My dog was off the leash and this lady screamed at me...

[nben]

Hi all,

As the post says my dog was off the leash and this lady screamed at me... But here's the background:

I am a bit over seven months pregnant and my hubby's on a business trip. I took our dog out for a short walk and it was off the leash for a while since she tends to pull a lot and in my current state can't bear the pressure for long. Out of the blue, this lady in a car comes up to me, and screams something at me (to the tune of "the dog must be leashed") in Finnish, then goes away and then comes back again and does the same and this time I tell her I don't speak Finnish. She then proceeds to shout and threaten me that she would report me to the cops. All the while, the dog was velcroed to me, i.e. it is a very friendly dog, no threat whatsoever to anybody and certainly not to her, since she was in the car and not to anyone else either, since the side-street was deserted, except for a three other cars that I saw during the whole time there.

If she does report me, will that be a major problem? I do know that dogs are supposed to be on leash, I left her for a few minutes just so I could relax myself. Any perspectives would be highly appreciated.

Needless to say, I just kept quiet, am quite worried, how should I have handled this situation? Obviously, I leashed up and returned home. So much for a walk!

[sammy]

If she does report me, will that be a major problem? I do know that dogs are supposed to be on leash, I left her for a few minutes just so I could relax myself. Any perspectives would be highly appreciated.

Needless to say, I just kept quiet, am quite worried, how should I have handled this situation? Obviously, I leashed up and returned home. So much for a walk!

To put it short: she sounds like a nutcase to me. The chances are that even if she has reported you to the police (which I doubt), the 'bluebells' have noticed this as well. I don't think you should be worried at all

Some people, unfortunately, just like to complain and shout at others at the slightest chance.

[sinikettu]

I agree with Sammy..

But my advice is find out if one of the neighbours kids is willing to take the dog for a walk until hubby comes home....you can waddle along with them but let the kid hold the dogs lead.

[nben]

Thanks Sammy, Sinikettu,

I did think of that. Most of the children on our street are under 9-10 years old, that is why I had to take her out. And my dog too, she is a little too smart, if she realises it is not me or hubby, then she pulls and jerks even more. That's more brains than she needs. But thanks a lot, hubby is back tomorrow.

PS: We kinda live in the middle of nowhere, making it a bit hard to find somebody else to walk the dog!

[Oombongo]

Don't worry about here. That lady is a perfect and text book example of Borderline personality disorder and God complex

[sammy]

That lady is a perfect and text book example of Borderline personality disorder

I think one might think of a Bordercollie personality disorder in this case Woof woof!

[Rosamunda]

I like to take my dog off the leash when we go out so I take her into the woods or I go out very late.

If your dog is a puppy (I think the rule is under one year but it can change between municipalities so check) then it doesn't have to be on a lead.

By the way, next time you see her drive past while talking on her mobile - take her licence plate number.

[Salopian]

Sounds like a nutjob. Can't see anything happening - anyway, even if the police actually took interest and tracked you down, I'm sure you wouldn't just say: "yeah, my dog was off the leash".

But be careful anyway - I have a very friendly, soft dog too, but he's the size of a small car, so I can understand that some people might not appreciate his freedom from the strictures of the leash (I let him free in the woods (had a few close calls ). But large or small, a dog could scare a member of the eldery section of society/knock them over, or frighten someone into hurting themselves - or the dog even earn a kick from someone.

If your dog is a puppy (I think the rule is under one year but it can change between municipalities so check) then it doesn't have to be on a lead.

Really? Thanks for the info!

[neil]

Out of the blue, this lady in a car comes up to me, and screams something at me (to the tune of "the dog must be leashed") in Finnish, then goes away and then comes back again and does the same and this time I tell her I don't speak Finnish.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but did you take a note of her car registration plate? If this happens again, make a note of it and text it to (is it #16400?) and it will give you the contact details, which you can then pass on to your husband.

[Cod]

..m'lady was badly bitten by three Jack Russells - punctured the skin and ripped the trousers. The owner was busy yelling at m'lady that she shouldn't scream- it just excites the dogs

..there's a slight chance that 'Bi-Polar and Not a Little Bit Neurotic' woman had a similar experience

[nben]

Thanks all!

Feeling a bit relaxed now.

No, the person momentarily shocked me so much that I just did not think about getting the plate number. That's the same thing my hubby asked as well. Of course, I remember the color, and the type (but not the make) so not much use. I think it was more that she scared me out.

But thanks all - the response much appreciated, relaxed me quite a bit.

PS: Could be that she's had a bad experience, I am not really blaming her, but she was in the car, screamed at me, went away and then she came back again, which really scared me too. I wasn't too sure what her next move would have been. Hubby was annoyed as hell when he got to know, more about her polite behaviour than anything else. That being said, I just let the dog off for a few minutes, just to relax myself.

[ananga]

nutcase, nutcase...

I havent fear of dogs in my childhood, but once one crazy dog bit me and I was attacted by few dogs after that (no leash and public places). I was two weeks in the hospital after that bite. And ever since I developed deep fear of dogs.. May be it is hard to understand, but some people might get heart attack, when just hearing some dog barking or just seeing the dog (even on leash!).. This fear is not a joke.. after you have been attacted by some mad german shepard... I had panic attacks for years even seeing small friendly dogs.. :

And dog owners can claim whatever, that their dog is friendly (yeah, that bulldog seems very friendly to me..) or peaceful and never did any harm to anybody, some people will still experience fear.

It took almost 15 years to get rid of my fear and now I am not afraid of dogs as I used to be (still german shepards are awful), but anyway all dogs should be on leash in public places and there are no exuses.
Of course, that lady may be bit crazy for shouting and so, one could remain polite and peaceful.. but on the other hand I can understand her. After couple of very angry dogs attack you out of blue, you will carry a gun in your pocket - just in case of crazy dogs out of leash.

[mrjimsfc]

By the way, next time you see her drive past while talking on her mobile - take her licence plate number.

You know what they say about "Pay-backs"

[peteh]

For your dogs saftey as well as others you should keep it on a lead at all times at least until a safe place where it can roam and run around.

The animal is your responsibility. I really don't get people who think their animal will do any harm. The amount of times I have been out running or walking
recently, were owners of dogs think its alright if their mutt jumps up, snaps, barks at me is totally beyond me.

I hope you clear its paska up too. Thats another thread in its self.

[Tiwaz]

While this female might have taken it bit too harshly...

She was right.

For benefit of those able to read in finnish... (finlex has no translation currently)

Järjestyslaki 27.6.2003/612
14 § Koirakuri

Yleisen järjestyksen ja turvallisuuden säilymiseksi koiran omistajan tai haltijan on:
1) pidettävä koira taajamassa kytkettynä;
ja
2) pidettävä huolta siitä, ettei koira pääse kytkemättömänä kuntopolulle tai muulle sen kaltaiselle juoksuradalle eikä lainkaan yleiselle uimarannalle, lasten leikkipaikaksi varatulle alueelle, toriaikana torille taikka yleiseen käyttöön kunnostetulle ladulle tai urheilukentälle, jollei se ole erikseen sallittua; (19.12.2003/1195)
ja
3) pidettävä huolta siitä, että koiran uloste ei jää ympäristöön hoidetulla alueella taajamassa.

Mitä 1 momentin 1 ja 2 kohdassa säädetään, ei koske virantoimituksessa käytettävää valtion omistamaa koiraa, vartiointitehtävässä olevaa vartijan koiraa, palvelutehtävässä olevaa koulutettua pelastuskoiraa, liikuntavammaisen avustajakoiraa eikä näkövammaisen opaskoiraa.

Mitä 1 momentin 1 kohdassa säädetään, ei koske suljettua pihaa, koirien harjoituspaikkaa eikä erityisesti osoitettua aidattua jaloittelualuetta. Koiran tulee kuitenkin näissäkin paikoissa olla omistajansa tai haltijansa valvonnassa.

Mitä 1 momentin 2 kohdassa säädetään, koskee myös kissaa. Mitä 1 momentin 1 ja 2 kohdassa säädetään, koskee myös hevosta sekä soveltuvin osin muuta koti- tai lemmikkieläintä.

In short, dog within urban areas must be in leash except within areas where it is specifically made acceptable for dog to be unleashed. However, even in these areas dog must be within watchful eye of the owner. Same is true for cat and where applicable to other pets.

It doesn't matter how nice, friendly of cuddly your dog is.

Leash is mandatory.

Law overrules all municipal practices, municipally no tighter or looser rules can be made regarding dogs being leashed.

Outside built area dogs fall within realm of laws regulating hunting. Which does not appear to be the case here.