responsible dog ownership

I've just returned from dropping this letter in to the house of a local dog owner. I added a note saying that if I find her dog off-leash in a public reserve again I will report her to the council. What do you reckon, too much? I think not...I've added some [blah] to protect the identity of the guilty...make your own mind up...

To whom it may concern,

I must report an incident between my dog and another that occurred yesterday morning, Sunday 22^nd June at approximately 08:30 in [blah].

The incident took place at the reserve that [blah blah]. The reserve is a little further along [blah] Road than the viewpoint on [blah] Crescent.

As I got to the foot of the steps from [blah blah] I saw a Husky (or similar) off leash in the reserve. I turned and made my way back up the steps. The Husky followed, caught up with me and my dog and pinned my dog down. The owner, several metres behind her dog advised me to keep walking. My dog was on leash throughout.

Although no physical harm came to my dog he was clearly shaken– as was I – by the aggressive, dominant display of this large dog.

After a short while the owner retrieved her dog and a heated exchange followed. I made clear my belief that she should not have her dog off leash in a reserve and that I regarded her dog’s behavior as an attack on my dog. I said I would report the matter to council. She tried to convince me that her animal was “a good dog” and seemed to believe there was not problem as no physical harm had come to my dog. I restated my view that her dog was large, dominant, off-leash in a reserve and had attacked my dog.

Let me restate; no physical harm was done to either my dog or me. I must make that clear. I am a dog lover and have no desire to see unnecessary harm come to her dog.

When I said I would report the incident the owner became visibly upset. She asked me not to as that would mean her dog would be put down. I asked if her dog had behaved similarly in the past and she said yes. I asked if she had placed the ‘Beware of the Dog’ sign on a tree in the reserve and again, she said yes. She lives in the property [blah blah blah].

Once more; I have no desire to have the dog destroyed. However, I do not think the owner should be allowed to continue to have her dog off leash in the reserve. I do not believe she should be able to put warning signs on trees in the reserve. I saw a dog bed in the reserve and although I did not see her dog in that bed I assume it was her dog’s bed. I believe the owner is treating the reserve as an extension of her own property.

Additionally, I believe the owner needs to be educated in the responsibilities of dog ownership. If she intends to keep a large dog she should ensure it is under control at all times when in a public place. It should not be allowed to wander free in public reserves where it can freely display it’s dominance. . If the owner requires training then she should be obliged to have that training.

Should you require further information you should not hesitate to contact me.

I may have called her a "fucking twat" at the time, not sure.