Don't you DARE hit my dog!

[Midorikawa]

So, in our little cluster of condos, there's several dog owners, mostly (surprisingly) large breeds. This is in favor of our 65 lb German Shepherd, but puts the poor 10lb toy wire fox terrier above us at a disadvantage.

Also, the area is populated with 2 demographics: elderly folks whose kids have flown the nest, and younger couples starting a family, or with young kids. This story concerns the latter, and happened about a month ago.

Nearby there's a family with 3 boys, between the ages of 5 and 9. They love my dog, but haven't been taught by mom and dad how to treat animals. Mogli loves being chased, and the kids wanted the toy he had. Between the 3 of them, they caught up to him eventually, and then tried to pull the toy away from the same dog that LOVES to play tug of war.

Obviously, this didn't get them the toy they wanted, so one of them smacks Mogli on the nose to get him to give the toy up.

Me: DON'T YOU DARE HIT MY DOG!!!
Mom: *off on another planet. watching, but not doing anything to stop the abuse*
Kids: *one hits Mogli with the hard plastic frisbee he had before being hit previously*
Me: DID YOU NOT HEAR ME?! *runs up to them, and takes the frisbee* I SAID DO NOT HIT MY DOG! Now. How would you like it if I punched you in the nose, then hit you on the back with this frisbee?
Kids: *mumbling, looking down and acting ashamed*
Me: I can't hear you!
Kids: Wouldn't like it.
Me: Then WHY ON EARTH would you do that to a living animal, ESPECIALLY someone else's pet and family member?!
Kids: *mumbling*
Mom: *glaring at me for intervening, but doesn't say a word.*

I think they moved out about 2 weeks after this happened, but since she's kept her kids away from us, and has generally avoided us herself, I don't know. I do, however, know that I wouldn't allow her kids to play with my dog again even if she hadn't avoided us.

[EvilEmpryss]

I think they moved out about 2 weeks after this happened, but since she's kept her kids away from us, and has generally avoided us herself, I don't know.

Good. They should be afraid of the crazy lady who barks louder than her dog in his defense.

[blas]

That was much needed and don't ever feel bad about it. Kids need to learn before they begin actually abusing and hurting animals, or find themselves among not so friendly canine company that will bite and hurt them.

[Midorikawa]

Good. They should be afraid of the crazy lady who barks louder than her dog in his defense.

I'm actually a guy. :-P and yes, I'd do it again in a heart beat. you don't hurt my puppy, in front of me or otherwise.

That was much needed and don't ever feel bad about it. Kids need to learn before they begin actually abusing and hurting animals, or find themselves among not so friendly canine company that will bite and hurt them.

Agreed. I would never hesitate to intervene when a family member is being injured, especially when it's one as sweet and nice as Mogli. He didn't even look at them annoyed. He looked at me with a look of "What did I do wrong?"

[chainedbarista]

yay for midorikawa and besting an inattentive mom and her undisciplined kids.
i'm betting that these brats will get bitten (most deservedly) and mommy dearest will threaten a lawsuit.

such are the stupid types...

[Can I Help Your A$$?]

Good for you for appropriately scaring them.

[EvilEmpryss]

I'm actually a guy. :-P

Gotta remember to check stories for gender cues. Sorry.

[LillFilly]

If anybody dared touch my dog they would die a slow, agonizing death, possibly by being strangled by his zip line!

Parents have GOT to teach respect for animals to their kids! But alas, sometimes the parents themselves don't care because "it's JUST an animal."

[chainedbarista]

exactly; because it's not human, it doesn't feel pain or suffer. i've lost track of how many people have said that, and it pisses me off every single time.

[Thatgirl71]

Good for you reprimanding those kids, their parents are probably the same type of people that think that animals don't have feelings or feel pain.
I'm not a big fan of dogs, but I adore my sisters pug (she's my avatar pic) and for some weird reason she pretty much loves me too, and I know if I saw anyone doing that to her, I'd be pissed too and go off on them.

[firecat88]

*hugs and gives cookies for being a good, protective dog daddy*

Even though I know she could probably defend herself (this is the same cat who chased a dog 3 times her size out of the backyard), I'm the same about my cat. You do not hit her, pull her tail, or do anything that can otherwise cause any cat, let alone one that's 12 years old, any kind of discomfort or pain. Unless, of course, you actually want to be yelled at by the emotionally-basket-case-ish half-Venezuelan in the wheelchair.

[Jay 2K Winger]

To the best of my knowledge, the most abuse our last dog-- our miniature poodle Dooney-- ever suffered was being grabbed by the tail by his litter-mates and dragged around the room. Broke his tail so it almost always curved up a bit. Didn't otherwise affect him at all.

If anyone had tried to hurt Dooney in my presence, they'd be meeting a whole heap of pissed-off Jay.

The same will hold true once we get our new puppy, Mocha.

[PepperElf]

Mom: *glaring at me for intervening, but doesn't say a word.*

if i was that kid and that mom was mine.... by the time you got to me i'd be getting spanked.

grrrr

[Red_Dazes]

Good for you! Kids need to learn how to treat animals.

[Magpie]

I think that part of the reason that the mom was upset was that you behaved so perfectly there. You didn't go and threaten the kid, you didn't go and lose your temper, you explained that it was wrong and why it was wrong. You made her look bad. GOOD JOB!