Dog On The Loose

[Eve]

Well, I'm not sure if it is an escape artist or its owners just let it wander out and about but there is a dog who I've seen numerous times over the years out on its own, both during the day and at night.

It doesn't look to be a stray at all and looks like a pedigree type of dog, like a shar pei I think, big and wrinkly.

It seems to have a thing about my front lawn and there is often dog poo on there which isn't pleasant. It also seems quite aggressive and not a dog I'd go near. It's usually tearing up the grass and snorting about and doing its business. I have reported it to the Dog Wardens before now but they've said they cannot do anything out of hours unless the dog is contained (had it with other dogs on the loose too).

It's a possible danger to itself and to others, people and motorists. I've even seen it square up to a massive Bull Mastiff who was thankfully on a lead but the walker said he wouldn't be able to restrain the dog if it wanted to go. You can also hear dogs in the area barking when it's about. Do the Dog Wardens have any kind of responsibility to try and find owners of dogs who are regularly out on their own?

[woofgang]

Not sure how unless the dog has a collar or chip, and they'd need to catch the dig to check; or the dog has been reported missing.

[wolf63]

What twaddle ~ if a Bullmastiff pulls stopping it is easy. I used tightly hold on to the read and then wrap my arms around a lamppost and hope that he couldn't pull it over.

I think that in most areas it is the local authority that are responsible for stray dogs. Try going into their website and see how you get on. If it is aggressive and loose it is a danger and something should be done by someone. Good luck.

[Tilly2]

I don't understand why the dog wardens are talking about 'out of hours'. Can they not come during working hours or is the dog only roaming around at night time, Eve?

[Eve]

I can't remember if it has a collar, will see if I can see one next time, was dark last night when I saw it, was wondering what the hell was going on outside my window until I looked out and saw it was that dog again.

When trying to find what kind of dog it is I'm sure I saw something about shar pei's (if that's what it is) being quite rare? Is that right? Could make it more likely to be chipped I guess if it's an expensive/rare-ish dog.

Whenever I ring the local authority dog wardens they just fob me off saying they can't come out unless the dog is contained and there is no chance I'm getting near it myself in case it is aggressive, it might not be but it doesn't look very friendly and it quite a big dog. I'll see if I can find anything on their website.

Haha, you're braver than me Wolf, I would be scared to take out a dog that large and muscular in case it took off and took me with it :)

[Eve]

When I see it, it has always been out of working hours Tilly, I've reported it a few times with no luck. I actually wish I would see it within their working hours as it may result in something being done.

You can't always get through to them out of hours as often the phone just rings and rings and rings out and I've got through to people who then can't help. It's not a great service.

[Tilly2]

If it's been wandering around for years as you say, Eve, It's unlikely to be an aggressive dog as it would have got into big trouble by now. Have you never seen it with its owners?

[Eve]

True, that dog was huge with massive muscles! The other dog was lucky it didn't seem fussed!

[Eve]

Hopefully so Tilly though, even though having it's business dumped on my lawn isn't pleasant, I do worry it will get hurt one day, knocked down or will go for another dog or something.

I've never seen it with owners before. I'm sure I'd notice as it's a distinctive dog. Lots of dog walkers round here though as I live right near a large park.

[tamborine]

Phone police, report your fears & get the police URN (report) number.

[Eve]

Found this:

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/432/dog_warden_service/5449/stray_dogs

If out of hours you are meant to take the dog to certain locations, not very helpful!

I have wondered if the police could do anything, maybe on the 101 number. Worth a try next time I see the dog, see what they say as I imagine they will soon let me know if they aren't interested. I might ask one if I can catch one wandering about (police officer that it, not the dog :)).

I might see if the local Homewatch know too.

[Tilly2]

Do you have a garage Eve?

[tamborine]

Badger the police everytime the dog strays & they will sort it.

As for large dogs, choke chains will pull them up. No dog should be uncontrollable

[Eve]

No, no garage else I might have tried to tempt it in without getting too close.

We have a ginnel but it's got a very high heavy gate on it which only opens from the inside due to crime issues and all the bins are down there, it would mean having to get in very close proximity to it in a narrow area to be able to secure it in. Not sure if that's wise, especially as I can't move very fast!

[Eve]

Think that might be a plan tambo, you'd think they would be interested given all the adverse publicity about dangerous dogs lately.

[Tilly2]

OK, Eve forget that. (You read my mind!)

[Tilly2]

This is not a dangerous dog if it has been roaming about for years, Eve.

[Eve]

True but they may be a little more interested on a large dog on the loose?

[Tilly2]

Probably so, Eve.

[Eve]

Well, just seen it again (heard loads of barking) and it's roaming around the street again! Called the non-emergency police number who just gave me the out of hours dog wardens number who sounded a bit confused and said they had all gone home and wouldn't be back until the morning.

So I don't think there is anything else I can do. Thanks for all your help though.