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

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Yikes!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Amy, Wow...I cannot believe anyone would laugh. You could have been seriously injured. You just can't fix stupid. I am glad your husband let them have it, but I am convinced some people just will never learn. Thanks!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Sense of HUMOR!!!! I'd be thinking or saying "lets see whos laughing when the police come here to assess my injuries and see you breaking the law"

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

And, I would guess you are not the first to cuss this guy out!  Sometimes it cannot be contained!  You certainly do need to be carrying at all times (cell that is).

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

LOL...I agree and I was an idiot not to have my phone. Of course, it wasn't charged and that's why I left it in the car. I really need to get better organized :) Even my own die hard Lutheran mother told me she was glad I spoke up. LOL

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

OMG Laurie this sounds like a rerun of our visit to the park last week.  We were having a wonderful day at the park with Tara when this guy pulls into the lot and out jumps an unleashed Dobie! She begins to run all over the place and he is calling her and calling her and she is ignoring him. I counting at least 11 times that he called her with absolutely no response.  Finally he gets a harness and the girlfriend?? manages to catch the dog and harness it. But then she just lets her go!!!!  Then the guy and woman settle onto a picnic table with a "Leash Your Dog" sign above it and watch the dog run amok.  Finally it seemed like they got some control over her and about then we started packing up to head home. Larry was loading up the truck and I had Tara (on a leash) with my back to her.  When I turned back around I see the Dobie heading straight for her!! Thankfully, Larry was close by and he jumped between them and yelled " Get out of here!". He is pretty big and scary and the dog ran.  Unfortunately, I completely lost it and told him to keep his " Blank Blank dog on a leash!!!".  Unlike your guy, he was not confrontational and just ignored me which was extremely aggravating.  We left at that point but it really put a sour note on the day.  Like you said, I had no idea if the dog was friendly or a killer.  Some large dogs see little dogs as prey. It could have really been bad. I did feel bad later that I called the dog a name and not the guy but it was in the heat of the moment. :)

I think you did great. I'm so tired of these people and I'm tired of remaining silent while they put everyone at risk and ruin everyone's good times.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Ricki, It is just so scary to see a dog running straight at you. Glad Tara stayed safe and I bet that dog didn't take it personally :) I can assure you I was not silent. I imagine the guy's ears still hurt today. LOL

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Some people are just so stupid that you wonder how they keep breathing. 

Thank for talking back for all the times I have not.  Why do we have to be nice in the face of complete stupidity and irresponsibility?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Maryann. I agree....I am never nice when I see dogs off leash. I have just had it with these idiot dog owners. 

[BG and Gavin]

You can't fix stupid, but you can certainly tell it to shut the ---- up! Good for you for speaking your mind, but I agree you have to be careful these days. He was likely embarrassed because you showed him up in front of his woman. Sorry for your bad experience.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

LOL...thanks, BG. Those words just shot out of me. When he told me to shut up, I saw red :) My friend said his poor wife probably had to listen about it all day. 

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Bravo!  My only other comment, there are some real nut cases out there...please be cautious when getting into an argument with someone like that, they could be more dangerous than their dog.