell me to shut up when I pointed out that someone who couldn't control his dog should not be letting them off leash :) 

I don't even know how long all of this took place, because my adrenaline was pumping and I was beyond livid. I am so tired of people not leashing their dogs and risking the safety of me and my dogs. Fudge and Vern are combined about 160 pounds of dog and I don't want to see them injured or me injured trying to stop a dog fight. I don't care how nice your dog is...I don't care if it likes other dogs...keep it away from my leashed dogs. Lots of dogs react poorly when on a leash and approached by another dog and you are also risking the safety of your own dog. 

This jerk finally got his dogs and left, but stopped to correct the dog like it was the dog's fault. I could hear him making comments about me and then when I had gone on, he yelled, "don't forget to pick up your dog's ________ (rhymes with bit)," and I yelled back, "don't worry, I always do, but I am sure you don't since you don't even leash your dogs." 

Now, I am not going to apologize for my language, because for once, I said everything I wanted to say instead of kicking myself later for not saying enough. My job is to protect my dogs when I am out on a walk. The only thing I did wrong was not take my cell phone and call the police. I had left it in the car, which I will not do again. I did report him to the ranger, but had no license plate, so not much could be done. I did ask the ranger to deputize me, so I could handle these situations by myself, but he declined my offer and just laughed. 

Of course, my family said I was going to get shot someday and I told John that I would have made sure my last words were, "LEASH YOUR DOGS!!" 

The point of this discussion is the reason there are leash laws in place is to protect all of us and there should be no exceptions. Today could have ended with my dogs seriously hurt or me hurt trying to protect my dogs all because someone thought the laws didn't apply to him. What if I had a child with me? What if a person was startled by this dog and fell? What if the dog attacked us? There are so many "what ifs" that it could keep me up all night. These kinds of people always ruin it for the rest of us and I worry someday that dogs won't be allowed in many of these parks because of these idiots. I am done messing around. I plan on calling the police next time.

P.S. My mom said she probably shouldn't tell me this, but she was glad I told the guy what I did :)

P.S.S. I was wearing my Intercourse, PA sweatshirt when all this happened. LOL

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am sorry you had all this aggravation. But your family is right, you never know how crazy the people you confront may be. And please take your cell phones on walks. Anything could happen and I just don't see Fudge and Vern carrying you back to civilization. I am afraid to go out on walks right now after the second coyote was positive for rabies and one town has armed state wildlife folks looking for more.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

F, You are always the voice of reason and sound like your brother :) I don't know if I have ever been that mad before. I will take my cell phone, but I can't make any other promises. Stay safe up there. The coyote thing is very troubling. I would not be out walking either. 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Next time use that cell phone to take a picture of the jerk and his dog.

[Gail and Bailey]

Good idea, Sherri!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I thought of all of that...just too late :) Thanks. I have been bringing my cell phone faithfully!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Holy cow--how horrible!!! It really is a shame that stupid people ruin it for everyone--and then get rude about it to boot! I am so glad you are all ok and that your dogs were so good to just stay by you and wait it out--thank goodness!

Years ago, I was walking my dog down a street when a bulldog came out of a house (front door was ajar) and attacked my dog--a 20 pound Bedlington terrier...poor thing was so scared that he pulled the leash right out of my hand and went under a car. I could hear the man in the house calling his dog--I will never forget it--He said this in a very soft, melodic voice "Oh Scheherazade, what are you doing out there?" If I wasn't so angry, it would have been funny...what an *&%^$ ! (Rhymes with Bass troll!) 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Ginny. Nothing is scarier than a dog attack. I still remember when a dog attacked my dog when I was a kid. It was horrible to watch. I am glad your terrier had the good sense to run under a car. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Good for you Laurie. These a$$hats make my blood boil. I'm glad Vern & Fudge weren't harmed. I am so tired of these inconsiderate, irresponsible dog owners with their untrained dogs out in public, I could spit.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Karen. I really don't think I have ever been that mad. When he told me to shut up, that was just it for me. From the look on his face, I think he had never had a woman tell him to shut up before :) 

[Nala and Cooper]

The nerve of some people.. In my neighborhood there are plenty of dog owners with dogs well over 100lb who are incredibly well behaved, calm and mannered and they are still kept on a leash 24/7- that is how it should be!! Such a relief it didn't end badly and you took the right course of action! Good for you!!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Christine. I felt sorry for the dog. The guy was mad at him and it was his own fault. The dog did not seem to be aggressive, thankfully, but his owner sure was :)

[Amy and Annabelle]

I agree, follow the leash laws. A few years ago my husband and I were out on a walk in a county park type trail. This couple and their unleashed dog was walking toward us. Ok, couple was walking, dog was running. Probably about a 60lb dog. When it got to us, the dog jumped up on me and knocked me down backwards, I hit my head on the ground. The couple laughed and started cracking jokes. They thought their dog attacking me was funny. My husband really let them have it. They wondered where our sense of humor was. My body hurt for a week. Luckily the dog didn't bite me, he was trying to play and wrestle.