Leaving Dogs Tethered Outside The Supermarket

[poochmad]

I wouldn't do it for fear of my dog being stolen. Also, Henschke the male can be a bit wary if approached by a strange man and has barked at them until he feels comfortable; this is just a confidence thing. I would be worried that someone would interpret that as him being 'dangerous' and my dog would be labelled incorrectly.

[Blackdogs]

For those that think their dog is safe look in the news thread re: the staffy stolen outside a very popular supermarket

And it's so rare that it made the news.

It's not the only one that's made the news recently but think of how often it might happen where it doesn't make the news.

People, do what you like, but please don't bitch about those of us who won't leave our dogs to chance outside a shop.

I hope that second line isn't directed at me, because nowhere did I bitch about people not doing it. In fact, my main remark was that people should 'mind their own business', so effectively I've been asking of you what you seem to be asking of me. The dog world is so incredibly full of judgement - we really should just learn to live and let live.

[Sheridan]

For those that think their dog is safe look in the news thread re: the staffy stolen outside a very popular supermarket

And it's so rare that it made the news.

It's not the only one that's made the news recently but think of how often it might happen where it doesn't make the news.

People, do what you like, but please don't bitch about those of us who won't leave our dogs to chance outside a shop.

I hope that second line isn't directed at me, because nowhere did I bitch about people not doing it. In fact, my main remark was that people should 'mind their own business', so effectively I've been asking of you what you seem to be asking of me. The dog world is so incredibly full of judgement - we really should just learn to live and let live.

I think if your dog was hurt outside a shop or had it's lead taken off, you'd be pretty judgemental about those who did it, no?

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

(This is off topic, but in a way I think it's relevant)

In the 1960's, my grandparents owned a black Labrador called "Nigger".

At the same time every day, Nigger walked to the butcher where she was given a bone. Then she took her bone back home and ate it...and then she walked to the police station where my grandpa was a sergeant and waited for him to finish work. Then my grandpa and Nigger walked to the beach where Nigger ran and jumped off the end of the pier, into the sea. She covered over 6km in a day, and she was well known in the district where they lived.

My grandparents told me the Nigger story many times, and we often ended up talking about why people don't let their dogs do this now. My grandparents thought this had a lot to do with The Beaumont Children case and people's world views changing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaumont_children_disappearance

I think this is similar to how people's world views changed after September 11.

Edited February 18, 2013 by Maeby Fünke

[disintegratus]

Maeby, I agree. But I think it's not only significant events that have changed the way we view the world, but the way the world has changed, and the way we access it has a lot to do with it. Not that long ago, stories like Nigger's would have happened all over the place, and no one would have thought it odd. In those days, if that dog had been beaten to death on it's daily walk, or if it had been stolen, it would have affected only the immediate community. So the rest of the people all over the world would continue allowing their dogs to do it with no worries.

Nowadays, if a dog farts in Nigeria, we hear about it on the other side of the world, instantaneously. As a result, things that used to effect only a small group of people (one family, one town etc) are having a much wider impact a lot further away, spreading worries and fears a lot further, a lot faster. So we're basically growing further and further into a culture of fear. Add in to that that the vast majority of people these days are massive self-entitled douches (which I think coincides with the time when ye-olde parents stopped beating the bad out of their children and started teaching them instead that the world owes them a living, and yes, that is a WILDLY INACCURATE GENERALISATION), and you have the current trend of "I have to quit my job and eek out a living working only 3 hours a week because I can't leave my precious Foofy-bear at home by himself for more than 20 minutes at a time in case someone steals him"

[kayla1]

I haven't read the whole thread, but there is no way I would do it - regardless of whether I could see the dog or not. I'm just not willing to take that risk, for reasons others have already mentioned.

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

(In reply to disintegratus)

I was just thinking the same thing...

Or maybe the world hasn't changed at all, and it has always been a dangerous place, but we weren't as aware of it before?

My grandparents also thought people's changed attitude to dogs has a lot to do with it. Nigger was very loved, but not in the precious furkid way you're talking about. And I'm exactly like that with my own dogs! I work from home and earn less money than I could, just so I can be near them :laugh:

Edited February 18, 2013 by Maeby Fünke

[Rascalmyshadow]

I have finally read through all posts and think that too many people these days seem to live their lives on what ifs and have a fear of too many things.

Animals and children are losing so much freedom because of their guardians insecurities.

My dogs/pets and children are my world but I don't think it's healthy to wrap them all in cotton wool.

Where I live many people still walk their dogs off leash, tie them in front of shops and take them to the school rarely is there any incidents, mostly they are all social and well behaved.

Just last night we were at the local beach there were numerous dogs off leash running around (technically they shouldn't have been) it was busy but everyone was happy and there were no problems.

I am so glad to live in an area where people are friendly and wouldn't even bother getting involved unless an animal or person was in actual distress no matter what the laws are.

[Sheridan]

And some of us have had dogs attacked and speak from experience. Don't be so quick to dismiss people's fears as 'what ifs'.

[Dame Aussie]

And some of us have had dogs attacked and speak from experience. Don't be so quick to dismiss people's fears as 'what ifs'.

Have to agree here. Some people are lucky and never have anything bad happen to them or their dogs. Others aren't.

[kayla1]

I have finally read through all posts and think that too many people these days seem to live their lives on what ifs and have a fear of too many things.

Animals and children are losing so much freedom because of their guardians insecurities.

My dogs/pets and children are my world but I don't think it's healthy to wrap them all in cotton wool.

Where I live many people still walk their dogs off leash, tie them in front of shops and take them to the school rarely is there any incidents, mostly they are all social and well behaved.

Just last night we were at the local beach there were numerous dogs off leash running around (technically they shouldn't have been) it was busy but everyone was happy and there were no problems.

I am so glad to live in an area where people are friendly and wouldn't even bother getting involved unless an animal or person was in actual distress no matter what the laws are.

I agree there are some that wrap their dogs in cotton wool, but I don't think what we're talking about here is the same thing.

My dogs are never tethered outside shops, same reason that they are never off lead near roads, or never off lead out the front. I know people, and have spoken to plenty over the phone, who have taken the risk and the dog has suffered for it. The 'what ifs' can and do happen. Personally I'm not willing to take that risk with my dogs.

[SarahJ88]

Just today I walked up to the local newsagent which is next to a coffee club, there was a dog tied to a pole except the pole was cut off about 1cm off the ground and just attached to that, the dog had a bone with it so could have easily stood up and walked away, it had no water and to be honest if a child had touched the bone you dont know how the dog will react. I think maybe 10 minutes max is fine but anything over that you should have just left the dog at home.

[mantis]

And some of us have had dogs attacked and speak from experience. Don't be so quick to dismiss people's fears as 'what ifs'.

Exactly, this "pie in the sky" attitude is all well & good, until ONE dog attacks another dog, or a human. Then you get media hysteria calling for more restrictions placed on all dogs.

[mita]

Personally I'm not willing to take that risk with my dogs.

Yes, it's about risk assessment. Then acting accordingly.

Even before I get up to safety (& stress on the dog), first thing on my checklist is that my dogs are small, very attractive & people friendly.

Adds up to being very attractive & easy to steal. I'm not willing to take that risk. So I don't go any further. Our dogs are never left unattended in public.

[Rascalmyshadow]

Please dont think i mean tying a dog up in any place unattended without thought to their safety or comfort, I also have small fluffies and would never leave them where I couldn't see them but I really feel people are becoming so worried and stressed about things that might never happen, IMO life is too short to live like that.

I had my first little dog stolen out of a house I was renting while I was out shopping, never found out what happened to her, so I have some idea what it feels like.

[Jellyblush]

I cannot WAIT to not have to take my dog to the shop and tie her up. She's always been fine, so far, but I can never relax and often forget things or buy the wrong things because I'm rushed and stressy.

I'd love a return to a more inclusive society in general, when people were more accepting of all kinds of things, dogs, children, etc, and the community looked after each other. Now, I think that exists in hard to find pockets only. I've bowled right up to a heap of shops, pubs, cafes etc, and asked if I can take my dog in, because leaving her wasn't safe inside my home or outside their shop. Yes, most people say no ,but I have a handful of great pubs, clothing shops and cafes that welcome both of us :) Smart, because I spend an awful lot of time and money in them!

Musings really, but I guess my point is, there are still times and places where dogs are safe and welcome, and it's up to us as owners to find out where and what they are and use them rather than placing our dogs in unsafe situations.

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

Very well said.

And let's put things into perspective while we're here, shall we?

Obviously, my first few posts were a reaction to something I was experiencing at the time… And I find the comments about me being a "dictator" and an "authoritarian" - and the suggestions that I have nothing better to do with my time - frankly insulting.

You weren't there; it was my judgement call, not yours… Imagine the disapproval and contempt you would have shown me, if I had actually gone ahead and made an enquiry with the council? How would you have responded then?

The next time I experience something like this, I won't be posting about it here. That's for sure.

Edited February 18, 2013 by Maeby Fünke

[Simply Grand]

Maeby, I think you started a great discussion, and hopefully made lots of us think twice, one way or the other. I think there are plenty of people in the world who would never have noticed or given a second thought to the well being of a stranger's dog, you did. To me, that's a great thing.

ETA - I would much rather live in a world where someone who had concerns about my dogs/family/me said something to someone than a world where everyone ignores everyone else.

Edited February 18, 2013 by Simply Grand

[seld]

I am one of those who leaves my dog tethered out the front of a local shop. Never any longer than 5 minutes, and as I walk to the shops it seems preferable to take him than to leave him at home alone. I daresay most people who do it, do it because they walked there. Too many dogs are left in backyards without any walks or interaction (let alone the humans that need exercise too) As long as the time is not excessive and the dog is well socialised, I dont think it is a problem.

However..my dog is not fiscally valuable except to me, so him being stolen is pretty unlikely

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

Maeby, I think you started a great discussion, and hopefully made lots of us think twice, one way or the other. I think there are plenty of people in the world who would never have noticed or given a second thought to the well being of a stranger's dog, you did. To me, that's a great thing.

ETA - I would much rather live in a world where someone who had concerns about my dogs/family/me said something to someone than a world where everyone ignores everyone else.

Thanks :)

See, to me that's neighbourly - where everybody cares about everybody else... That's how people are in my town.