So Jazz and I are walking down the sidewalk yesterday afternoon and we are quickly coming up on a man and a kid and a giant white spotted Pit Bull. Earlier I had noticed that the dog was not very good on her leash, but she wasn't out of control.
About 50' away the kid notices Jazz and I about to over take them when the man puts out his hand like a stop sign and yells "stay back, she'll f---in' kill her"
What?
He crosses the street with his dog and leaves the teenager on my side of the road, as I pass the kid I say "If your dog is that dangerous, you shouldn't walk it in public"
I mean really! If your dog is going to kill my dog, then why isn't it muzzled and perhaps wearing some sort of caution flag or something? What kind of people are they? What if his dog did get out of control (as he was rather clueless) and did attack my dog? What could I do about it standing on the street with an injured dog?
I walk my dog daily and almost every day some loose dog comes running out and ambushes us which is very frustrating as my poor dog is like a sitting duck restrained by her leash. (It was worse when I had two dogs)
After we had passed, the man crossed the street again and I guess the kid repeated what I said. He then yelled obscenities at me for as long as I was in ear shot. I was really shaken by this and had to work really hard to get this experience out of my head, and to get as far away from these people as I could.
So as of this morning, now that the sunrise is around 6:20, we're back to walking in the mornings. Any one we do encounter now is on their way to work and usually can say " good morning" All the jerky Pit Bull owners don't get up before 11. As well there are no loose dogs on the street or even in peoples yards (most people tie their dogs up in the front yards - why I don't know, they all have back yards).
And the funniest part about walking in the morning is you are guaranteed to see at least 8 cat heads sitting on the back of living room couches or in window sills finishing their night watch of the streets. Just sitting there. Watching. And blinking. And watching. Nice and quiet.
11 comments:
Nice!! Some people just shouldn't have dogs period, especially if they can't control them and especially if they act like that. How awful! Dogs don't usually scare me but Pit bulls creep me out- or maybe it's the owners who creep me out- or both. ugh!!
was the dog wearing a blue rainjacket(sounds funny but there's a big white & black dog a couple of blocks up the street from us who is kept tied up all day outside.)
and yes- our cats now do the night watch, it's pretty funny. they both peep over the back of the couch. yesterday they were both in the window when we got home from shopping, but they haven't quite grasped the idea of inside/outside- they are both scared of the door when it opens- i guess that's good tho' as they can't go outside.
Well, that's disgusting. Sounds a lot like a family we had living at the end of our street when we lived in Burnaby. Same type of people, a couple of white pit bulls. The Trans Canada Trail goes by the back of the house and one day I heard a commotion out there while a guy was walking his 2 beautiful English Sheepdogs and encountered the "idiots" with their dogs...unleashed. There was a lot of yelling and swearing as they tried to intimidate the guy and he kept asking where they lived. I watched from the balcony and finally yelled out "I'll tell you where they live". The thugs shut up immediately and took off and the guy came to our front door where I gave him the info. Art was quite upset that there might some backlash from these very frightening neighbours, but there was none. It might be good for you to make a call to the police, just so that it's on record...in case of any future incidents. A guy like that, they most likely already know. And the final fear is....that kid will probably grow up to be just like Dad.
BGF - no she wasn't wearing a coat. In fact, I have never seen these people or this dog before. None of them really looked like they walked too much...
Jo-Ann - you are a brave woman! I would have been scared of them coming back too.
JP suggested I take my camera to take some photos, but the last time I did, Jazz jerked the leash and I dropped it. Still it might be worth it to show the cops, that is true. JP also suggested I carry a big stick and whack the dog, but I'd have to be pretty scared to inflict pain on a dog - do you know what I mean?
thanks for your support.
Pepper spray? I know someone who had to use it on a dog (someone's pitbull that they let off the leash) and it worked quite well. The owners were angry about it, but they shouldn't have let their dog go charging after my friend full speed ahead. I'm not sure if pepper spray is legal, but I know I bought some once. I never used and ended up tossing it after 5 years of it sitting in my purse.
I hear ya, sister. I always feel bad for my dogs when off-leash monsters charge us...my boys are helpless on leash! (Not totally, but, you know.)
I love walking my dogs early in the mornings, too. Feels like we have the whole world to ourselves.
Carol - yes, I think I'll go looking for some pepper spray. I'll go to the local fishing and hunting store - it'll be sold as 'bear' spray but that'll work!
Staci - Yes! It does feel like the streets belong to us. I love the early morning walks. Definitely much more enjoyable!
I had a similar experince with Twinks the other day. He is so small and the whole experience is so frightening - My instinct is always to pick him up, last time that happend I had a Staffy trying to bite me. The pepper spray sounds like a good idea - I think you can make it too!
I now carry a rattle bottle - which I just chuck at the attacking dog and it totally destracts them.
Yes, by all means give a description of this encounter to the local police. I agree it is then on record. Besides, what if next time the pittbull really does attack not just another dog, but a person.? The man walking it is too irresponsible to care, and a very low down low-life, they are dangereous as they have unexplained tempers which flare up over nothing things.
I don't agree with JP to take along a stick and hit the dog. That only makes things worse, and besides the animal has obviously never been taught anything so in his life he is a predator.
I guess in the guy's mind he had already been nice enough to cross the street for you and now he hears your opinion on that. A caveman mind would react by swearing at first. Good thing you didn't yell anything back at him or he definitely would have come after you. Perhaps it is the wisest to go earlier in the morning but do me a favour, make sure you walk where you can be seen on a busy street, not on lonely paths anywhere. We all know examples from the Cold Case files and the early morning rapists who usually prey on school girls or helpless looking ladies waiting for the bus to go to work.
Don't want to sound alarming, but in today's world nothing is safe or perfect. Even in the company of a dog.
Brie - that doesn't sound nice at all. Staffies aren't small dogs either!
I'm glad you and your pup are okay.
What's a rattle bottle?
A "rattle bottle" is a bottle or can with rocks in it. Shake it and it makes noise. It is used in training young children, dogs,and other animals. As with all training aids it must be used with care or the wrong behaviour is encouraged.
Brie is a clever to use it as a non-violent distraction.
bye
Under Where?
Thanks for the explanation "Under Where?" I forgot all about those rattle bottles, good idea.
Thanks for every one's comments, much appreciated.
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