Leaving Dogs Tethered Outside The Supermarket

[julesluvscavs]

I live in a country town, but we have big woolies and Foodland all in the same complex. Ive seen dogs tied up looking very frightened and shaking. Ive seen people go up to them to pat them, too bad if the dog is snappy. I once was sitting with Joey and Renae out the front of a cafe, and this strange man came up and pushed his icecream in Renae's face (he meant for her to lick it), was weird ! Too bad if people like him should do something like that to dogs that don't even have their owners around!

Edited February 11, 2013 by Jules❤3Cavs

[bamboo]

I have left Bamboo tied up outside a shop for a few minutes, where I can keep an eye on him. He gets to enjoy a walk, I get to do an errand. I would not leave a dog tied up for long periods of time, or where I would be out of sight. I work in a public library and every day dogs are tied up outside in a shady garden patch. In 25 years I haven't seen anything more serious than a yappy dog. The dogs generally look quite relaxed and to be enjoying their outing. But perhaps I live in an exceptionally honest country town - people constantly leave mobiles, laptops and ipods unattended in the library and so far none have been reported stolen.

[Dame Aussie]

I have left Bamboo tied up outside a shop for a few minutes, where I can keep an eye on him. He gets to enjoy a walk, I get to do an errand. I would not leave a dog tied up for long periods of time, or where I would be out of sight. I work in a public library and every day dogs are tied up outside in a shady garden patch. In 25 years I haven't seen anything more serious than a yappy dog. The dogs generally look quite relaxed and to be enjoying their outing. But perhaps I live in an exceptionally honest country town - people constantly leave mobiles, laptops and ipods unattended in the library and so far none have been reported stolen.

Yep sounds like you do :laugh: something like that left lying around where I live, would be gone and sold for crack in two shakes of a lambs tail!

[Karrine]

personally I wouldnt do it. When my younger sister and her now ex moved in with me - they had custody of itoy while I was working and they took him to the local crazy clarks and tied him up. I was very mad - especially him being a fluffy Lhasa Apso She understood when I explained it to her and she never did it again :)

If you wont leave a kid tied outside - Why would you leave a dog? (Unless of course can see them all the time)

[megan_]

I have seen terrified dogs as:

* people push their very loud trollies past (for some reason people seem to tie their dogs up right by the doors)

* children run up to them

* 5 or 6 adults hover over the dog

* people bark in a dog's face. Seriously.

I am my dogs' guardian and it is my responsibility not to put them in situations where the risk outweighs the reward. Even if the dog doesn't get physically harmed or stolen, there is still a risk to their temperament.

[GeckoTree]

Depends on the location etc, but yeah I have tethered my dog outside a shop. And also decided against it. I was born with a brain, funny old thing it is.

[Rebanne]

Depends on the location etc, but yeah I have tethered my dog outside a shop. And also decided against it. I was born with a brain, funny old thing it is.

[Blackdogs]

Years ago it was a fairly ordinary thing to take your dog to the shops & leave it outside for a short time in suitable weather. We didn't have to worry about dogs getting stolen for breeding or anyone doing anything horrible to it either. Its not illegal but its not safe for the dogs anymore. I did it in England 40 years ago with big dogs when I was just nipping inside for 1 or 2 things.

Nothing you can do & not worth reporting unless the dog is suffering, like in extreme heat or has been abandoned.

I'm not sure things have changed. I think we're just a more fearful society and cultural changes have resulted from this fact (unless of course there are statistics indicating more dogs are being stolen from outside shops).

Personally I see nothing wrong with it. I think a lot of people walk to the shops and want to take their dogs for a walk on the way. I tend to leave my dogs outside shops with frequency. They love getting out and watching the world go by. I really think people should mind their own business when it comes to things like this.

[Salukifan]

Personally I see nothing wrong with it. I think a lot of people walk to the shops and want to take their dogs for a walk on the way. I tend to leave my dogs outside shops with frequency. They love getting out and watching the world go by. I really think people should mind their own business when it comes to things like this.

I think people who advise against the practice (personally I would NEVER do it) do so because of the risk to the dog. Theft is at the high end of those risks and probably fairly uncommon but I have personally witnessed dogs taunted, provoked to lunge and bark and tackled by toddlers (encouraged by a parent on one occasion). They can slip and break collars and chew through leads and if they get loose then anything can happen. A tethered dog is also at risk from other dogs and may also tangle itself. A common spot for doing it at my local shops sees a 1 metre drop on the other side - a dog that goes over that drop will choke to death without intervention. Then there is the urination and defecation in high traffic public areas that hardly endears dogs to the wider community.

So my simple question to those who do it is why take the risk? Convenient to do it? Certainly. But is it wise or safe? That's for owners to determine having taken into account what might happen. All that has to happen is for a person to consider that your dog was aggressive (whether it was or not) and you can end up in a world of hurt.

ETA: My pet hate is dogs tied by by head collars. Please don't do this. They were never designed as a fixed restraint.

Edited February 11, 2013 by Haredown Whippets

[stari]

I think it's a judgement call on the owners part. When I was a kid I used to walk my little JRT to the corner shop and tie him up, he would just sit there. I also used to take our old staffy girl out and about and tie her up occasionally, again she was a sit and stay type dog, and I never left her alone for long or anywhere that I couldn't easily see her. This was several years ago.

I would never leave my dobermann tied up anywhere, he is very flighty and he would bark or nip if anyone approached him. Just not worth the risk. I also never tied my male staffy up anywhere, he was a friendly dog to people, but not to other dogs, and we also have problems now in our area with staffy breeds getting taken for dogfighting, so definately not worth the risk.

I wouldn't condemn or report someone for the situation in the OP, I would be a bit worried about the dog being taken or harrassed, but that is for the owner to deal with, not me. I would report a dog tied up if it was in obvious distress, such a in full sun with no water, or if it was being agressive.

[Dame Aussie]

Personally I see nothing wrong with it. I think a lot of people walk to the shops and want to take their dogs for a walk on the way. I tend to leave my dogs outside shops with frequency. They love getting out and watching the world go by. I really think people should mind their own business when it comes to things like this.

I think people who advise against the practice (personally I would NEVER do it) do so because of the risk to the dog. Theft is at the high end of those risks and probably fairly uncommon but I have personally witnessed dogs taunted, provoked to lunge and bark and tackled by toddlers (encouraged by a parent on one occasion). They can slip and break collars and chew through leads and if they get loose then anything can happen. A tethered dog is also at risk from other dogs and may also tangle itself. A common spot for doing it at my local shops sees a 1 metre drop on the other side - a dog that goes over that drop will choke to death without intervention. Then there is the urination and defecation in high traffic public areas that hardly endears dogs to the wider community.

So my simple question to those who do it is why take the risk? Convenient to do it? Certainly. But is it wise or safe? That's for owners to determine having taken into account what might happen. All that has to happen is for a person to consider that your dog was aggressive (whether it was or not) and you can end up in a world of hurt.

ETA: My pet hate is dogs tied by by head collars. Please don't do this. They were never designed as a fixed restraint.

This.

[minimax]

It's really irritating when you're walking down the street, minding your own business (or, in my case, not watching where I'm going because I'm not paying attention) and you almost break your neck tripping over a dog and/or leash because the the dog is tied up to a pole and it's not on a short leash, so it's wandering all over the path getting in peoples way.

It's dangerous. If someone trips over an unattended dog or the leash, who is responsible? The dog owner, or the council (because it's on council property/attached to council property?). I'm pretty sure the council aren't going to take responsibility, just as they don't take responsibility if you tie your bike to their poles and it gets stolen or damaged.

[Dame Aussie]

I remember seeing two Beagles tied up at a service station a while ago. The owner had left their leads so long they were able to walk over the driveway people were driving in on WTF?! People are morons sometimes.

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

Very well said, Haredown Whippets

What amazes me is that most people would be very careful about who they leave their dogs with for pet minding - but they have no problem leaving them to the mercy of strangers on the street!

I think it's crazy to leave your dog in such a vulnerable position... And there are safer ways to socialise them.

Minimax, the most irritating thing for me is when the tethered dog barks constantly (and the owner does nothing about it).

Edited February 11, 2013 by Maeby Fünke

[julesluvscavs]

there was just something on the news before (on our 5pm SA news on channel 10) about a staffy x that was stolen from a suburban coles (it had been left tied up while owner was inside shops) .. Luckily some cops came across it or something and was able to return it to its owner..

Edited February 12, 2013 by Jules❤3Cavs

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

there was just something on the news before (on our 5pm SA news on channel 10) about a staffy x that was stolen from a suburban coles (it had been left tied up while owner was inside shops) .. Luckily some cops came across it or something and was able to return it to its owner..

Did it happen in SA? Or is this the one that was stolen in Bentleigh, VIC?

[julesluvscavs]

Oh im not totally sure, i came in when it was on and missed the first few seconds sorry..

[Odin-Genie]

I have seen terrified dogs as:

* people push their very loud trollies past (for some reason people seem to tie their dogs up right by the doors)

* children run up to them

* 5 or 6 adults hover over the dog

* people bark in a dog's face. Seriously.

I am my dogs' guardian and it is my responsibility not to put them in situations where the risk outweighs the reward. Even if the dog doesn't get physically harmed or stolen, there is still a risk to their temperament.

+1. I have never left my dogs unsupervised outside home and never would. If we have dogs in the car and have to buy something, my OH or I would stay in the car with the dogs while the other does the shopping. If I was alone, I would drop the dogs home first.

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

Oh im not totally sure, i came in when it was on and missed the first few seconds sorry..

No worries :)

[julesluvscavs]

I'll see it if comes on with the 6pm news as well :)