Dog Repellent

[schoonergirl]

Today as we were walking Balou and Trillian after work the people 2 houses up came outside and gave us what for. Apparently Balou peeing on their bushes is Not OK. Despite the fact that their bushes are perfectly green they are displeased about him doing that. In fact they are so displeased that they have had to put out "Dog Repellent." And

Comments

[lianthe]

I think if the request was to keep the dogs away from HER, or walk the dogs on the other side of the street when she's out in her yard or something... that's one thing. But to ask that they not walk past their house AT ALL is ridiculous. What, does the woman get freaked out just KNOWING a dog walked by? This is ridiculous.

On the other hand, I do feel like our family is a little rude given that our parents walk our dog OFF LEASH most of the time. (She is just not as well behaved as Phynn, and has no sense of decorum. Even though she is a very nice dog, you cannot know for sure about a dog you haven't met and leash laws are there to make everyone feel better) I ran into this woman the other day when I was with Beckett (who was on a leash), who looked terrified and screamed when Beckett walked towards her as we came past, and I felt bad for her. I also am scared of dogs that aren't on leashes if I've never met them before. Except at the Rosebowl or the Arroyo, for some reason. The lack of leashes don't bother me there. I accept that if you have decided to have your dog off leash that you are confidant in your control of and the friendliness of your dog that it won't be a problem. But only as a person who also lets their dog off leash in these places. I still am not sure I think its okay on the street.

You can ask me to put my dog on a leash. You can ask me to clean up after her. You can ask me to keep her out of your yard. You cannot ask me not to walk her past your house, down a public sidewalk. You live in the world, and in the world people have dogs. Even our next door neighbor, who was terrified of Phynn... her husband has decided that this is a silly fear to have in America, where we do not have the same relationship with our dogs as they did in their home country. So he encourages his children to interact with our dog, so that they won't grow up with a fear like his wife.

[lyssabits]

Our family is *totally* rude about the dogs they've had. The Dog Goggles are strong with them. It always made me uncomfortable how confrontational Papa got when people would give him shit about it. There are leash laws for a reason, and it's not unreasonable for people to want that law to be adhered to. The people who'd quiz him whether he had a bag to pick up droppings were over the line, but they really should keep Becks on the leash, for her own safety and everyone else's.

As for the Arroyo.. you know, there are a lot of people who do irresponsible shit. I wouldn't trust dogs there to be off leash any more than on the street. Which isn't to say that they shouldn't be allowed off leash, just that I for sure ain't gonna approach them without trepidation.