I had an incident in the last week that has put me over the edge.
In the winter, the trails in the woods where I exercise my dogs are closed due to deer hunting. So in the same vicinity as the woods, is a huge 5-6 acre dog park. We don't frequent the park often. Only when I don't feel like trudging through 5 inches of shoveled snow for an hour, walking them on leash. The dogs also need to run off leash.
A couple weeks back one morning, we had the park to ourselves. My dogs ran down to the fence when a car pulled up and a man with a black lab mix got out. My dogs barked at the fence. I ran down to get them and apologized to the man, I could tell he was afraid. I was on my way out anyways and told him so. I grabbed my dogs and at the same time, told him "they aren't aggressive". He in turn says to me "uh, I disagree, those dogs are vicious". Then I went a little crazy, and told him maybe he should consider taking his dog for a walk instead of being a lazy ass at the dog park. He then said he was taking my plates down.
My dogs weren't like snarling and foaming at the mouth trying to get at his dogs. They were doing what most of the dogs do, they barked at the fence to say hi.
I leashed up the dogs and walked down to my car where the man was still standing. I told him about my therapy work, training, how my dogs had never hurt any dogs inside that park, etc. Then I am sure I told him to fuck off.
Picture by Ben Popper.
Fast forward two weeks to today. I ventured back to the park, hoping no one is there. We used the smaller dog park. I stayed away from all the dogs, wondering if that man was going to show up again. The dogs played alone in the smaller park and after a while we left.
At the same time we were leaving, a man who knows my dogs was also leaving with dogs. We spoke about the incident with the other man, and he tells me, "oh, yea, he had a BEWARE sign put up about your dogs being vicious, with your license plate #.
I was like "WHAT???" "He did WHAT?" I couldn't believe it!
There isn't a whole lot I can do about the situation now. It's done. The sign is gone.
Breed specific legislation, aka, BSL.
That link is to an anti-BSL site with tons of information. Read the facts. You can't judge a breed on what the media puts out there. It's all about the owner. Not the dog.
10 comments:
Your dogs are two of the most gentle dogs I've ever been around, regardless of their breed. The worst they could do is lick me to chappedness! (is that a word?)
You are correct, it's not the breed it's how they are raised and cared for. Much like children.
I had the privilege of living in a home with a Rottie for 3 1/3 years. I needed cheap housing while finishing my degree and worked out an arrangement with an acquaintance; the cheaper rent was in exchange for dog care while the homeowner was out of town.
When I interviewed for the room, I didn't walk into the house right away, but instead elected to sit on the threshhold of the house while Gracie sniffed me. Then she sat down on the threshhold with me and put her head in my lap.
We were best friends after that, playing soccer in the field next to the house and going on long, happy walks together. While in my final year of school, I had abdominal surgery and was confined to the house for two full weeks afterward. Gracie never left my sight or allowed me to leave hers. She sensed that her head was too heavy for my lap during recovery so she sat at the opposite end of the couch with her head leaning on my feet instead. After graduation I moved out but made regular visits to say hi to Gracie.
When she died at age 13, about 2 years after I'd moved out of that house, I cried for days and days.
Dogs are smart and sensitive and have the capacity to be kind and loving, regardless of the breed.
I have the opposite problem. I have a black lab who hates other dogs. I warn people she is mean, and they argue with me- "she is a lab, lab's aren't mean", While they are arguing with me, my cute black lab attacks their dog, hurts it, and I get stuck paying a vet bill. She is a small lab isn't intimidated by pit bulls, rotties, or german shepherds.
Human's are ignorant, too bad us less ignorant people have to deal with the rest of the them!
What chased me the other day while we where running? A flipping lab. Any dog can be mean - it's all about the training and the owner. I have no doubt that your dogs are so sweet - or else I'm sure you would not take them off of the leash at a dog park.
Ass holes like that piss me offf.
Here I Ontario they Banned Pitbulls a fe years ago and this in spite of the fact that during the debate on the bill it was pointed out that poodles cause the greatest number of bite injuries of any dogs whose breed could be identified. There is racism fo people and breedism for dogs to relieve some people from making any intelligent decisions in life. One of the nicest dogs my dad ever owned was one of those "horrible" Staffordshire terriers
I feel your pain on this one. I have a 45lb Red Nose Pit and she greets all dogs the same, by barking and trying to play with them. She has never hurt a thing, human or animal, but people always act like she could attack at any time. I have walked her numerous times and had parents grab their children and shield them from my dog when she walks by. At which I normally respond, "Not to worry she hasn't eaten a child in a week or two, I think she is getting better." Which although may not help my cause does give me a little chuckle.
People need to become more educated on these issues. But as they say, ignorance is bliss!
Sorry to hear about your experience with that fool. I have a German Shepherd and the same shit happens to me. I've met Yorkies more aggressive than my Lola. My city passed a by law banning Pit Bulls a couple of years ago because people are idiots.
I'm currently looking at adopting a Doberman through a rescue because they're wonderful dogs. I could care less what people think and those that know us and get to know our dogs know better.
Wow what an ass that guy is! Some people are truly a special kind of stupid. You said it best about how it's the owner not the dog. I'm a German Shepherd owner so I know how people get weirded out despite the fact my dog behaves better than most people's kids.
Dogs developement most of who they are from their owners. Much like children.
You have a heart of gold (unless someone pisses you off) The guy is a total jerk!
Based on what you say, he might be guilty of libel. There's no doubt, though, that he's guilty of being a coward.
Lucky for him you didn't get his tags, too.
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