Why do think they do not have to follow the rules??
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive July 2007:
Why do think they do not have to follow the rules??
In my city of Va Beach, there is a leash law. Dogs must be leashed when out in public. Yes, we have dog parks where they are fenced in, and in there they can run free. Other then that, they must be leashed. I ALWAYS have my dogs on leashes if outside the house and not in the back yard. My fear is one of them will run off.
Anyways, I walk my dogs behind the school(down the street from the house). I bring my bag(just in case)and always walk them on a leash. Just about everytime I go behind the school there is some owner letting their dog run free. As much as I love dogs, I do not like dogs I do not know running up to me.
My foster dog "Ashley" has been my challenge. She has had a hard time with new dogs(great with dogs she knows). So when we walk I dont like any distraction. I have had dogs run up to us and it makes me nervous. Honestly, I dont know how Ashley will react when dogs run up to her like that. Im always yelling to the owners "YOU NEED TO GET YOUR DOG"..I ALWAYS here "Oh he/she wont bite you" or "OH he/she is nice, loves other dogs"
SO I say "But, my dog does not ALWAYS like other dogs in her face." I normally get some strange/rude look and they leash their dogs?
I have often told people "There is a leash law in Va Beach"
Many people think its because I am afraid of their dogs, its more I am afraid that Ashley might bite them. She has not, but why take the chance.
So, why do people think laws/rules dont apply to them????
Jackie, you have asked the perpetual $64,000 question.
And it doesn't only apply to leash laws, as we all know. In my opinion, it's either "I want what I want when I want it and what other people think/want doesn't matter." or "Oh gee, they didn't mean *me* - that rule/law is meant for other people." The latter is what you're running into - people who think the leash law doesn't apply to their friendly, harmless dog, only to dogs who are not friendly or harmless. They see it as a law to restrain dangerous dogs, not a law to protect people from having "friendly" dogs jump up on them, people who are afraid of dogs from being approached by unleashed dogs, and keeping dogs from running into the street or another place where they might be harmed.
people don't follow rules because they think they are stupid and unneccesary, instead of taking a step back and seeing where that rule might be important.
As for a leash law, people absolutely think this is in place for people who cannot control their dogs. Well, my idea of control and their idea might just be different. I would never take my dog out without a leash, I actually hardly take the little dog out because she is so poorly behaved (i know practice practice). But I have a neighbor who lets her dog run free, a LOT. Now I have finally come to love this dog, it has taken years. And honestly our new dog doesn't, so it is a huge hassle (the dog pops into my house on occasion).
Another pet peeve rule that gets dismissed, people who sneak food into a movie theater.
Too bad they can't sit through animal control court. I saw a ton of people get fined large amounts of $ for loose dogs!
One woman had her dog loose. A dog on a leash bit her dog (who ran after the dog on the leash). She was fined for her dog being loose, even though her dog was hurt! If you do not have control of your dog at all times, you are responsible.
I know exactly what you mean. There are also dog licensing laws. The news did a story last week on July 5th about dogs who got scared of the fireworks, ran away, got picked up and brought to the county animal shelter and to the county Humane Society. They gave the hours during which you could check to see if your dog had been found. But what I didn't understand was WHY didn't they also take the opportunity to remind people that if they had their dog licensed (which is law anyway!) then their dog would have been much more easily returned to them. Without a license, you have to come up with some other proof of ownership- they won't just hand the dog over to you because you say it's yours.
3 years ago my dog dug out under the fence in the backyard and ran off on an adventure hike. She was missing for the better half of the day. At about 3PM I got a phone call from the lady who had found her and called the county animal shelter (which issues licenses) and gave them the number on her license tag. They gave her my phone number and she called me to tell me she had my dog. It's as simple as that, for goodness sakes. (My dog has never run off again- she was found scared to death in the middle of a busy intersection!)
As far as "my dog has never bitten", all I can ever say is that you NEVER know anyone's response least of all a dog. I never thought my dog would bite anybody and he bit ME. Alot of people never think that their spouse would leave them for another. But they do. You NEVER truly know anyone or anything's response to a situation.
I wouldn't want a loose dog coming up to Jasmine. They might get bit! Jasmine isn't too friendly around other dogs.
Jasmine is good about staying in the yard and with me outside, she stays in the yard and doesn't go visit other dogs, so I usually don't have her leashed, in my yard. If we leave the yard, she is always leashed.
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