Foiled by the impervious, imperial, ignorant dog owner again

/ November 3, 2015

As long as they continue to ignore the leash law in the simple little green square two blocks over from the Little Bitty in Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood, I’ll continue to rant about it.

I’m pretty sure you turned your head and looked over at me yesterday afternoon just as I was pulling Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle back after we’d rounded the corner toward Norwood Park.

That’s when I spotted you using the main 100-yard Eastwood Bears football field as a running ground for your Irish setter. You have a beautiful dog. It appeared to be enjoying the 60º F temperature and sunny skies, a bonus Monday of early November.

An hour or so past noon, I’d already mown my lawn — maybe the last cut of the year, was running through my mind — and was hoping my dog could enjoy a walk around the park on her leash. You know, like the signs posted on the fence say. Dogs must be on a leash. For the safety of people and animals, plural, is inferred, in case you need an explanation. My further interpretation: Sometimes dogs do unexpected things.

If I see other dogs on leashes, I’ll bring Ellie B to Norwood Park because the owners control the situation. Ellie B is friendly. She’ll sniff another leashed dog and make nice. But if either dog takes offense to the other and growls, we can tug and separate them.

If I spot a dog running loose, I will not. A leashed dog and a free dog may not get along as well. And I can’t unhook Ellie B because of her “flee gene.” In other words, I fear she’ll bolt to parts far and wide, as she’s done she’s escaped our yard.

So I turned (her disappointed) tail and dragged her toward busy Midler Avenue and walked a square back to our house. We enjoyed the day and the streets of the neighborhood.

Home on the porch steps is my pooch.

Home on the porch steps is my pooch.

But she really likes the park, on her leash, walking and sniffing and discovering scents. Almost as much as she likes her own fenced backyard, where she runs free without her leash.

So I rehash by dilemma. If I see you and your loose dog again, do I bring my pet home and return to slyly get your vehicle plate information and report you to the police? I know they have more important matters to consider, but it’s the principle of this thing to me. Take your dang dog to a real dog park, which is built to handle just such running free, please and thank you.

What would you do if you had your leashed dog approaching a park and saw a dog running loose? Do you think I’m being too grumpy about my local park? Do you think I should report rule-breakers to the police?

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79 thoughts on “Foiled by the impervious, imperial, ignorant dog owner again”

  1. I think it is very irresponsible dog ownership to let the dog off the lead. They think they know their own dog, but they dont really. Their animal instincts will always prevail when provoked. My dog is placid and loveable at home, so much that I trust him around Carys. But out walking, or even if someone walks past our gate with a dog, leashed or not, he will attack. So I never ever take him off the lead. Dogs should always be leashed in a public place, no question about it.

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  3. I totally get this Mark. I live beside one of the most beautiful parks you could imagine but I can hardly ever bring my dogs there because of the lack of responsibility shown by some pet owners. There’s also a lot of swans and ducks that get really stressed out by errant dogs. It’s all very annoying. I’m just as grumpy as you about it lol!

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  4. I’m with you, I hate to see unleashed pets in public areas where they’re not meant to be unleashed. Even the best dogs have bad days. And when it comes down to it, rules are rules, period. The only thing I would suggest — call your local animal control to see who enforces the leash law. It may not be the “regular” police at all. It may be a citation given out by an animal control officer (sometimes they are a division of the police and sometimes they are completely separate). If it’s an animal control officer, maybe you won’t feel so hesitant about calling, because it is a bit different than filing an official complaint with the police (semantics, I know, but still). The thing is, whoever enforces the law needs to know (especially if this is a routine thing that happens) because while the Irish Setter might be a great dog, I’d hate to see a headline in the paper of it having bitten a child running through the park or attacking a smaller dog just because it was having a bad day that particular day (and was startled, frightened, or felt provoked). The owner needs to follow the rules just like everyone else and keep his dog leashed and under control.

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  5. Absolutely report them bro Mark. The dog is as much in danger as Ellie B. is. In my area there are a huge number of people who dognap the loose ones, esp. the kind with a good breed. An Irish Setter would bring a good price on the black market, can be trained as a fighter. It might not be popular in your area, but they ship them off to other places, where dog fighting is considered a “sport” and big bucks are exchanged, so for the dog’s sake, as well as Ellie B’s, please do report the owner. At one time, before I moved to this building, I lived next door to a person who had 8 dogs chained up in his back yard, all of them being underfed, and being abused in a way that would make them fight. I had Max at the time, and they tried to dig under the fence to get to him. I couldn’t let him out alone, because he was a friendly dog, and curious, always wanting to know what they were like, so when the hole was open enough that he could wiggle thru I had to get cement and fill it in to keep him home and them out.
    We had the same landlord, and he finally managed to evict them, but it took almost 2 years of court battles to do that. This is one crazy hick town, but it IS still home.

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  6. I came here via Ra and NanoPoblano. Great post. I always love hearing other people’s perspectives. In my area we have designated off-leash areas but these can cause their own problems – you know, if you can’t contol your dog it shouldn’t be off-leash no matter what. If you’re interested, I wrote this post about my family’s experience https://willwallywonder.wordpress.com/2015/08/03/now-wait-a-doggone-minute/
    Anyhow, great post, and good luck with NanoPoblano 🙂

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  9. I think it is only fair to try speaking to the owner of the dog first. It is possible that he really just isn’t thinking that he is bothering anyone. Try seeing if you can find him there when you are not with your dog. If you approach it in a reasonable way, explaining what happens when you and your dog want to use the park and he’s there with his unleashed dog, one would hope that he would be willing to stop using this “leash only” area as a dog park. If he doesn’t comply, then I’d say, call the police. If they don’t come, then yes, get his license # and keep calling until they do!

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  10. I believe in trying to give the offender an honest chance to correct the situation before involving the authorities. It worked out well for me several times when I was younger and to deal with loud apartment neighbors. I never so much as had to report them to management. Maybe I was lucky, but it was nice knowing it was resolved without making a big deal of it.

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  11. You have every right to be upset!!! This sort of think bugs my husband so much as people try to enjoy the trails here. Who gave them a free pass from the law?? Definitely report him, it’s not fair to you or to others.

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  12. Everyone should obey the rules. Most people in our subdivision keep their dogs on leashes. They do seem to let them poo in people’s yards, though, even though there are bags nearby. But two blocks away begins the mobile home area, and there are always yappy mean dogs there, roaming about. Always. I’ve called Animal Control, but they don’t want to deal w/ the owners, so we’ve given up going on walks or jogging, and we have to dodge them when we drive. I wish I could shove all the owners off a cliff into an active volcano, but I can’t. I feel you, Mark. Order is necessary.

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  13. I feel so bad for your dog. Take her there and get her hopes up for nothing. I would complain too and you have every right too. Not only can the other pets not enjoy a nice day out, but it’s also a danger for the children who may be playing in the area. All dogs should be on a leash when in a public place.

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  14. I think it’s time to report it, but I don’t know your area. Where I live, if there is not a crime being committed right now causing someone bodily harm, they won’t come. We don’t have enough police they say. On the other hand the school who owns the field might be interested in enforcing the rule, if the dog is pooping or tearing up the green

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  15. Lately I think there is a mind set where everyone seems to love their dogs way more than they used to. Is that crazy? I don’t know, but it seems to me like people will let their dogs do anything and everyone else is to afraid to say anything. Yes, put them on leashes, and another thing…I really don’t think they should be allowed in stores. There’s a clothing store I shop in and someone brought in a big dog and my daughter was really scared of it but was forced to be in close quarters with it and it was drooling on the floor. What do you think? Am I member of the grump’s club too?

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    • I do see dogs in places where people would never bring them in an era past, Marissa. I agree with you there. I love dogs. I own a dog. I think service dogs, the official ones with the vests on to prove it, should be allowed everywhere. The pets that owners think are so cute and intelligent that they need them to help pick out a pair of jeans? Not so much. I welcome you to my Grumpus Club, my friend.

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  17. I completely agree with you in the turning around. Unfortunately, if you called the police, I’m afraid they’d ignore it. We try never to let our dog outside of our fenced backyard without a leash, although he has snuck out the front door if our kids leave it open too long. Good luck with your dog!

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  19. I prefer dogs on leashes and we have a leash law. I wouldn’t call the cops unless I saw trouble, though. I do know a few people who have incredibly well-trained dogs who NEVER require a leash, and we get into arguments about whether they should use a leash anyway. Here’s my argument. “Yes, your dogs are absolutely the best-behaved dogs ever, and they never cause any trouble, but if I were a stranger, I wouldn’t know that. So if I saw your dogs running in the baseball diamond, I wouldn’t feel safe, not for me, not for Sadie, because I don’t know what kind of dog behavior I’m going to encounter. You’re asking all of us to assume our safety instead of following the law.”
    No can do.
    And you’re right, one dog leashed and one dog off-leash often means a growl or two, which is why I get mad at owners who let their dogs linger at the gate of dog parks. Makes me growl! lol

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    • You are right on all accounts, Joey, and they are wrong, wrong, wrong. One day their dog may be a little jumpy, something could rub it the wrong way, and a human has a bite wound with which to deal and they may have to put their beloved and previously perfect pooch down. Not to mention another grumpy dog coming along and picking a fight with their personable dog. Yikes. What are your friends thinking? They make me growl. lol.

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  20. I’m with you on this one, Mark. I gave up walking in my own community because of unleashed dogs that start out on their own front yard, and attack anyone on the sidewalk, while the owner is busy mowing, chatting on phone, etc. Our township just opened a leash- free dog park, more than 5 acres fenced, divided for small, medium and large pets. We all paid for this with local taxes, folks should take advantage of it and not jeopardize the safety of others. I’d report the repeat offender, for sure. Good luck. 🐕 🐕 🐕

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  22. My husband and I discussed this just yesterday as we were taking Cody for her walk around the track at the local school. This is not a dog park! There are signs prohibiting dog walking in that area, but no one bothers you if the dog is on leash and you pick up after it, and lots of people like to walk dogs around the track because it’s safe and quiet.

    As we pulled in to the parking lot, we saw a guy with a young black lab, and the lab was running amok all over the lawn inside the track. We’ve seen the guy and his dog there before, and while he seems to have the dog fairly well trained, I don’t like to take chances. Cody is always on leash, and Cody doesn’t particular like other dogs. We opted take her elsewhere for her walk.

    PS: I’ve never seen that guy pick up after his dog, either. We always pick up after Cody. There are trash cans all around the track, so there’s no excuse.

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  23. I believe I would just tell him. It is possible he is just ignorant. Regardless no sense in disappointing Ellie B or making yourself upset. Oh and yeah I would call the cops.

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  24. I agree, but also think it is unfortunate that Eastwood does not have a dog park. Dogs need exercise, and dogs are social. The answer is not, keep them on a leash!

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  25. Have you seen said Irish Setter loose before, with said owner Yeah call the law!!! I Florida on my beach I see owners with dogs-they are NOT ALLOWED on the beach period! I call my Local PD all the time to send beach patrol out and within minutes they’re escorted off the beach with a nice ticket that helps keep my local PD happy. I do not pay the kind of taxes we do to step in dog poop on my beach!!! “Cause Terp its the Law here! Gatorette

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    • I can’t get myself to confront the other person because I’d have to get my dog too close — and worry that the other person is a dangerous wacko — or call the police because I know it’s a nuisance more than real trouble, MBC. Woe is me and Ellie B.

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  28. No, not too grumpy at all, Mark. My younger daughter and her husband have a dog who does not like other dogs, unless they are dogs he knows well. Even when people are walking dogs on leashes, they have to be careful with him. When people let their dogs run loose, it is asking for a disaster. It’s very inconsiderate of the pet owner, and they are risking the safety of their own dogs when they let them off the leash. Oh, there is a little dog park at their apartment complex, so the residents can take their dogs there to run off leash. My daughter and son-in-law have only done so when no other dogs are there.

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