jamesq | Off Leash Areas

I was minding my own business, jogging through the eastern most corner of Ranchlands this morning when I encountered some guy walking his five dogs. Naturally a bunch of the dogs ran up to me, nipping at my heels, growling, jumping and basically acting in a manner that made me wonder if I was going to get bitten. These were medium to largish sized dogs that seemed to be part german shepherd, part heinz 57 so I was more than a little worried.

The owner's response to this behavior?

"Put your arms down, they think you're playing with them".
I shouted back, "Maybe you should learn to control your dogs".

Now I understand that this was an off-leash area, but off-lease areas are a privilege, not a right. It's the owners duty to control their animals. If the animal can't be controlled then it should be on a leash or in an enclosure of some kind. An off-lease area does not absolve you of your responsibilities. The vast majority of dog owners I encounter do control their animal, so it's not like this is a difficult task.

If his mutts got a face full of pepper spray, I bet he'd learn to control them.

Crossposted to