Some owners ... - Page 2

My neighborhood is pretty strict about certain things, moreso now than they have been in the past (new management). We can, however, put fencing up if we clear it through them first. But then all animals must be fixed (my dog was grandfathered in), no dangerous dogs, pits, rotts or dobes, or any dog resembling those breeds... 3 pet limit... dogs can't be out unsupervised, etc. Some of their little rules are kinda pathetic, but whatever.

I feel for you Mindhunt... can't stand loose dogs! Just a couple weeks ago I had my GSD out going potty and was going to give her some chicken (mind you she was also in heat), this random pit mix  pops out of nowhere and goes straight for her and her chicken while she was going to the bathroom. I know she can get protective over food towards other animals so I did the first thing I could think and grabbed his collar... not the smartest idea at all, but luckily he was very friendly and I wound up holding him back while she finished off her chicken... got her inside and kept him out successfully. He was running loose again a couple days ago though and our neighbors were going apesh*t. Not sure if they called/took him in or what.

Abby to answer your question a bit on the flip side of the coin from Home Owner's Associations--tyhere are also people who move outside the city limits--"to the country" and since there is generally no leash laws outside the city limits then that makes it fine to just let their dogs roam. I live in an area that is outside the city limits and it has a few new houses and people have done exactly that. It is also on a fairly busy road where a lot of dogs get killed and people haven't figured it out yet. Also the man across the street has an acerage and raises feeder calves. When I first moved here, I had a GSD and 2 Mals--he came over here, introduced himself, and then made it be known that he was a dog lover but if he caught any dogs chasing his livestock, that he would shoot to kill. Well the people one house over got a shar pei x and it was always over there chasing his calves and one day it disappeared. Guess she didn't believe him and tried to say I did something to her dog. I was accused because I let it be known I didn't want the neighborhood dogs in my front yard, which is not fenced. And yes I did go out and tell them to go home. Why? Because this is my property and I can--because I don't want them pooping in my yard and because I know the way they think. Now all their dogs can run loose but let one of my GSDs loose and see how fast the law comes out here. But I am not of that mindset and other than Mauli going to the mailbox or helping me take the trash to the curb I don't let my dogs out front. Then there are others who blatently disregard leash laws. I have a good friend who lives in town. He refuses to put up a fence--he has 4 mixed breed dogs--3 big ones and a little one--and he is always into it with animal control. Why will he not contain his dogs? Because they don't need it--he "controls" them and they always mind him--NOT--I have tried to talk to him about how much easier life would be with a fence. We also have a National Park here and because of the wildlife there is definately an enforced leash law there. He has gotten into it with them because he can "control" his dogs. I told him yep let a deer come wandering by and we'll see how much in control they aren't. And I see others down there who allow their dogs to run at free will and poop everywhere and never pick up after them. They sound like Mindhunt's neighbors. It makes me ill because not only is it not good for the dogs it's also not good for those of us who are responsible dog owners. The law is OK for someone else but not me.

Uh...I hope I didn't imply that we were going to let our dogs run wild when we move to Alberta next year. Martin is a farm kid from a livestock farm who lost their entire flock of sheep twice to marauding dogs. There's no freakin' way we'd be that irresponsible (and we invest too much time and energy in our dogs' training to risk losing them). It's just that we need a 7 foot fence to contain Senta and that height isn't allowed in our current city but is allowed where we are moving.

<sigh> Yeah, Home Owners Associations SUCK.  And I know there are also situations where there's not really a HOA, but the area is considered to be 'historic' in some capacity [sometimes officially, sometimes just colloquially] and some committee or other gets to tell the homeowner they can't put up any fencing, they can't paint the shutters with any paint that's not on the specially approved 'paint list', and so on.... Those are places I would live ONLY as long as I absolutely have to, and in that situation, I think I'd have to buy a cattle prod...I'd hate having to use it on a dog, but I'd hate it more if one of my dogs or I got hurt because somebody else is ignorant and irresponsible. And then there's the cat-roaming issue, if one has a dog that is either cat-aggressive OR cat-loving...in both cases, roaming kitty becomes quite the attractant to the dogs when it's in your own front flowerbed! 

 Mindhunt, What an ordeal and its amazing your dogs are ok. I sure hope the owner of those dogs gets his due. 

Abby, Right now we are in the process of selling our house and looking at new properties. We are downsizing and presently have two fenced acres in a somewhat rural area where at one time people allowed their dogs to run loose and I couldn't even take my dogs out for a walk. Over time things have changed, thankfully. Anyway, there is no way I will buy in a community that doesn't allow fences. Unfortunately, I am finding that they do exist, which blows my mind. 

Mindhunt, I can't begin to even imagine that situation, dreadful.

Thanks everyone for the 'lesson'.  It blows my mind too.
I just can't think how I could live without my privacy, and security in my own space with my dogs safely contained. I think we are very lucky in the UK. We have no limits on dog numbers, breed etc, when you own your own property you own it. There are restrictions on the height of fences (6ft) and you'll get complaints if your dogs are a nuisance and bark all day - but that's it.  We have some buildings which are 'heritage' buildings, which you have to have permission to change, or can only do certain things to and I would never buy one of those!

Vonissk, there are people like that everywhere. I see people here walking down main roads with traffic roaring along with their dog not on a leash, which goes against our local by laws where dogs should be kept on a lead on roads. I've been known to open my car window and yell at them! My pet hate.  Your point about the deer was perfectly illustrated at the weekend here, as my friends son is a police dog handler, and his dog is a Malinois. He was out walking him and the dog saw a deer and took off. They were still searching for him 3 hrs later.  He is a highly trained dog - BUT he is a dog first and foremost, as they all are and that training went right out the window when his instincts kicked in. They found him safe and well luckily.

In the countryside and farm areas, farmers have the right to shoot dogs if they get into fields and worry livestock, and I would think that's the same the world over, and most of us have the common sense to treat the countryside around us sensibly - but of course not all. 

But Wow, some of those restrictions are harsh. It does to some degree explain dogs on chains, which always breaks my heart and which you never see here. I just don't understand WHY they won't allow fences? They could ensure that they are 'pretty' enough by ruling that they had to be a certain type, made of a certain material etc. We all have different types here, whatever we like, and it gives character (I think). Sometimes, fronts aren't fenced, depending on owners choice, though I would say the majority are, but backyards (gardens to us LOL) always are, and in my case, the sideway from the drive has large gates, making it secure from the front.

Paintball gun.

Abby, your friend with the Malinois was lucky.  In November, it will have been 2 years since a police K9 up here in NE Michigan bolted after a deer while doing a cadaver search...there have been no confirmed sightings of the dog since, and no remains have ever been found. It didn't help matters that it took place two days before opening day of rifle season for deer hunting.   As you said---no matter how well trained, he's first and foremost a dog. What would you expect of a dog when a deer jumps up from its cover, less than 5 feet from the dog's nose? [I did expect the dog's recall to be better, though...and I still think the police should have announced the loss and accepted help from the community immediately, instead of waiting for two days to make it public.  By then, someone had probably shot the dog for running deer [folks do that here] since he wasn't wearing a vest or anything highly visible that ID'd him as anything other than a coyote or just someone's at-large dog...

What a sad story Hexe. Yes, if the police had told everyone straight away he may have stood a chance. I suspect they may have been embarrassed that a 'highly' trained dog behaved in such a way, and were concerned about public perception - to the dog's cost probably.

Very sad.