"I don't want that dog around me!!"
OH seriously, people. I met an asshat on a bike today. Ok, so actually it was really a stupid guy on a bike, which is worse than an asshat on a bike...because that would just be funny, unlike this guy.
The story:
Jo and I are leaving the dog park, where I played Gate Nazi for three hours. ("Close that gate before opening the other one! You're going to let the dogs out!" *Beats head against a tree*) I have Jonas on a leash, in a nice, perfect heel. -What three hours of exercise will do!- I had just come close to bitching a lady out for taking her dog to Petco for obedience classes, and went to cross the street. I was stopped in my tracks by the sight in front of me: Man on bike, puppy at his side, off leash*. He is yelling at a lady to keep her dog (also off leash*...*grumble*) away from his- Now, I don't know if they knew each other, but seriously, I don't give a flying turd. He kept yelling that he doesn't want his dog to be social with people (wtf?!) and she needed to keep her dog away from his, who was randomly running back and forth across the street. Now...I am a quiet person who only really likes to talk to people if it has to do with dogs, but despise confrontation. I would seriously rather be punched in the gut than confront someone or be confronted.
But when this mutt came bouncing up to Jonas, AOB (Asshat On Bike) waddling after him, something...snapped. I had had enough. As he yelled at his dog and pushed it away with his foot, I looked right at him and said 'You know, a leash would fix that." He stood there, trying to control his dog, he replied, "Yeah...but I don't want it on one when I am on my bike. I want it to follow me." I knew this guy was a lost cause; that I wouldn't get through to him, no matter what I said. So, as I walked away, I muttered (loudly), "Have it your way, but just wait until he is hit by a car!"
*- The DOG park is off-leash. The rest of the city, however, is not. And that includes the park the dog park is located in.
I feel bad for the dogs that are walked off-leash, when they are totally out of control. I mean, if you're going to have a dog, take the time to train it, people! (I know, it's a wild, wild concept, but trust me, it works!) Dogs, last time I checked, don't train themselves- they, at least most, don't have credit cards, so therefore they can't call in when they see an informercial trying to sell "Train Yourself At Home!" classes, where they would get a piece of paper saying they're trained. (Oh wait, am I thinking of something someone else here?? ;) And since they don't have the required anatomy to properly access the internet, they can't take online classes. Therefore, pet owners, it is up to you to train your dog. And, believe it or not....there are LAWS governing what you can and can't do with dogs. It is your responsibility to know these laws! Even the people that left right before our little encounter had the brains to use a leash, albeit a length of rope.
Oh, and AOB? Please don't kick your dog push your dog with your foot again. If I see you do that, while you have your little mutt off leash, I will call animal control. And that would be a not-very-good situation, since I don't believe your dog had a collar on.
Sorry this wasn't that snarky, but more of a rant.
Ben
The story:
Jo and I are leaving the dog park, where I played Gate Nazi for three hours. ("Close that gate before opening the other one! You're going to let the dogs out!" *Beats head against a tree*) I have Jonas on a leash, in a nice, perfect heel. -What three hours of exercise will do!- I had just come close to bitching a lady out for taking her dog to Petco for obedience classes, and went to cross the street. I was stopped in my tracks by the sight in front of me: Man on bike, puppy at his side, off leash*. He is yelling at a lady to keep her dog (also off leash*...*grumble*) away from his- Now, I don't know if they knew each other, but seriously, I don't give a flying turd. He kept yelling that he doesn't want his dog to be social with people (wtf?!) and she needed to keep her dog away from his, who was randomly running back and forth across the street. Now...I am a quiet person who only really likes to talk to people if it has to do with dogs, but despise confrontation. I would seriously rather be punched in the gut than confront someone or be confronted.
But when this mutt came bouncing up to Jonas, AOB (Asshat On Bike) waddling after him, something...snapped. I had had enough. As he yelled at his dog and pushed it away with his foot, I looked right at him and said 'You know, a leash would fix that." He stood there, trying to control his dog, he replied, "Yeah...but I don't want it on one when I am on my bike. I want it to follow me." I knew this guy was a lost cause; that I wouldn't get through to him, no matter what I said. So, as I walked away, I muttered (loudly), "Have it your way, but just wait until he is hit by a car!"
*- The DOG park is off-leash. The rest of the city, however, is not. And that includes the park the dog park is located in.
I feel bad for the dogs that are walked off-leash, when they are totally out of control. I mean, if you're going to have a dog, take the time to train it, people! (I know, it's a wild, wild concept, but trust me, it works!) Dogs, last time I checked, don't train themselves- they, at least most, don't have credit cards, so therefore they can't call in when they see an informercial trying to sell "Train Yourself At Home!" classes, where they would get a piece of paper saying they're trained. (Oh wait, am I thinking of something someone else here?? ;) And since they don't have the required anatomy to properly access the internet, they can't take online classes. Therefore, pet owners, it is up to you to train your dog. And, believe it or not....there are LAWS governing what you can and can't do with dogs. It is your responsibility to know these laws! Even the people that left right before our little encounter had the brains to use a leash, albeit a length of rope.
Oh, and AOB? Please don't kick your dog push your dog with your foot again. If I see you do that, while you have your little mutt off leash, I will call animal control. And that would be a not-very-good situation, since I don't believe your dog had a collar on.
Sorry this wasn't that snarky, but more of a rant.
Ben