Dog fight

Tonight was the first time I have ever bitched someone out in public.

There is large dog in my neighborhood named Chester. Chester’s owners never have him on a leash. Ever.

I used to let my dogs out in the back of my building without a leash late at night. After a very bad incident I learned that a dog fight will start regardless of how nice your dogs are. If the leashed dog is vicious then your dog will respond. A leashed dog is also more likely to assume an unleashed dog is a threat and the ensuing drama is ALWAYS the fault of the owner of the unleashed dog.

I usually don’t say anything when I see an unleashed dog because I have been “that dog owner” in the past, but I just lost it today. Chester’s owners walk him in the middle of the day and let him get very far from them. Chester also doesn’t listen when the owners call him back. Chester has harassed Harley in the past so Harley hates him.

Harley lunges at Chester before the owner catches up to him. She finally walks up to get her dog and I let her have it.

Me: “Is there a reason why that dog is never on the leash?”
Chester’s owner: “Well, he doesn’t have a problem with any other dogs.”
Me: “Well my dog has a problem with him.”
Chester’s owner: “Sorry. I just don’t think it’s a problem. I’ve never even seen your dogs before.”
Me: “There’s usually a guy walking Chester. This is the third time we’ve run into this dog unleashed and it’s on you if your dog gets mauled next time.”

She didn’t appreciate that. Whatevs.

What really grilled my cheese in this situation is the fact that there was no sense of urgency from the dog owner. My dog is obviously not pleased with her approaching dog and so I expected her to run over. She didn’t. And then she’s snotty about it. Sigh.

She’s not going to get it until a dog fight happens, which may be sooner than she thinks.