Who let the dogs out? - And what do I do about them?

People, dogs. On one hand we have fully sentient beings capable of abstract thought able to remember pain and terror. On the other hand we have animals operating on instinct and some conditioned behaviour, many only one step from totally wild. Although I like some dogs, I’m on the side of people. People do not have the right to own animals that terrorise or even simply frighten people. They are not that important. They are dogs.

In NSW and some other states (not sure about ACT) IF your dog is found roaming or not on a leash you cop a $110 fine as well as the impounding fees etc. Your dog is recorded as being on ‘probation’ and each time it is caught roaming again the fine goes up by $10 or $20. IF you do NOT pay the fines they are sent to State Debt Recovery and your drivers licence and/or car rego will be cancelled.

Tempestas said :

Holden Caulfield said :

Additionally some kind of licenced owner system might lead to changes in insurance, – not a licenced owner of dogs, your dog attacks someone, no 3rd party coverage, your assets get sold for you to start meeting compensation costs etc.

That sounds like an idea!

tylersmayhem, and also Holden Caulfield, I’m sorry you’ve had these problems with idiot dogowners. I hope solutions, sensible civilised solutions, can be found.

Did anyone mention not making eye contact with a dog acting aggressively? I’m sure that’s one of the things I’ve heard recommended.

absolutely tyler. Your wife is more important. glad the rangers are keeping a look out. Good luck!

Deckard said :

We’ll need a new Dept of Licenses to take care of all this…

Along with the licenses for cycling, walking and having children.

And the alternative is?

Maybe we should all just be armed and then we can sort dogs, cars, cyclists and children out ourselves without any need for that silly government thing that we have to pay taxes for.

Welcome to Life: Nasty, brutish and short.

PsydFX said :

johnboy said :

Last warning on abusing other commenters PsydFX.

JB, how is it I get a warning when using the exact same term that tyler used against me?

You’re the one who brought unnecessary agro. I’d advise against arguing with me here on the matter.

Deal with it.

tylersmayhem said :

Thanks for (mostly) everyone’s advice, comments and support. I have been in contact with Territory and Municipal Services to report the problem. A ranger will be in the area over the next few days to try and track down the dog and owner and arrange to make sure the dog is being looked after and contained appropriately.

I really hope nothing comes between the dog and owner – but at the end of the day the safety of my wife and community comes first!

So in the end the appropriate course of action was to ring the pound?

I would always hope if she ever got out again, the person who found her would either call the number on her collar or get the pound to collect her.

Ideally we would have done this with this dog prhhcd – but there was no way we are going to approach an aggressive dog which has already attempted to attack my wife!

I’m glad it worked out with your dog. As a dog owner, unfortunately it comes with the territory that dogs will sometimes get away with you and decide to risk playing in traffic. I remember so many times when my former dog ran on to busy roads. Such gut wrenching moments. Luckly she died of old age at the ripe old age of 18.

Hey guys, this is a really interesting post.
I live in Fraser and my dog got out the day before yesteday…. She’s just a small cattle dog and was just running over the street to try to play with another dog but it was scary! For me. And the poor lady who was walking the other dog freaked out too!
We both reacted in the wrong way, she shooed my dog back accross the main road while there was oncoming traffic and I just yelled at my dog to come – which she did. Moral of the story – it could have turned out a lot worse for all of us.
I would always hope if she ever got out again, the person who found her would either call the number on her collar or get the pound to collect her. She is registered etc so I’d rather have that happen then someone poison her with 10-80, or more realistically she gets run over…

Thanks for (mostly) everyone’s advice, comments and support. I have been in contact with Territory and Municipal Services to report the problem. A ranger will be in the area over the next few days to try and track down the dog and owner and arrange to make sure the dog is being looked after and contained appropriately.

I really hope nothing comes between the dog and owner – but at the end of the day the safety of my wife and community comes first!

Hiya,
First of all,,,your poor wife must have been terrified.
Secondly,,,report, report, report.
It is illegal for the dog to be out and it’s obviously not just a one time mistake.
The dog by law, should be registered and microchipped. The owners will have the chance to get it back IF they want it.

The poor dog may be abandoned and have no where to go. It may end up wandering until it does attack someone or gets run-over.

Some things though…..When you ring do NOT state it is Staffy/Pit,,,,just say it is an aggressive dog. There are hundreds of reports made every week about supposed Pit attacks and when attended the dog has no Pit in it at all. It has become like a ‘hoax’ call now with so with so many reports attended to find the dogs are just staffy/mastiff or mastiff/rotty etc.

Also, it may take time and a few reports before they actually find the dog concerned.
We had trouble for years with a smaller dog but by the time I rang and someone arrived it was always gone…Nothing could be done…Then one day I got my phone and took a pic of the dog (I was going to print it and put it up on poles around our street) When the Ranger seen the pic he recognised it and action was taken.

I believe if people do not look after and care for their dog properly, if they do NOT take responsibility for their dog, then they do NOT deserve to own it.

We’ll need a new Dept of Licenses to take care of all this…

Along with the licenses for cycling, walking and having children.

I grow up with a bullterrier X, best dog I’ve ever had, obedient and always wanting to please. But there is a dark side to them they are breed to fight to the death.
We kept a tight leash on him, never taught him to chase other animals and made sure he was the bottom dog in the family.
I see these dogs loose on the streets and they are dangerous they untrained and raised like little children by their stupid owners. If you think you can fight these animals off you once they attack you’re dreaming, they crush and tear and go for the throat, they have no fear it is breed out of them.
I love animals but if it goes for a human or another animal it needs to be destroyed pronto.

My MIL had a dog that sounds very similar attack her and her dog on a walk at the top of flynn. She reported it to DAS when she got home and they came around and saw her straight away about it. They didn’t find the dog though.

Holden Caulfield said :

We have a serial pest that lives nearby who has a dog that seems to thinks cats are pretty tasty. A few times now we have spoken to him about keeping his dog on a lead, or at least under control. He just doesn’t appear to give a shit and thinks its funny. Its especially amusing to him if his dog is in our yard harassing our cats. He does sweet FA about stopping it. It makes my blood boil! Hopefully, one day, this 30-odd year old bloke will grow up and learn some respect, but I’m not holding my breath.

Of course a licence scheme would probably not stop someone like this, but it might at least give the relevant authorities something to encourage better behaviour with. Being able to impound and assess any animals of an unlicensed person, or cancelation of their licence can’t be any worse that what happens now.

This also proves its not the animal it’s the usually sub-human owner.

Additionally some kind of licenced owner system might lead to changes in insurance, – not a licenced owner of dogs, your dog attacks someone, no 3rd party coverage, your assets get sold for you to start meeting compensation costs etc.

Timberwolf65 said :

TimberWolf65

To deceit, why don’t you go and have a nice bowl of 10-80 it’s people like you that blame the dog and don’t really get to know the real issue behind why the dog is acting like this.

Because 10-80 is banned for human consumption? Duhhh

Why is that!

The other issue we have is dogs not on leads.

I was considering posting a second thread today on this very topic. Perhaps I should do so JB?! Maybe I’m having a bad week – in fact I can tell you I am for free. I’ll post away now…

johnboy said :

Last warning on abusing other commenters PsydFX.

JB, how is it I get a warning when using the exact same term that tyler used against me?

We have a couple of dogs close to our home that cause us some moderate issues from time to time.

First one is pretty harmless as it is usually behind a metal fence. Trouble is the metal fence is see through, so he barks pretty ferociously as you approach the yard. From one side it is a blind approach, so if you forget the dog lives there it will scare the shit out of you, haha. I’m no dog expert, but it looks like a pit bull something and I reckon if it got out he’d be a pretty angry little bugger.

One day, though, he started barking at me from behind his fence, I just yelled a loud “bah!!!” and that tended to shut him up, so I think the points earlier about fooling the dog that you’re the one in control is probably good advice. Mostly though, when he starts barking I just talk to him in a calm manner and have a bit of chat, telling him its not that bad and he should probably relax a little, all that hyper tension can’t be good for him etc. Once he hears a calm voice and can see we wish him no harm he generally quietens down.

The other issue we have is dogs not on leads. We live on a corner block that is fairly open and have a couple of cats. We have a reasonable amount of pedestrian traffic passing our front yard, including a few dog owners. I’d say 30% of people would walk their dogs off a lead, if they have a lead with them at all. So, of course, our cats who like to laze on our front porch, or in the front yard, are prime targets for these dogs off leads. Several times now we have had to fend off dogs from chasing our cats, and, of course, these are only the times we are present when this happens. Each time this has happened the dog owner has stood by offering little in terms of support or attempts at control. Not happy Jan!

Now, I don’t pretend to be the perfect role model cat owner, but we’re pretty good really and when our cats are sitting peacefully in their own yard I reckon it’s fair enough to expect that they can continue to do so without fear of being chased the pet of by some arseclown that thinks it is okay to walk their dogs without a lead.

If our cats stray into someone’s yard and they cop a bit of grief for doing so, either by the owner, or a pet, then I’d say that is fair game. But not when they are in their own yard causing no harm to anybody.

We have a serial pest that lives nearby who has a dog that seems to thinks cats are pretty tasty. A few times now we have spoken to him about keeping his dog on a lead, or at least under control. He just doesn’t appear to give a shit and thinks its funny. Its especially amusing to him if his dog is in our yard harassing our cats. He does sweet FA about stopping it. It makes my blood boil! Hopefully, one day, this 30-odd year old bloke will grow up and learn some respect, but I’m not holding my breath.

Thanks PsydFX…the number would do well at the top of the page with the story, just so everyone knows. It’s edumacational ‘n sh-t 🙂

I would be ringing someone to go out and check the living conditions of the dog, It’s probably bored shitless and is finding away out of the backyard. I certainly love all dogs but know this type of breed has got a name for itself and if not raised properly like socialized the dog with other dogs and people from a young age there can be problems.

Pitbulls are like any other dog, if not raised properly they can be dangerous, it is not the dogs fault though it is the owners, they should be dealt with if they neglect the animal.

To deceit, why don’t you go and have a nice bowl of 10-80 it’s people like you that blame the dog and don’t really get to know the real issue behind why the dog is acting like this.

p1 said :

1080 is usually used to bait foxes and feral dogs in National Parks and the like.

So . . . . if you don’t know which house the dog lives at, you could declare him a feral dog and poison him with 10-80?

I got no satisfaction from Dog Control years ago when two dogs decided to form a pack and attacked one of my pets on my property, I was told they weren’t interested unless the dog had attacked a person. A few months later a person got attacked by a dog, the neighbours were interviewed and said the dog was known to be dangerous because he’d attacked other pets and lunged at people, but were told by dog control they wouldn’t do anything unless the dog attacked a person. A spokesperson from dog control denied it, saying they never said such a thing.

I suspect things are much the same now as they were then.

Deadmandrinking said :

By reporting the dogs, you could be doing both the owner and yourself a service. It sucks however, Tyler, to hear that you’re getting the runaround. I thought the people at the pound just went out and had a look once you called them? I’ve never reported a dog myself, so I don’t know…

Who do you have to call?

You ring Canberra Connect and ask to be transfered to ACT Domestic Animal Services.

Gee, because the Government never makes mistakes, do they.

I don’t think they’re using 10-80 in suburbs anyway.

tylersmayhem said :

@PsydFX: ever thought that I might have already been getting the run around by various departments not waiting to take responsibility d**khead? It’s also my wife’s welfare on the line here to – so you can put your aggression and halfwit comments somewhere else. How about providing some useful comments or suggestions on here instead of sniping from the sidelines?

You are just the moron I expected to hear from when I added my disclaimer at the bottom of the OP.

No I didn’t think that you may be getting the run-around as your original post doesn’t seem to suggest it an any way! In fact the original post seems to suggest that you have held off calling Dog Control because you don’t want to see the dog separated from it’s owner.

I am not being aggressive what so ever, I am suggesting that you take the appropriate action of calling the authorities before someone or the dog gets hurt, rather than worrying if a dog is going to be separated from it’s owner.

NoAddedMSG said :

1080 = poison of choice for killing possums in NZ, and on foxes in Australia. Has some issues with secondary poisoning (ie if your dog eats a dead possum, it will die too), and isn’t the nicest way for an animal to die.

it doesn’t end there. 10-80 can kill the primary animal, the secondary animal, and, god forbid, if it gets into a waterway, wipe out fish, livestock, humans. It doesn’t break down easily. i have had some experience doing pig baiting in summer, dropping crushed carrots on trails in the hills on a property.

there is no greater torture than to do this in summer, sweating, covered in carrot juice, unable to take a drink from a stream, horrible.

i have also had to use it on wild dogs, with a baited lamb carcass. The clean up after the dog has expired is a foul mess. not something i would ever joke about.

1080 is usually used to bait foxes and feral dogs in National Parks and the like.

Perhaps when the owners get licensed they should also be micro chipped?

1080 = poison of choice for killing possums in NZ, and on foxes in Australia. Has some issues with secondary poisoning (ie if your dog eats a dead possum, it will die too), and isn’t the nicest way for an animal to die.

By reporting the dogs, you could be doing both the owner and yourself a service. It sucks however, Tyler, to hear that you’re getting the runaround. I thought the people at the pound just went out and had a look once you called them? I’ve never reported a dog myself, so I don’t know…

Who do you have to call?

My auntie got chased by an alsation on her pushbike, it took her down like a cheetah chasing a zebra and put five stitches in her bum… Not nice but at the time when I was watching it with the look of terror on her face and the speed at which it happened it was damn funny!

How very scary for your wifey! Hope she is ok.
Twice as a teenager I got chased and bitten walking home from the bus in Flynn/Melba by blue heeler types of dogs. Scared me no end, I have only just gotten used to being around dogs now. Good advice from comments 1 & 2.
I didnt even think about reporting it to anyone except mum and dad, and parents werent really sure who to call either, as it both attacks were in a play/grassed area and the owners would have been very difficult to track down.
Later I just figured they were bored and on the loose, looking to play and running away from them caused more harm than good!
At least I’ll know what to do next time though! *knock wood* 🙂

So, obviously, all dog owners are drunk and high. Any other huge section of the community you want to alienate today?

Exactly. I’ve seen neighbourhoods where the owners are waaaaay to drunk and high to take care of their rotty cross mongrels. Lovely!

chrispy said :

is 10-80 a gun?

A friend had their dog stolen. months later they were taking a walk and it jumped over the fence of a house down their street and ran to them.

People get weird about pets. Imagine thinking “I really miss that dog I stole”.

10-80 is one of the most foul poisons ever invented. enough said.

Well, JakeZ, it would seem we are all idiots. It’s some kind of poison. I thought it was a gun too.

What is a 10-80?

PsydFX, a lot of the time, the owner does not realize their dog is out. They could be busy with housework or something…or they might not even be at the house. It doesn’t take dogs a whole days to find mischief, believe me.

@PsydFX: ever thought that I might have already been getting the run around by various departments not waiting to take responsibility d**khead? It’s also my wife’s welfare on the line here to – so you can put your aggression and halfwit comments somewhere else. How about providing some useful comments or suggestions on here instead of sniping from the sidelines?

You are just the moron I expected to hear from when I added my disclaimer at the bottom of the OP.

Last warning on abusing other commenters PsydFX.

There’s no place for a Staffy / Pit-bull cross dog like this. The mutt should be put down asap. What are you waiting for?

Reply

PsydFX said :

Deadmandrinking said :

Umm, but what happens when your license is gone? Does the dog get taken away and destroyed?
Or do you?

Not sure, but I’m sure you can get around it by suggesting that you need your dog for “work puposes”

Or you can ignore them and gallop away on the dog’s back when the K-9’s pull you over? It is a bit of a silly idea, yes.

Actually, Deceit, in the country that’s what happens to alot of dogs when they get loose and cause mischief around cattle and sheep. It’s actually what happened to my old dog from when I was growing up. She got out with a new dog and decided to visit some other properties. Somebody shot her for going too close to her sheep. It’s kind of necessary, I suppose, considering it’s the farmers source of profit and they have no way of discerning whether a dog is feral or wearing a collar from a distance. But it’s still not a very nice thing for the owner. We took good care of that dog and had her on a chain when we weren’t home so it wouldn’t happen. Unfortunately, when the new dog came they decided to escape and be naughty – which had only happened once before. A bit of a hefty price to pay for the dog’s mischief and the owners mistake, I think. There would be no need to do that in the suburbs.

What the hell would you be doing walking around with a gun in the suburbs anyway? Are you sure it’s not the dog that needs to be reported? Or shot?

Firstly, the 10-80 comment was WAY inapprope! I don’t endorse breed bans either. BUT I do expect proper environments and supervision on particular breeds. As I said in my most recent post, my idea of asking suggestions is I would like to avoid having the dog removed from it’s owner – and particularly not destroyed for no reason. I simply want the owner to take responsibility of their pet. If they are “unaware” their dog is out and about, I doubt the owner is particularly responsible.

So let me get this straight, there is a dog that is on the loose and has shown aggression and you’ve decided to post about it on RA rather than inform the appropriate authorities who may well prevent this dog from attacking a small child.

No, it’s to get some awareness about it you dope – and to also get the proper information, instead of just calling the pound and having the dog picked up – I’d rather avoid that. WTFU PsydFX. Next time you make a comment on here, ask yourself why you are doing it on here, rather that going out and taking action on it.

is 10-80 a gun?

A friend had their dog stolen. months later they were taking a walk and it jumped over the fence of a house down their street and ran to them.

People get weird about pets. Imagine thinking “I really miss that dog I stole”.

Right!~ Now I know what 10-80 is.

Deciet you’re a pr*ck.

If you think baiting dogs is the best way to handle it maybe you should go back to your bunker and spend some more of that quality time with your sister. Then when you guys have your puppies you can serve their little in-bred deformed bodies some 10-80 and repeat the process until you get it right.

Deadmandrinking said :

Umm, but what happens when your license is gone? Does the dog get taken away and destroyed?
Or do you?

Not sure, but I’m sure you can get around it by suggesting that you need your dog for “work puposes”

Umm, but what happens when your license is gone? Does the dog get taken away and destroyed?
Or do you?

That’s a disgusting comment Deceit – have you seen what 10-80 does to animals?

Tylers – how terrifying! I would recommend calling DAS and reporting the area the dog was in. They may be able to catch it and check its collar/scan for a microchip. Yes, there’s a good chance it will get put down but there is no place for animals like that if the owner is not willing to properly secure it.

Not sure what the solution to the overall problem is, but I don’t endorse breed bans. Not all dogs of a certain breed are of a bad temperament. I, however, also believe that any dog capable of causing serious damage to another dog or person should be muzzled whenever in public.

erm… its not it’s

Tempestas said :

Perhaps its time to consider licencing Dog owners.

That way the responsible people have nothing to worry about and the “I just need a pit-bull” for my ego/machismo crowd can fail.

Imagine the Ads:
If you’re dog is caught not wearing it’s collar this Australia Day Weekend, that’s half your license gone.

Solution to the matter: 10-80

What’s 10-80?

Perhaps its time to consider licencing Dog owners

Pure unadulterated logic.

I mean licensing drivers ensured that there are no irresponsible driving right ?

/End sarcasm

Perhaps its time to consider licencing Dog owners.

That way the responsible people have nothing to worry about and the “I just need a pit-bull” for my ego/machismo crowd can fail.

Stand your ground and don;t turn your back on the bugger, try and make yourself bigger than them but stay calm, I reckon they’re pretty intuitive when it comes to people, they tend to try and dominate people if they think they’re scared of them. The dog has claimed that area as their tettitory so they are defending it and you have to be bigger but remain calm to claim it back, without shouting and freaking out.

That said I had what looked like a mixed up pitbull crossed with god-knows what else chase the other day and I was absolutely sh*tting it! But I did stand my ground, he had a go at me, then backed off and I thought it was okay to turn around but as soon as I did he went straight for the back of my thigh. Which proved to me I shouldn’t turn my back on one if it comes at me.

I think it’s disgraceful that people allow dogs to roam around like that and their should be hefty fines for doing it, and their pets should be taken off them if they can’t handle them. I do understand from time to time accidents do happen however, a bit of diligence ensures that this can be avoided more often than not.

For the record I am not against dangerous breeds either, I have friends that are responsible dog owners with Pit Bulls and they are well looked after, socialised and great to be around. I bred Rottweilers when I was younger too. Big dogs need constant work and stimulation to keep them in check, if you stop doing that they’ll totally dominate your household and eventually the neighbourhood.

1. It’s the owners’ responsibility to make sure that a dog is adequately secured when in public. If a dog is off-leash (in a non-offleash area) then the owner is committing an offence and it should be reported to Domestic Animal Services. Doubly so if the dog is behaving in a threatening manner.
2. It’s generally a good idea to talk to the owners first before going to DAS – they maybe unaware that the dog gets out, or unaware that it hassles passers-by. A reasonable person will take action to fix the situation. If that doesn’t work, or the owners are unreasonable then contact DAS and complain about a dangerous dog.
3. Running is a bad idea, as dogs like to chase things. Standing your ground and yelling “bah!” in a firm tone followed by the command “drop!” in conjuction with a chopping hand movement should work on any dog that has had any training. If that doesn’t work then hiding is the best option, and then report to DAS.

So let me get this straight, there is a dog that is on the loose and has shown aggression and you’ve decided to post about it on RA rather than inform the appropriate authorities who may well prevent this dog from attacking a small child.

Ring the ACT Gvt on their 13 number….they’ll put you through to the Dog Control mob, tell them your story & they’ll know how to proceed.

You definitely don’t want to run away, and you don’t want the dog to close on you either.

Without wanting to endorse animal cruelty, if you feel genuinely threatened then my advice would be:

1. Stay calm and don’t turn your back on the dog, back away slowly.

2. If there’s a stout stick to hand and the dog is coming at you swing and swing hard.

3. In the absence of axe handles a kick *can* fend them off, but you’d want to be wearing solid shoes.

4. Worst comes to worst climb a tree and call for help.