Irresponsible Dog Owner & losing one's cool!

[riapnash]

Whilst out driving one evening last week on a dual carriageway in a country area, in front - 3 vehicles suddenly applied their brakes, one car pulled to the side of the road and the other two pulled out and sped away. Sat in the middle of the road was a long coated GSD, completely on his own and oblivious to the danger he was in. Having owned big dogs I certainly wasn't scared of him, more concerned about him being hit. I pulled over to the side, put my hazards on, got out of the car and called him to the footpath; he came straight over to me with his tail wagging, he was getting on in years and was certainly of no danger. He had no collar or ID on him. Well I couldn't leave him in the road and as there was no house nearby, so got him into the back of the car and drove further on; a lady out walking her dog said that he was from a large property further up the road - when I arrived there, a man in his early thirties answered the door and casually said 'Ah we wondered where he had disappeared to again'. 'Again?' I asked, 'Yes, he often goes off of his own accord'. Well that was it, I gave him a piece of my mind and told him that he was an irresponsible person who shouldn't be allowed to keep a dog. Well he was taken aback to the say the least - I told him that I would be lodging a report with the police about his irresponsible behaviour and he said 'Oh we will be keeping him under lock and key from now on. Anyhow I did contact the local station in that area and made a formal complaint about the owner. If I had not stopped, that poor dog, would most likely be dead - spread across the carriageway. People make me so mad, they shouldn't be allowed to keep animals of any description with an attitude like that. And yet, none of the other vehicles even bothered to stop - one phonecall to the police would have been all that was needed.

[leelapops]

You must have been so angry, riapnesh. And worried, too. I would be torn between sheer fury and absolute worry for this poor dog. People like this should never have dogs. On the one hand are those who keep dogs like staffies and bull terriers, feeding them on a diet of leftovers, beer and takeaways, with no training, and allow them to wander free to indimidate people. And on the other hand are people like this who just need to be shot. I mean, the lady you spoke to knew him, and that's all well and good, but I wouldn't like to meet any dog while alone walking with mine, let alone a GSD.

Sadly, I know people who adopt a similarly cavalier approach to dog ownership. And if i could take their dogs from them in the night and give them to somebody who damn well cared about their pets then I would.

Lisa x

[Leilapups]

riapnash, well done. I have stopped for dogs before but not on my own I have always had someone with me to help. I had a rescue dog that would run off, I would contact the police, RSPCA and go off looking for him, with my heart in my mouth fearing he had been run over and caused an accident. On the occasions someone found him before I did, I fell on them with gratitude. No way was I ever casual about him running off, I can still remember the anxiety 20 years later.

[lainiej]

I totally agree with you riapnash. I would've done exactly the same as you did.
I cant believe some people can treat their animals the way that they do. I panic if my lovely dog goes outside and the side gate is open.