Eld, that sounds so irresponsible! I hope drivers in your neighborhood know to watch out for him. Why do people have pets if they don't want to take care of them?

And don't old dogs get deaf and slow?

It’s not only sadly irresponsible but lazy, childish, short-sighted and a host of other words. Other cars don’t ‘know’ her dog and an unexpected dog running into the street can cause all sorts of problems.

People are amazing. Poor dog.

Over and above the dog being older with diminished eyesight and hearing, we animal lovers tend to project too much human reasoning onto our pets. They are smart in ways we'll never be, but comprehension of traffic consequences isn't one of them. If I thought the animal was being endangered, I'd call my local animal services.

I would probably also call animal control and see if they can help.

I am active on all the online lost and found sites where I live. I need two hands to count all the elderly dogs in my town that have gone missing in the last 2-3 weeks. Most have yet to be found. I don’t know if they’re wandering off to die, or if their infirmity or compromised senses have caused them to get lost, or they've been snatched for dog fighting bait. We have had many instances this year of pets being stolen right out of yards. It’s just not safe to leave a dog outside to his own devices! (Preaching to the choir, I know.)

What an idiot. I would tell her that I’ve known too many wonderful dogs who got killed by cars. I would also wonder if she’s watching the dog from the house and is just too lazy to go out. If you think that is the case, I would tell her that I’ve seen her dog almost get hit several times. Yes, I would lie.

Irresponsible people and animals (or children) make my blood pressure spike badly.

Allowing one's dog to run loose is a shockingly self-centered behavior. I have zero tolerance for it. I don't freaking care if your dog is the sweetest puppy to ever walk the planet, and smarter than the average MENSA member - if the dog is off leash and is able to leave your own property, then it's a problem.

What if a little kid is learning to ride a bike and it (accidentally) knocks them over? What if a someone who is a little unsteady on their feet goes by and the dog knocks them over? What if someone is walking a reactive dog and they get into a dog fight? What if they're hit by a car? What if a sociopath just looking for a lawsuit alleges that your dog bit them (even if you think it never happened)?

If the dog is off your property and off leash, you are personally financially responsible for its actions.

Even though my city has strict leash control laws, our Nextdoor posts are rife with people complaining about unleashed dogs and the futile attempts to discourage this behavior. Animal control and law enforcement are indifferent unless humans are severely injured or killed as a result. Very sad that vulnerable animals cannot rely on owners who foist their responsibilities on others.

I so appreciate everyone's support on this. My blood is still boiling.......

I had a similar but different experience in my old neighborhood that turned into the biggest ordeal.

There was a neighbor down the road with two dogs, one was a young beagle mix and the other an old mean dog. The young dog was sweet but a jumper. Several times after getting ready to go out the dog would be on my property and would jump on me in greeting dirtying up my outfit. The young dog also liked to follow me on bike rides and had many a close call with cars. People would then stop and yell at me. The old dog was a nuisance to all as it liked to lie in the road and chase you down growling and nipping at your heals.

One day after witnessing the young dog yet again having a close call with a vehicle I biked over to the dog owners house to let them know how the dog runs out in front of cars and how they might want to keep it on property. I asked nicely.

In the meantime there were families with kids in the neighborhood getting very fed up with the mean dog. They called the authorities. The authorities fined the dog owners as the dogs had never had any shots at all including rabies. The whole thing cost the owners many hundreds of dollars with health updates and fines.

Unbeknownst to anyone at the time the dog owners husband had been diagnosed with a very serious cancer. Since I was the only one who personally confronted them about one of the dogs I was the one blamed for all the costs it caused them ontop of the medical cost hardships. Their friend, a nasty little man at the end of the road yelled obscenities at me loudly when walking by my house one day and repeated it on a day my husband was in the front. I then went to his house to threaten a defamation lawsuit. He was a weak cowering weasel and hid behind the door. I then got a copy of the complaint against the dog owner (which had no name but had the complainers address) and let it be known that it wasn't me that turned them in. But, I made it clear that Many people wanted to turn them in and I was one.

So, I tried to handle the dog owner nicely but it turned into a big ordeal. If I had it to do over again the owner would get no courtesy call. I would go straight to the authorities.

The end.

If it’s against the law in your area for pets to be off-leash, remind your neighbor of that and tell her, in no uncertain terms, that the next time you see her dog loose you will call animal control. And then follow through!

Totally understand eld.

I've had to deal with 2 pitbull attacks against my dogs. Fortunately neither one ended up being serious (only by the grace of God) - but it's left me with zero tolerance for this off leash crap.

If your dog is off leash on your own property and can't or won't leave your property (invisible fences, etc.) , then fine.

However people who don't reasonably try to prevent their dog from running free in a neighborhood should lose custody of that dog, IMHO. I know that sounds harsh and I don't care.

I love most dogs more than I love most people. Yet I've had my fill of people who are too lazy or too stupid to understand why allowing their dog to run loose (off their own property) creates problems for other people. Having a dog can be a PITA. If one isn't up to the challenge of properly caring for them and NOT allowing them to bother other people, then get a gerbil instead.

In my younger days I was a runner. I've dealt with probably 50 different loose dog issues over decades of road running. Worst dog attack I ever personally had was a 4 pound Yorkie, whose elderly owner told me was a sweet little thing and I must have done something to provoke her. Yeah, I guess I did - my apologies for having the gall to run by your house, minding my own business, and using the public sidewalk!

I'm in a mood today. :) But I've had just about enough of the self-centered bull crap answers some people try to pass off around this issue.

I cannot stand irresponsible owners who allow their dogs to run loose! CAN NOT TOLERATE.

We have a major problem in our neighborhood at the current moment. The caretaker of the neighborhood who does the grounds work and who is is supposed to enforce the rules (like keeping dogs on leash) is temporarily staying w/ his wife in a cabin in the neighborhood and they let their two dogs run loose despite STRICT rules saying not to.

It's hard to deal w/ because he is supposed to enforce the leash rules and he is the one breaking them. I could write to the cabin owner to complain but I will have to see this caretaker probably for the next 20 years and don't want to start a fight with him. So, for now I am putting up w/ it and hoping they are GONE before I come back from FL next year.

I don't understand how people can be so irresponsible. They are endangering their dogs, other dogs, children, drivers, and everyone else. There are leash laws for a reason!!

Oh Beagle that's a bad situation. In my current neighborhood I have an original home owner a few houses down who was also on the original association board. They have a family member always at their home with a beautiful German Sheperd. That dog is never on leash and hangs out in the front of their property, neighbors property and across the street. It does obey commands immediately if the owner is paying attention. I wasn't overly bothered in the past when I'd walk my Rottweiler as the two dogs got along well. However, I now have a high energy dog that can be leash aggressive. I cannot walk the new dog around my own block, I have to travel to another section.

That's terrible. I agree it's irresponsible and inconsiderate to not have a dog on a leash. If I accidentally hit a dog because it's out on the road without a leash I'll stop but I'm not paying a vet bill. We did hit one once. (And yes, I felt absolutely terrible and cried.) The owner told us the dog was blind and was hit a few weeks back. Still no leash? Blind?! Hello?! I later saw the dog outside again so he was ok.

While on vacation this summer we saw a dog running at and on people while out on the beach. No leash and dogs aren't even allowed to be on the beach certain months for various reasons. I thought it was lost at first then saw a lady walking the beach and smiling at the dog. The dog was far enough away from her though that I thought she was just another beach goer until I saw her dig a ball out of her bag and toss it down the beach. Not at the water's edge but close to people. My mom called over to her asking if it was her dog. She just stared a hole in my mom's head and continued on.

I've had to change my walking route because of unleashed dogs.

A local dog ran into the street in front of my car. The owner was outside but did very little. The 2nd time this happened I stopped, opened my car door, and invited the dog to get in. The owner was flabbergasted. I think that surprised him enough that he then kept the dog under control.

This sounds like how I feel when I see small children running/walking tethered in parking lots. If they aren't holding an adult hand or in a cart they are at HUGE risk!! You did all you could do. Now you need to move on. Next time try calling the police--stray dog- with enough visits from the police they might start to comprehend.

It is not only the innocent unsupervised dog who is at risk when dogs run into the road, drivers are at risk of harming themselves and their passengers if they have an accident trying to avoid hitting the unsupervised dog.

She sounds like an extremely irresponsible owner in many ways.

This stuff makes me so angry! When I got my first dog here, I installed 6 ft cedar fencing in a lower part of my yard, which the dogs access via doggie doors. On the back side, not visible from the street, I have 6' chain link fencing meeting the cedar, so we can see the river from the 'puppy pen' as it's called. It's 100% safe, private, and they can go out any time they want. I love my dog kids too much to risk them getting hurt, and wish anyone with a pet would feel the same way.

Yes! responsible owners are the best.

This thread is ridiculous and judgemental.

This admittedly old dog has obviously had a long life and been taken care of as well. It has been seen off leash a grand total of 2 times. If this was happening more often, the dog would gotten hit by a car long ago.

Let animal control spend its time worrying about real abuse.

Sometimes dogs get out. Doors get left open or dogs sneak out behind their owner who can’t hear ( my neighbor). It’s unfortunate but life happens.

Cleo I see this as real abuse when the owner is aware that it is happening. I have personally seen dogs in neighborhoods off leash who terrorize every passing car, and have managed for years to avoid being hit (but still may happen). The OP said the owner said that her dog 'knows cars' implying that this was not an unusual event.

Loose dogs in traffic are a danger to themselves, and to the drivers and passengers in the cars that try to avoid hitting them.

dogs sneak out behind their owner who can’t hear

I am severely hearing impaired and do not use that as an excuse to be irresponsible. I know where in my home my dog is most of the time, but I always know where my door is, and if it is open and the dog is going out with me she is leashed, if she is going to stay home while I go out alone she is in her crate.

Let animal control spend its time worrying about real abuse.

There is not much difference in my opinion between the owner who beats the dog and injures it herself, or who intentionally allows the dog to play in traffic and it gets injured by a car. Both are abuse, both are the fault of the owner.

I have had my dogs for 12 years and they've never gotten out (Well, one time Molly got out a screen door in the lanai and we immediately went to get her). Responsible owners don't just let their dogs run free. Just b/c a dog is lucky enough not to get hit by a car doesn't mean that it isn't in danger and that it can't happen some day. Or that the dog isn't putting other animals and people in danger.

"Oh, he's old he knows cars," is not what you say when your dog gets out accidentally.

Dogs running lose are a danger to themselves, leashed pets, children and adults alike.

People who are not willing to be responsible dog owners should not adopt one. Dog owners who flout the laws and customs intended to keep the community safe should be fined and have their dogs removed if necessary.

PS The comments on this thread are not judgmental. Eld's neighbor lacks judgment, though.

When I wrote that the thread Is over the top, I was talking about the original post. I used a comparison in my own section of town. I have had my dog 5 years. We do a one mile loop around the block one or twice a day. Two times in 5 years, or roughly 2/1500 walks, this one man‘s brown lab has left his owner while the guy was doing something in his garage and bounded toward me looking not very friendly.

I would not consider this a problem that has to be dealt with. Twice in 5 years is not a thing. If the dog is repeatedly observed running In the road, it is a problem but Really what can you do.

Calling animal control to take an old dog to keep it safe is an oxymoron. That old dog would be euthanized in a week.

A few years back, a deer made its way onto one of the islands where I live. It must have gone over one of the causeways/bridges. It was big news for a few days as deer are not on the islands here in south jersey. Finally, it was reported that the police shot and killed the deer for its own safety. That reminds me of this old dog.

cleo07

This thread is ridiculous and judgemental.

If it is, then I am proud to be considered ridiculous and judgmental in your sight.

I don’t understand your “do nothing” attitude, cleo07. (And believe me, I’m trying!) At what point—if any—would you suggest eld take action? What is that line that you just don’t cross?

I want to clarify something. It was twice that I personally, witnessed the dog unattended. But, this dog has run in to the road to get to me and my dog a number of times, with the owner standing on their lawn calling for him to come back.

I agree Sammy. I am hoping my warning is a wake up call to keep this poor old dog safe.

I share your frustrations Eld and am glad that you at least spoke up when many wouldn’t. I’m probably the worst to respond to your post because I don’t even care anymore about being diplomatic, I just get in peoples faces. It’s taken me a long time to get to this point but one can only be diplomatic for so long......

We live on a busy road and have several neighbors who allow their dogs to run a muck. Not small dogs either. 3 large labs on one side of us and a boxer and a German Pointer across from us, all beautiful dogs, young, healthy and energenic. We also have a guy who’s moved in down the road who lets his 2 dogs run wild too, as a pack. They have literally charged my husband before and most recently I saw one with a muzzle on. We live on a busy road, I’ve witnessed traffic stop numerous times for the boxer and german pointer as they try to cross. I’ve called their owner many many times and have even leashed their dogs and brought them home to them; often times without so much as a thank you. To say it’s aggrevating is being kind. I’ve witnessed the labs doing their business and digging in other yards and one has barked insistently all day long FOR YEARS while it’s owner sits just inside the door on his fat a$$ watching tv. It really pisses me off.

I used to be nice about it but it fell on deaf ears. Now, the words I use to the guy across the street: “Hi J**n, do you still want your dogs? If so, then you need to come get them NOW. If not, I’ll take care of it so they can be homed in a safer environment”. With the labs, when they wander, I’ll yell at them to go home and they do. When the one is barking, I yell out our bedroom window, “Really??? It’s 7am on a Sunday morning, shut your dog up, people are trying to sleep!” It works and obviously, I no longer care if I’m rude. The way I see it is that I spent years training my dog so she won’t run a muck or bother any of our neighbors. That was important to me! She never ever barks unless someone is approaching, she is never leashed and she never leaves the yard unless she’s invited to and to her credit, she is really loved by neighbors who normally don’t even care for dogs. IMO, we as well as their dogs deserve the same kind of care and consideration!

I should clarify my frustrations as well. The two dogs across the street are going to be hit one day. Our road is curvy and even with a 45 mph speed limit, people love speeding faster on it. It’s just a matter of time before one or both of them is hit. They are both intelligent breeds and they have 27 acres across the street to run through if the neighbor would just take the time to train them.

The lab that barks constantly, is barking because she is constantly ignored an is just bored. Why have a dog if you’re not willing to engage or spend time with it? She has an electric fence but will run through it to find attention.

The two labs at least listen when I tell them to go home but one day they too can get hit. And if I could find out where the guy with the dogs down the road actually lives, I’d call the authorities on him in a heartbeat. The dogs are dangerous. They need to be probably supervised and restrained

Just like your situation, this is a people problem and the animals are the ones who will ultimately pay the price.

Amen Beagles. Couldn't agree more. A lot of what I see is laziness on the part of the owners.

I'm a dog owner and a runner. I dread running into off leash dogs walking and running with mine. I've had numerous attacks on my previous dog and a few on my current dog. I also had a dog run out across a busy street after me when I was running solo one day and watched in horror as a car hit and ran over the dog. I have never been able to get that image out of my head. It was a miracle the dog survived and I had so much guilt until the owners saw me months later (out running again) and let me know. I recently had an off leash dog chase my dog and I across a street and the lazy owner couldn't get the dog back under control. When the dog almost got hit by the car I had to flag the car to a stop and help wrangle the dog back to its yard. I don't think the owners even thanked me for saving their dog's life.

There are an astounding number of incompetent, inconsiderate dog owners out there. It makes me furious and and there is so little you can do when it happens. If you call animal control there is a high probability the owner will be angry and retaliate. If you confront the owner you never know if they'll be angry or just ignore you.

Here’s a lighthearted story about a dog owner, to counteract all the sad stories above.

I was out for a walk and could see a dog on a front lawn. I approached cautiously, staying on the opposite side of the street, since I wasn’t sure if he was on a leash. I could see someone sitting on the porch and hear her talking and talking, I assumed on the phone. The dog did bark once but didn’t keep it up.

As I get closer, I can hear the porch sitter is talking to the dog, coaching it through our little encounter. She’s saying things like “that’s good, you used your inside voice” and “see, it’s a nice day, many people want to enjoy it.”

Still makes me snicker when I think about it. Do dogs understand full paragraphs of explanations? Shouldn’t commands be sit/stay not use your inside voice? This dog, which looked to me like a standard poodle, certainly understood and was very well behaved and controlled.

After I passed that house, another walker was approaching them on their side of the street. I told her there’s a dog on the lawn but it’s owner is also out and the dog seems well controlled. I don’t like to be caught unaware and offer a heads up to other walkers when I see dogs.

hhireno, that is a cute story. Poodles are extremely smart.

They say dog understand the same amount of words as a two year old. The problem is when people think they can "reason" with their dog.

Probably what the dog got out of it was the word good. That word was attached to not barking.

I cannot stand irresponsible dog owners! I am a runner and I cannot tell you the number of times a dog will come out of nowhere and run after me. It's scarier because I don't see it coming and I have no idea if they are friendly or not. Most of time they are just playful, but one of these days I am sure I will be bit! My dog is also dog reactive, in the 6 months we have had him he was already bitten by an unleashed dog in our neighborhood, and was almost bit by another (the owner came just in time). NOT cool and I really don't understand how a dog just "gets out"!

I’ve come to believe that every new dog owner, should be required to take “an ownership class” that would educate about local ordinances, training techniques, food and hygeine requirements as well as simple considerations that may not be legally required but may be expected socially. The fees charged for the class could either help support the local “no kill” shelters or help provide medical care for animals who’s owners truly can’t afford it.

I’ve mentioned this before but we have a nice walking path on our road that’s pretty busy with both runners and walkers. When we see someone coming, we stop, move to one side of the path and put the dog in a sitting position so they don’t feel threatened when passing. Why is that so hard for other people to do? I really don’t get it.