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I live near a wildlife refuge. They allowed dogs on leash for many years. But fewer and fewer complied. About 5 years ago after trying all sorts of signage t
by acomjean 5y ago
I live near a wildlife refuge. They allowed dogs on leash for many years. But fewer and fewer complied.
About 5 years ago after trying all sorts of signage they banned dogs altogether.
I feel bad for the small minority of dog owners who complied and kept their dogs on-leash
- globular-toast 5y agoWhat's the point of walking a dog on a leash, though? Dogs need to stretch their legs. They're supposed to run around. The underlying problem is people taking in animals as pets without taking the responsibility that should be required as a dog owner.
- finiteseries 5y agoIt’s a wildlife refuge, Brad.
- wyager 5y agoHis point is obviously that that is not an appropriate place to walk a dog at all.
- finiteseries 5y agoGiven the response, it’s obviously not.
- globular-toast 5y agoGiven what response? It was my point.
- finiteseries 5y agoThe dozen or so mistakenly angry replies and downvotes. If that is your point, it isn’t at all obvious from your comment.
- wyager 5y agoThe fact that the average HN voter can’t read isn’t evidence that the GP meant something.
- lobotryas 5y agoGo buy a few private acres for that. If your dog shares public space with others you don’t get to just let it off leash.
- smhg 5y agoYour wording might be a bit harsh, but I agree: Dogs need (outdoor) space. As a dog owner you carry that responsibility. Having a garden to (mostly) take care of this seems obvious. If not, when using public space instead, it seems strange to expect others (wildlife, kids,...) to take this for granted?
- wyager 5y agoThat’s his point.
- smichel17 5y agoI'm American, but I've lived in Germany (Hamburg) for ~1 year, cumulatively. I recall most dogs being leashed, but at least a few not. It didn't seem to matter to me, because every dog there was damn well trained. In that year, I think can recall one instance of a dog barking inappropriately (to the mortification of its owner). I remember one dog in particular, which was unleashed and running with its owner, who was on a bike. It would run ahead, staying on the correct part of the sidewalk, until it reached a crosswalk or corner, then stop and calmly wait for its owner to catch up and give permission to cross. I think one time (of the 3 crosswalks it was in view for) it got impatient and went back to its owner instead of waiting in place. As a result, dogs are commonly (though not always) allowed in restaurants -- they stay quietly under the table -- and some other venues, which would be unthinkable in the US. There's not too much of a point to this comment, just sharing perspective. I guess if anything it's that I wouldn't be so categorical about "if X, then Y, period".
- kbshacker 5y agoIt's exactly the same in Switzerland. Dogs are so well behaved I wonder if they are a special breed altogether
- Xylakant 5y agoA dog needs to run, but not all the time and in all places. Walking on a leash is a required skill unless you live in a very remote area that you never leave.
- globular-toast 5y agoJust leave the dog at home. My point is why take the dog somewhere if you can't let it off the leash? Jeeze... Touched a nerve here it seems.
- adriancr 5y agoThere are special places to let dog off leash to run around... Or buy a house with a yard
- swader999 5y agoIn some places they are aptly named "off leash parks".
- treeman79 5y agoThose are full of drama. Someone’s dog gets bitten every week or so and it’s a huge outrage. Periodically a little dog goes into the big dog area and gets torn to shreds. Now I have used same locations many times without issues. But it happens.
- swader999 5y agoAnd there's always that one dog that hogs the fetch ball. Good for the vet business.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]