dog owners

[mayalaen]

Last night marks the 9th time I’ve been attacked or gone after by dogs in the neighborhood while out on a walk with Roo. One of those times it was 2 dogs at once.

And dog owners are SO STRANGE about it. They just stand there watching.

Like DO SOMETHING, YOU ASSHOLE!!

NONE of the owners seemed the least bit surprised or flustered or concerned.

One of the times it was a little Yorkie, and I watched the guy watching the dog as it scrambled across the street and started ripping and biting at the cuff of my pants. I’m like “HELLO” and he just stood there watching as it actually put a few holes in my pants!

But then I turned to see his wife come out of the Winnebago across the street with A FUCKING ROTTWEILER. So now I’m thinking I’m gonna die because surely the Rottweiler and other dog she had with her were going to attack if they let the little one do this shit.

But thankfully the Rottweiler and other dog stayed with the woman, watching the Yorkie just as dispassionately as the guy was. They all just stood there watching as the Yorkie continued treating my pants like they were a chew toy, snarling the whole time.

I had Roo over my head, and I started nudge-kicking at the Yorkie.

Finally it gave up and went back to the guy.

Another time a guy acted like I was an asshole for getting flustered over his two dogs who were “just sweet little things” and scratched/bit my arms as I pulled Roo away before they both continued jumping up and nipping at my hips.

I carry a cane and mace with me because there are coyotes and snakes in the area, but every time a dog comes after me I’m not only focused on getting Roo away from them, but I have this THING in my head where I don’t wanna hurt the dogs -- I know it’s the stupid fucking owners that are at fault, not the dogs, but I’m sick of getting attacked!

Last night I was across the street from this house where the dude works on cars out front all the time and lets his dog run around the neighborhood. I didn’t see him or the dog so I thought they were inside.

Turns out the dog was in the soccer field across the street and came charging out of the darkness.

It stayed a few feet away from me, snarling and barking and doing that aggressive leap/hop forward, but it took forever for the guy to realize something was happening (I can’t turn my back on this dog because he charges more) and walk to the corner in front of his house across the street. Then he just stood there and calmly said “come here.”

Once.

Like what is your fucking problem?!!

Even if YOU think your dog won’t hurt me, I have no clue what he’ll do to me.

And I have no idea if your dog is up on all its shots.

I have no idea if it has worms or a disease.

And I shouldn’t have to constantly be worried I’m gonna be attacked when I’m walking through my own neighborhood with my dog at night.

Other places women have to worry about walking alone at night because of predatory men. Which I’m very glad isn’t a thing around this neighborhood, and I suppose I should be grateful it’s only dogs?

Comments

[amalthia]

I think using the mace would be effective. You don't want to be bit by a dog and catch an infection. Your health is important too. I mean my husband just kicks the dogs if they get too close and no one is there to reign in the dog....so baffled that dog owners are willing to risk their dogs health on the dubious mercy of strangers. My husband has no compunctions about killing someone else's dog if it's nipping at his ankles.

[mayalaen]

Yeah I think I'll keep the mace in my hand from now on. I've been too focused on not hurting the other dogs, but it's really important that me and my dog don't get hurt too, so yeah :/

People are so weird. A lot of people shouldn't own dogs -- they're too irresponsible :(

[amalthia]

Agreed...though to be fair I grew up with dogs and some of them were escape artists. I remember spending so many afternoons chasing after the dogs or driving around trying to figure out where they went. I think one of them only stopped jumping the fence when the police picked her up. I one time found them at the lake playing in the water...After wrangling them back home I swore to never own dogs. Taking care of my parents dogs was enough for me!