Ripper

[mandaliz8704]

I don't understand the people that take thier dogs into stores and restaurants with them. I love my dogs, but I leave thier hairy asses at home when I go somewhere. They aren't well behaved anyway. Not that they're aggressive or whatever, they just get very happy when people are around. I'm sure some dude at the store would just love my 80lb shepherd mix giving him kisses.

Edited to add: the SC with the pit is an enema. I would call him a douchebag, but that isn't nearly crappy enough. I used to have a pit, and she was the sweetest thing ever. Her name was Roxy.

[Sliceanddice]

The closest equiv we have to Animal Control would be the local dog warden, who won't attend for a 'dog out of control in a public place', that's purely a police issue as they will have the correct equipment to deal with it (control poles and electric shields).



Rabies isn't a concern in the UK, we're rabies free.

don't too sure, rabies like measles can reappear if the precautions aren't maintained. the US was pretty rabies free when we got lax and bats and rats started to re spread it after getting it from foreign animals

[Rapscallion]

don't too sure, rabies like measles can reappear if the precautions aren't maintained. the US was pretty rabies free when we got lax and bats and rats started to re spread it after getting it from foreign animals

Island nation. We take a fair amount of precautions at ports as well.

Rapscallion

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I'm not much of a dog person, but I'd hate to see the dog be put down because its owner is a dumbass.

That's one thing pets and children have in common: they don't get to pick their family.

I'm glad to hear the gardener will be okay, though. Hopefully you can find out if the dog in question has had its rabies updates.

Not sure how the regulations work on your side of the pond, but we have an increasing number of localities that require animals not only have their vaccines updated on a regular basis, but they are also required by local laws to wear vaccination tags.

[iradney]

Island nation. We take a fair amount of precautions at ports as well.

Rapscallion

Ayup - if you emigrate to the UK, you gotta put your dog into quarantine for something like 6 months before you can even think of letting them set paw on British soil.

[bloodrose]

So, I've got to agree with another poster: dangerous dogs are loaded weapons. My ex's sister had a dog so dangerous that I had to stand perfectly still for two minutes while he checked me out and was told he would bite me if I moved too quickly. The dog broke her arm by yanking her when she was holding his leash because he was chasing some squirrel or something. That dog was dangerous. Since dogs can be lethal, I always assume a dog I've just met is dangerous - just in case. I just don't understand people who want to pet other peoples' dogs for that reason. And the working dogs, I would never assume a dog was working unless I was either told or they had those silly orange vests on - I'd do my usual assumption of potential danger.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

So, I've got to agree with another poster: dangerous dogs are loaded weapons. My ex's sister had a dog so dangerous that I had to stand perfectly still for two minutes while he checked me out and was told he would bite me if I moved too quickly. The dog broke her arm by yanking her when she was holding his leash because he was chasing some squirrel or something. That dog was dangerous. Since dogs can be lethal, I always assume a dog I've just met is dangerous - just in case. I just don't understand people who want to pet other peoples' dogs for that reason. And the working dogs, I would never assume a dog was working unless I was either told or they had those silly orange vests on - I'd do my usual assumption of potential danger.

I'm too much of a dog-loving sap to be that nervous. I'll usually ask the owner if it's okay to pet their dog (unless it's got the Vest, in which case, puppy does not exist).

Recently, I saw a service dog which not only had the orange vest, it also had a small yellow plastic thing like those Caution: Wet Floor signs on its back stating this was a Service Dog.

5 bucks says they added that because people kept petting and otherwise molesting the animal on duty.

[Dreamstalker]

)

Oh, he is too cute I've known a lot of good pit bulls who wouldn't hurt a fly (I think the breed gets a bad rap and the problem is with the idiots that mistrain them).

When I was a pup, the dog next door was an Irish wolfhound (quite a scary-looking mountain of fur if you didn't know he loved kids). Rumor has it that I was playing on the sidewalk one day, fell down and the dog made a beeline for me...picked me up by the back of my jacket and sat there until mom got outside (she thought the dog was in fact going to bite me, but when it played out she didn't scream at the owner).

One of our dogs (at least part Irish setter, my grandfather called him a Canardly--can 'ardly tell what he is) looked vicious, but was super-protective of me, to the point where mom felt comfortable leaving me in the front yard alone if he was there.

[Victoria J]

An Epic Sign

FREE*

No pets allowed on premises.
(Insert other rules here)

*Nothing is really free here, it's just to get your attention.

No pets allowed.

Do not drink coloured water from our displays.

Do not insult customersruinmylife.

Etc.

If you do not like thes rules you are FREE to leave.

And yes, I definetly agree...just because you don't have cases of rabies in the UK doesn't mean you won't MAKE rabies and a real life version of 28 Days/Weeks Later!!!

Rabies precautions here are at least potentialy frighteningly serious. A single suspected case and they have powers to lock down areas for miles around and shoot animals on sight.

HFP, I had a great Dane once. Damn thing was about Four feet at the shoulder, had a bark that could rattle the house, and was such a complete marshmallow that, when I was a wee podling of four or so years, She'd lie down on her side and curl up around me to protect me when I was having a nap.

When I was growing up we knew a family with a half great dane, half something fierce looking. Parents would cross the road rather than walk past him.

So gentle and sweet. One day in the park a Yorkshire terrier attacked him. Launched itself at him and just hung from his throat. He looked round, shook it gently from his neck and sat on it

I know we're pretty sue-happy over here in the states, but I really think this jerk should be tracked down and sued within an inch of poverty. And frankly, I think the pub should also sue, if they find the guy. I'm sure the pub's insurance costs will be going up after this one.

What are the chances he's got any money....

Ayup - if you emigrate to the UK, you gotta put your dog into quarantine for something like 6 months before you can even think of letting them set paw on British soil.

Quarantine is 6 months, but thankfully they're being a bit more sensible and you can now avoid it in many cases where animals are microchipped and have pet passports showing vaccines, and health checks prior to entry.

Victoria J

[jedimaster91]

I love my dogs, but I leave thier hairy asses at home when I go somewhere. They aren't well behaved anyway. Not that they're aggressive or whatever, they just get very happy when people are around.

That's my beagle right there. I'm nervous having her around kids because I'm afraid she'd get too excited and knock them over.

There is a lady at my work who has a seeing eye dog. A gorgeous golden lab. One day I came in and it was the dog's day off, so I got to indulge my urge to pet the puppy. I wish I had known it was her day off so I could give her a dog biscuit.

Maybe next time.

[crazylegs]

As an aside, you're in the UK, correct? I thought the Dangerous Dog Act banned the ownership of pitbulls.

Yep, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 prohibits both the Pitbull Terrier and the Japanese Tosa specifically.

In addition the act prohibts any dog to be Dangerously Out of Control in a Public Place (which this dog was).

Raps is correct that not only can the dog be destroyed, it can also be neutered (if it is believed that this will temper the animal), or conditions imposed upon the owner that it must be muzzled in public at all times. In addition the courts "may order the offender to be disqualified, for such period as the court thinks fit, for having custody of a dog."

[Fire_on_High]

(And he's sad someone thinks him ugly )

He ain't ugly, he just has extra acreage for pettin with that huge head! I'm onto their little scam, you see....

[BookstoreEscapee]

I have a service dog (SD), and because I choose not to put an orange vest on her I am constantly stopped by workers who want to let me know that pets aren't allowed. I am happy to politely let them know she's a working dog, not a pet, and is legally permitted to go where ever I can go, even into restaurants. While I have been shuffled off to a far corner of the dining room to avoid disturbing other guests, I have yet to encounter rudeness once people realize she's a service animal.

There was a customer who came into Store2 on occasion; she had a seeing eye dog - a gorgeous black Lab. The dog didn't wear a vest but she did have the harness with the handle, so it was obvious. If she was standing still, the dog would either sit or lie down at her feet (often they'd be in magazines with whoever she came with). When they sat at a table in the cafe the dog would lie under her chair. The only problem I ever saw concerning another customer was a little girl who was terrified of the dog and freaked out. But she was probably not more than 8 years old so she can be forgiven.

He says he's sorry for what another pit bull did. (And he's sad someone thinks him ugly )

Aw, he's cute. I'm not a "big dog" person; I prefer the little ones. Though I do think Boxer puppies are the cutest things ever.

[Mark Healey]

I love those morons. The ignorant ones who seem to think that only seeing eye dogs in harness count as service dogs really annoy me. People better get used to seeing service dogs with people who have no obvious disability: the number of service members coming back from the wars with PTSD is on the rise, and service dogs really help these people get back into living normal lives again.

That's why we need some kind of visible indicator that it is a service animal. Perhaps a color with a specific pattern or set of colors, with a huge fine for placing it on a non medically prescribed animal. Just like it is illegal for a sighted person to walk around with a white cane with a red tip. There are too many people claiming that their pets are service animals.

[Broomjockey]

Just like it is illegal for a sighted person to walk around with a white cane with a red tip.

Wait. People DO that? Ugh. Disgusting.