Hurting dogs

We live on a quiet street off a road leading to a nearby school.

During morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times, this road can be quite busy.

This morning, drop-off had just finished. Busy parents were returning home or heading to work.

I was walking my dog Sunny when I saw Tom and his dog Bobby who live on the busy road, on the opposite side from where I was walking.

Bobby has had cancer but is now healthy. He is never taken for a walk, but sometimes is permitted on the footpath, with Tom, sitting on a low fence, watching him. He is usually a very obedient dog – but he is never on a leash.

Because he doesn’t go out walking, Bobby sees few dogs, so he particularly enjoys it when I cross the road with Sunny, and the two dogs have a chance to “catch up” socially. They get on extremely well.

I was waiting for a pause in the stream of traffic, to cross over to see them, with Sunny sitting beside me. He is on a leash, and always sits before crossing a road, waiting for me to say, “Let’s go!”

However, this time Bobby could not wait for us. He ran across the road to meet us – straight in front of an oncoming car. I screamed, one of those silent screams of horror and powerlessness. Fortunately, the car slowed sufficiently, and just missed him.

However, my heart was racing, all the more because I knew Bobby would get into big trouble. I had seen him on one previous occasion receive a hard and prolonged smacking for doing this exact same thing.

Tom marched across the road, grabbed him by the neck and squeezed hard. Poor Bobby yelped in pain. “He’s hurting!” I couldn’t help but cry out.

“He always makes out like I’m killing him!” was the reply, as he did it again and again, and then grabbed poor Bobby’s leg and did something to hurt his leg. Poor Bobby yelped again. Bobby ran back across the road and Tom followed, shouting at him to “Get inside! Get inside!” Bobby didn't get to have any time with Sunny.

This was NOT Bobby’s fault. A responsible dog owner keeps his dog on a leash (as is required by law) when not inside the yard. A responsible dog owner sees that his dog is regularly walked and has sufficient dog company and socialisation. That way, a dog does not impetuously run across a busy road in his desperate need to meet another dog. A responsible dog owner does not smack or hurt a dog, and blame the dog for his own negligence. A responsible dog owner does not take his dog onto the footpath without a leash at the busiest time of the day.

I felt a measure of guilt because my dog was the attraction and caused Bobby to behave recklessly. My sense of guilt would have been unbearable if Bobby had been injured or killed.

I was almost in tears.

As we continued walking, I noticed that another irresponsible dog owner had not cleaned up his dog’s droppings. What distressed me more, however, was that the dog had not been permitted to stop and crouch to attend to his personal needs – the droppings had obviously continued while the dog was walking, spaced as they were along the footpath.

I hope no-one is saying or thinking, “Dogs are dirty animals!” because they are not. They have normal bodily needs, and when they are in an environment where they can’t cover or bury their droppings, it is the responsibility of the human to clean up the area after them. It’s not very hard to carry a small plastic bag. Is it?

We passed many homes where dogs were excited to see us, barking frantically, glad of a diversion in their otherwise boring days, with no-one at home during the day, day after day, week after week, month after month. I wonder if the dogs get some time and attention on the weekends. Too much to ask? Is it?

At times though, I would hear a shouted “Quiet!” or “That’s enough!” Are those the only words a dog hears? It’s not too hard to give a dog some time, love and affection, or even just to talk to them in a reasonable voice. Is it?

How many of these magnificent creatures live their lives alone, sad and lonely, neglected, or abandoned in backyards or imprisoned within four walls? They need companionship and love, as we all do.

How many suffer from animal abuse? There are some horror stories. No-one knows what goes on behind closed doors, either for vulnerable humans or for equally vulnerable pets.

I returned home. The dog in the house behind continues to whine pitifully every time I am outside in the back yard. He throws his considerable body weight against the fence in an effort to knock the fence down and escape. Last year he succeeded, but his freedom was short-lived.

He has no company, and to my knowledge has never been taken for a walk in the last three or four years. He is a German Shepherd, and he needs exercise. Nobody plays with him, no balls are thrown, no-one talks to him. I have never heard him addressed except in anger or annoyance.

There are times when I am so upset to hear his distress that I go back inside. It’s not too hard to walk a dog for half an hour or even fifteen minutes a day. Is it? It should be a mandatory condition of dog ownership.

My rant is obvious. I am sickened and grieved by irresponsible dog owners who do not count it a privilege to look after a living being – an animal who only wants to give and receive love and loyalty.

If people want a dog, they must look after it. It becomes part of the family and needs to be treated with kindness and respect. A dog needs on-going training for his own safety, and he also needs company, both canine and human, for his well-being, so that his emotional as well as physical needs are looked after. Is that really too much to ask?

Caring for them is a responsibility, and yes, it takes time, but it is also a privilege! And a joy. Responsibility and privilege usually walk together, and joy generally follows, just one step behind.

I hope that venting here may cause some-one, anyone, to speak up for vulnerable animals, and help educate people in responsible ownership, and in the ways of giving and receiving the beautiful gift of love which comes with having a pet dog.

Now I feel better.