[Spirit_of_Cotons]

I live in an apartment/townhouse complex where there are certain rules for our dogs. Many of these rules are disregarded and it bothers me, but the one that bothers me the most is that people just allow their dogs to roam off leash. And no long lead is attached to them.

Now some of these dogs are obedient I can see why they're let off leash, but still what if something happened? One time a GSD ran right up to Luke and thankfully all was well, but it could've gone wrong in less than a second. Then there are some that are let off to go to the bathroom, near our small yard. Hello--that's not right. Or some like to play ball, understandable....but do it at a dog park. Many people walk their dogs in that area; it's our "short-cut" home.

Sometimes obedient dogs won't listen. The GSD is here is very obedient, but one time didn't listen to his owner. What if the next time he doesn't listen encounters a dog aggressive dog? Or some dogs are off leash and don't listen. They do what they want no matter what the owner is telling them. If they want to cross a street and the owner yells "no", who cares...they see a dog across the way and want to meet them. What if they get hit by a car?

My point is, should I write an anonymous letter to the office saying these people are letting their dogs off leash and to reinforce the rules on them? I don't want to seem like a complainer, but something needs to be done. I would just say "I've seen people let their dogs off their leash, could you please...." and go onward from there. Cause it's really annoying; I don't want anything to happen to Luke or their dogs.

So what do you think I should do?

 

[Bordermom]

Problem is if there's a lot of complaints to management, they may decide dogs are too much bother. If it's a public area, then the local leash laws should apply, you could report the situation to them and have them come out and write some tickets.

For the dogs roaming off leash unattended, if the dog is friendly then slip a leash over him and sit outside and wait for someone to come looking for their 'lost' dog. Or if you know where the dog lives, return the dog with a 'he was running around off leash, there was a bylaw officer driving around and I didn't want you getting fined' as a hint.

When I moved here there was a lot of dogs running off leash, but it's gotten a lot better, because several of us started catching them and having the owner come get the dog. Much more work for lazy dog owners to find and address and get their dog (some did complain!). Now, if I see a dog running loose and I catch it, I don't make a big effort to find the owner, but keep an eye out for people looking for their dog. If nobody collected the dog after a day or so I'd take it in to the HS and then put a sign up saying the dog had gone there....

 

[Spirit_of_Cotons]

Bordermom--thanks for the reply. But I think I accidentally gave you the wrong impression. What I meant to say was the owners know full well their dogs are off leash, as they're with them. They just don't care that the law/our rules here state that they should be on a leash. The owners are around, but no long lead is even attached to them. They're scott free. So even though I know the owner is there and can recall their dog, some dogs just don't obey. I try to politely say to them, "Good thing a car wasn't coming." But they just look at me as if to say 1) "Yeah good thing." or 2) "Who cares and why are you worried about what I do with my dog."

People just don't care. I don't want to see their dog (or mine) getting hurt because of their ignorance to listen to a simple, life changing law that's there for their pet's own good. I don't know if there have been a lot of complaints; I've never written one ever so this would be my first time doing so. Thanks for your reply though.

 

[Pekinchick]

Say it to their face if you don't mind them hating you or report them to whomever can help. I personally cant stand people that let their dogs off leash since it is a law here and so many dogs are killed by roaming free.

 

[Spirit_of_Cotons]

Pekinchick--oh I would, believe me. But these are "dog-friends" so-to-speak. I'm so close to saying what I really feel though, that's why I thought if I write a letter in then maybe they'll listen. They won't know it's me doing it. This one owner has not only his dog off leash, but friends come around and take their own dogs off the leash so the dogs can play, right by a street!!

At one point I feel bad for Luke when he's there as he's the only dog leashed. Then I think, I'm saving my dog's life. If he starts to go towards the street, I can stop him where the others can't. Thanks for your reply; I believe I will write up the letter soon to report them!

 

[NozOnyCalAur]

I would do the letter but you do weigh the chances of the complex owners saying, "Dogs are too much fuss, when everyone renews their contracts its cats only or they move." Another thing you can probably do is just say, "Please leash your dog, he/she is making me uncomfortable being loose." My dog has a lunge line (for lunging horses) and that is as close as she'll ever get to being off leash, I'm too paranoid something will happen to her.