Rogue Dog Owner Blog

How difficult is this to understand?

Right, well first off, I like dogs. All breeds, all sizes. What I don't like is selfish owners, who are ruining our parks, countryside and wildlife. I believe in live and let live, and people can do more or less what they like, as long as it doesn't impact massively on others. I walk many nature reserves, and it's become a real family hobby, for which my children also enjoy. A typical family day out for us, will be a visit to a nature reserve or park, and any spare time I have, I would rather go to a nature reserve than do anything else.


We all respect other people's space. If we see someone with a camera or binoculars, we tread carefully and are quiet as to not disturb them. If a cyclist cycles past, we move out the way. If someone passes the time of day, we pass it back. If we pass people with a dog on lead, they stop to talk, we fuss the dog and chat. If we see a dog off lead, paying full attention only to it's owners, and walking by their side, we accept their presence. If we have a picnic, we take home our litter. It's quite telling really, that my daughter asked me yesterday if it was ok to pick daises, which was on a list from a borough run easter egg hunt. 


So, I have a point to make. That is, many times I have been accused of being selfish. I have been accused of hating dogs, and wishing for them to be banned off lead anywhere. I want to dispel that accusation, and show how they actually impact on the wildlife, my family and others, and explain how the actions of many have formed my opinion.


For such a defensive section of society, why can't some dog owners show us some courtesy? First example. Yesterday, me and my daughter were at a nature reserve, photographing small birds. We knelt down because a robin was on the ground feeding and getting closer and closer. Within minutes, 2 dogs charged through the undergrowth, one Sharpe and one Collie, chasing each other. The owners knew each other, and stopped to talk to each other. The owner of the Sharpe said "I will say one thing, watch your legs, and I'm sitting down because I can see someone getting knocked off their feet and it won't be me" On top of this, the owner of the Collie re-called her dog, and said "I want him back as I don't want him running into that smelly stuff" Totally and quite unbelievable selfishness on so many levels.


First off, the dogs off lead (illegally and within view of a dogs on lead sign) were running through the undergrowth, potentially destroying ground nesting birds, damaging the habitat, quite possibly killing small mammals and frightening nesting birds. Just why would they bother going to a nature reserve if they are ignorant to the damage their dogs are doing?


Secondly, it's very noble to not want your dog to be smelly, but that shouldn't be the reason for recalling a dog. That smelly stuff supports a range of valued and protected wildlife, it's the smelly stuff that needs protecting from the dog, not the other way around, so the same question of just why would they bother going to a nature reserve if they are ignorant to the damage their dogs are doing?


Third point. If they know their dog is capable of knocking an adult of their feet, why would they let that dog off lead in a nature reserve, during the holidays that was having a family day, with lots of children and even toddlers walking about? 


Forth point, these owners could see us with our cameras, but they didn't give us a second thought as to what we were doing, and that their selfishness stopped us from doing what we were doing. They did not respect us or show us any courtesy what so ever, but instead stood talking, and laughing at how their dogs were "so disobedient but mean no harm" 


We walked a little further, and were looking into the hedges at the many birds there. Then another loose dog ran up to us growling and barking, with the owner shouting "It's ok he's friendly" So next question, how do we know a dog is friendly when the owners have no control, and they run up ignoring the calls and acting aggressively? 


The point I want to make the most is, I don't care if your dog IS friendly, we do not choose to have muddy paws on us, to be covered in water after an illegal dip in water or smelly stuff, to hear your endless shouting of a terrible recall, and dogs noses joining our picnic! 


So, I have decided now, to do a rogue dog owner blog where, I will be taking photo's of dogs who are victims of bad owners.


I shall start with this one. During a pleasant Sunday afternoon walk, two middle aged men sat on a green near to a protected lake, with cans of beer whilst they sat and watched their out of control dogs, jumping into the lake retrieving sticks thrown in for them.  Two Swans were becoming protective, and hissing at the dogs. One of the men shouted out "that ****ing Swan better not attack my dog" That was his concern. I saw one dog try to lunge at the Swan, but luckily for the Swan, the dog was slightly out of depth. Families were arriving, and a small child was stood on the edge of the water trying to feed the Swans, bringing them in closer. I was worried for the child and the Swans, a concern not shared by these selfish owners. So this is my first picture. The dog had pulled this branch from the water himself. 

This second shot shows a child about to ride through on a bike, with this dog running towards with this huge branch.

Needless to say, our family walk was cut short. I did not want to see a Swan killed, a child injured, or even the dog in trouble. 


There is another hazard I want to highlight, and I struggle to comprehend the mentality of a dog owner doing this. Leaving the dog's mess behind is bad enough. I believe in sharing, but I really do not want to have a share of  dog poo on any of our feet that gets trodden in my car, and then round my house. 


But worse, if that's possible, are the dog owners that actually pick their dog's mess up, tie it into a bag, and throw it into trees, bushes or on fences. Just simply....why? And just to say, I have heard a defense, and that is there is an absence of poo bins, I will address that. First off, I have seen poo bags in trees, hedges and fences where a poo bin is less than 20 yards away. I have heard, "what about other animals poo?" These animals are native to the environment, they live there, and nature deals with this problem in it's own way. We make a choice to visit nature reserves and enjoy WILDLIFE. Dog poo isn't WILDLIFE. Then they say, "what about foxes and cats in the undergrowth?" Foxes are native and wildlife, cats cannot be restricted, except for cat proof fences which are a legal requirement on a heath, and I can't remember the last time I saw a cat in a protective reserve, unlike loose dogs. Then I direct you to my main point, your dog ownership is your choice, your responsibility. That is from what goes in, to what goes out. You are responsible if your dog destroys a habitat. Your problem if you want to own a dog.


So every time I go out, I will be taking pictures that demonstrate the menace of some dog owners and I will shame them all. I am also going to keep complaining to the borough about it, because it is ruining the reserves and the enjoyment of many. I would not want to stop dog's being able to be walked on reserves, but if owners can't take responsibility I won't stop until they are. So look out for me and my camera, and remember to smile. If you are an irresponsible dog owner, you and your dog will be on my blog. 


This is a song I wrote, Earth Song Style. A light hearted, but serious message behind it though!



What about Smooth Snakes, what about frogs, what about all the life you destroy with your offlead dogs...


What about Nightjars, is there a time, what about all the things you destroy with your offlead crime?




Did you ever stop to notice, your doggy took a shit, did you ever stop to notice, a toddler stepped in it..... erghhhh Aaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaaah etc




Beach, parks and playing feilds, it's about time, that walking dogs off lead-there, was treated as a crime?


Children are innocent, pick up from the ground, a stone, stick or or a peice of dog shit, left laying all arround...


Signs put up all around, for everyone to see, the trouble with some dog owners, is "that it don't apply to me"


I used to dream, of a nature reserve to share, if only all dog owners would show they really care............Aaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaaah


Children get told off, for walking on the grass, but you can't even be responsible for what comes out your dogs arse.


Children hey what's that, a Robin, crow or Tit, sorry kids it's my mistake, it's a bag of doggie shit...


Aaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaaah