that was your fault,
You seem to be quite unfamilar with the law.
Nope. I know the law. I also know that logically I was in no way at fault or responsible for what happened. According to your wonderful logic, you could be a terrible driver driving a terrible car that you're unable to control and if you smash it into my car but prove that I was going 1mph over the speed limit, that it would be my fault.
I'm not sure what exactly you expect a person with a leashed dog to do. When my dog is on a leash, I can and will keep my dog away from your dog. But if your dog isn't on a leash, I can't keep the dogs apart all by my self. If your dog approaches mine, there's not a thing I can do about it.
Well, if you can't stop your dog from attacking another dog or person when they are on a leash you really need to keep it out of public or get it into some training classes. What on earth would be your plan on a narrow path where your dog is forced to be within striking distance of passing children or dogs (leashed or not)? Keep your crappy dog at home, please.
Another Hobbyjogger
He is familiar with it. He just thinks he shouldn't apply to him.
I will try that line the next time I get a speeding ticket.
"But officer, I didn't cause a wreck. Why should I get a speeding ticket?"
Saul thinks the leash law should only be applied AFTER the fact. AFTER a dog attacks someone then that dog should have to be on a leash. Very ego centric thinking
Not exactly true. I acknowledge that laws are in place to keep people safe. Since there is nothing unsafe about me having my dog run with me off the leash in some areas, I see no need to follow that law at that particular time. Are you really saying your speedometer has never gone above the posted speed limit? Or you've never gone through a stop sign without fully stopping before proceeding? Because if either of these are true, then you're a hypocrite. I mean, the second you go 1mph over the speed limit, you're immediately endangering yourself, your passengers, and anyone else around you....
runner dunker,
Saul, you are simply in the wrong. I would say I have had 99% positive experiences with unleashed dogs while running, but a few have been very negative. I was really fortunate on one run to be near a teammate who hit a rotweiler with a stick to stop it from attacking me.
As a result, even though I have had 99% good experiences, every time I run by an unleashed dog I become uncomfortable and nervous because the negative consequence of encountering one of those 1% is so bad. Regardless of whether or not your dog has ever attacked someone, you are contributing to a very reasonable and justified fear that many runners and walkers experience every time they see a dog off leash. What you are doing is not only illegal, but also justifiably distressing to a large number of people.
And it is not a proper defense to say, "well my dog has never attacked anyone, it's not my fault if people are paranoid about dogs"
Honestly, this sounds like your own personal issue. Yes, it sucks that you were attacked. No, I in no way condone crappy dogs being off-leash. But it sounds like you've developed a phobia if you have uncontrollable anxiety in safe situations. And I wouldn't say a large number of people share this fear. I think it's a very small (vocal) minority as it relates to the population as a whole.
Look everyone, I'm all for keeping crappy dogs away. And severe punishments when they get out of line. But I'm not okay with our society nerfing every goddamn thing because a few people have bad experiences. One person spills their coffee on their crotch, then millions upon millions of private and tax dollars are spent rewriting laws, changing policies and containers, etc. Great, now my coffee cup tells me that my coffee is *gasp* hot. If you see me running by with my dumb-ss dog next to me and there's no leash, yet you're still outraged and terrified, I think we have much bigger problems as a species than the occasional dog bite.