Off leash dogs at public playgrounds – anyone tackled this problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that sometimes you have to be the asshole. I'd rather someone think I'm an asshole than for my sweet, obedient, human-loving but not dog-friendly dog to bite a well-intentioned off-leash dog. I'll control mine, you control yours.

+1. Although My husband is more outspoken on this issue, but he is very protective of our dog, with good reason. Our dog has been attacked by off lease dogs on three different occasions. At this point, if he sees an off lease dog in the neighborhood, he warns the owner that they need to leash the dog asap, and he usually isn't pleasant about it. Our dog, while very people friendly, is terrified of big dogs and much like the OP stated, once a dog sees something or someone he wants to play with, he doesn't always listen to verbal commands.

[Anonymous]

hmmmm, i'm a dogowner who loves to let the dog offleash. i've been known to let the dog offleash where it's not strictly legal, but i would never in a million years do it where there might be kids around who aren't socialized to dogs. i occasionally let kids play with my dog in the dogpark if i can closely supervise, and i now know exactly how she behaves with them. my dog is definitely NOT perfectly responsive to voice commands when excited and will definitely chase a running, squealing kid (who, to her doggie mind, OBVIOUSLY wants to play). so, i tend to think this is pretty irresponsible behavior for all but the most sedate and well-trained dogs. if i were you, OP, i would try politely asking first - bringing it up at community meeting or something if there is an appropriate forum? or just approaching people individually. if that doesn't work, start calling the nonemergency number for the cops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:hmmmm, i'm a dogowner who loves to let the dog offleash. i've been known to let the dog offleash where it's not strictly legal, but i would never in a million years do it where there might be kids around who aren't socialized to dogs. i occasionally let kids play with my dog in the dogpark if i can closely supervise, and i now know exactly how she behaves with them. my dog is definitely NOT perfectly responsive to voice commands when excited and will definitely chase a running, squealing kid (who, to her doggie mind, OBVIOUSLY wants to play). so, i tend to think this is pretty irresponsible behavior for all but the most sedate and well-trained dogs. if i were you, OP, i would try politely asking first - bringing it up at community meeting or something if there is an appropriate forum? or just approaching people individually. if that doesn't work, start calling the nonemergency number for the cops.

Why are you such an asshole?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure the dogs are even allowed on school property? In Fairfax, no dogs are permitted on school grounds.

Same for Arlington.

I own two dogs but I always give people who let their dogs run loose on school property the what-for. I'm very loud and bold about it. Polite at first, but if I don't get immediate -- and I mean IMMEDIATE -- acquiescence, I'm dialing the nonemergency number for the police.

You're a peach.

Really? What am I supposed to do, live and let live? I do with a lot of things, but not dogs running lose on school property. Most of the time people who are that irresponsible also don't clean up after their dog. Also, they tend to think that rules don't apply to them. So, I make certain they learn that the rules do, in fact, apply to them.

I've only had to do this twice, thankfully. Most people have wised up. In both cases, the police arrived. Instructed the offender the animal control warden was on its way. One person backtalked and got threatened with arrest.

What are you supposed to do? Oh, I don't know...find another personal crusade? Realize the police have actual crime to fight? And can I ask, what would be the worst thing about dogs running lose on school property? Is it a sign of End Times?

Oh, I don't know... Bite, maul, or kill a child. Really, you couldn't possibly be so dense.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We're in Bethesda. The off leash dog issue has been discussed on our neighborhood listserv multiple times. And I've personally had discussions with some of these folks -- my friends -- and voiced my feelings on the matter. To no avail. They just agree to disagree. It's not that it's happening at 7am on a Sunday. The weekend late mornings involve usually at least 5 dogs -- it's a playdate!

I too have likened it to speeding. Sometimes people speed and nothing bad happens. And sometimes people text while driving and nothing happens. That's what makes this issue so difficult for me personally. MOST of the time, off leash dogs aren't causing a problem. And MOST of the time, distracted/fast driving doesn't cause a problem. But when it does, it's can't be undone. Yet we still risk it, all the time. So how is unleashing your dog any different.

On the one hand, I feel foolish for not shouting how I feel from the rooftop because I always tell my kid "if something is wrong, say so." But I'm truly concerned about the backlash -- more for my child than myself b/c I'm a big girl and can handle people not liking me. And if the police/animal control get a call about an off leash dog that's not causing a problem at that very moment, they will be disinclined to do anything about it b/c there are certainly more serious crimes being committed.

And it's not like a dog that is on a leash can't break free and attack either. Happened to my dog years ago and it was awful. So a leash isn't necessarily a solution.

I don't know. I guess I'm glad to know I'm alone in this issue and that it happens in a lot of neighborhoods. Doesn't change anything really, but I feel less alone in this battle.

[Anonymous]

Off-leash dogs should not be on school grounds and children's playgrounds, period. This is why most are posted in DC, except where aggressive dog owners remove the signs. (It's happened at Macomb playground before.) It's not just the problem of a dog running around when children are present. It's the problem, exacerbated when dogs roam off-leash, of dog waste being left behind in areas where children play intensively. Dog feces gets on shoes, clothing (and with litte kids), hands and can be ingested. OK?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We're in Bethesda. The off leash dog issue has been discussed on our neighborhood listserv multiple times. And I've personally had discussions with some of these folks -- my friends -- and voiced my feelings on the matter. To no avail. They just agree to disagree. It's not that it's happening at 7am on a Sunday. The weekend late mornings involve usually at least 5 dogs -- it's a playdate!

I too have likened it to speeding. Sometimes people speed and nothing bad happens. And sometimes people text while driving and nothing happens. That's what makes this issue so difficult for me personally. MOST of the time, off leash dogs aren't causing a problem. And MOST of the time, distracted/fast driving doesn't cause a problem. But when it does, it's can't be undone. Yet we still risk it, all the time. So how is unleashing your dog any different.

On the one hand, I feel foolish for not shouting how I feel from the rooftop because I always tell my kid "if something is wrong, say so." But I'm truly concerned about the backlash -- more for my child than myself b/c I'm a big girl and can handle people not liking me. And if the police/animal control get a call about an off leash dog that's not causing a problem at that very moment, they will be disinclined to do anything about it b/c there are certainly more serious crimes being committed.

And it's not like a dog that is on a leash can't break free and attack either. Happened to my dog years ago and it was awful. So a leash isn't necessarily a solution.

I don't know. I guess I'm glad to know I'm alone in this issue and that it happens in a lot of neighborhoods. Doesn't change anything really, but I feel less alone in this battle.

Wood Acres?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:hmmmm, i'm a dogowner who loves to let the dog offleash. i've been known to let the dog offleash where it's not strictly legal, but i would never in a million years do it where there might be kids around who aren't socialized to dogs. i occasionally let kids play with my dog in the dogpark if i can closely supervise, and i now know exactly how she behaves with them. my dog is definitely NOT perfectly responsive to voice commands when excited and will definitely chase a running, squealing kid (who, to her doggie mind, OBVIOUSLY wants to play). so, i tend to think this is pretty irresponsible behavior for all but the most sedate and well-trained dogs. if i were you, OP, i would try politely asking first - bringing it up at community meeting or something if there is an appropriate forum? or just approaching people individually. if that doesn't work, start calling the nonemergency number for the cops.

+1

[Anonymous]

Just simply call Animal Control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure the dogs are even allowed on school property? In Fairfax, no dogs are permitted on school grounds.

Same for Arlington.

I own two dogs but I always give people who let their dogs run loose on school property the what-for. I'm very loud and bold about it. Polite at first, but if I don't get immediate -- and I mean IMMEDIATE -- acquiescence, I'm dialing the nonemergency number for the police.

You're a peach.

Really? What am I supposed to do, live and let live? I do with a lot of things, but not dogs running lose on school property. Most of the time people who are that irresponsible also don't clean up after their dog. Also, they tend to think that rules don't apply to them. So, I make certain they learn that the rules do, in fact, apply to them.

I've only had to do this twice, thankfully. Most people have wised up. In both cases, the police arrived. Instructed the offender the animal control warden was on its way. One person backtalked and got threatened with arrest.

What are you supposed to do? Oh, I don't know...find another personal crusade? Realize the police have actual crime to fight? And can I ask, what would be the worst thing about dogs running lose on school property? Is it a sign of End Times?

Oh, I don't know... Bite, maul, or kill a child. Really, you couldn't possibly be so dense.

You know, most people don't walk their dogs while kids are at school. Are YOU that dense? I walk my dog at 5:30 in the morning. No kids playing. 7:30 in the evening. No kids on school grounds then either, esp. not in the winter time.

[Anonymous]

In my neighborhood the same time has attacked my dog multiple times - either b/c the dog was off leash at the school on the weekends, or because the dog rushes through the family's electric fence. They always apologize profusely and my dog has never been hurt, but it's stressful to walk in my own neighborhood. We've asked the family not to out use the fence b/c its not reliable, but they still use it. Frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Playgrounds should be prohibited to dogs, of course.
Why ever not?

[Anonymous]

Ok. I am very diligent about keeping my dog leashed when I am legally required to.

But to all those folks who think it is cool to walk around with the dog unleashed, I have a question. Suppose your dog comes at me, I do not know your dog and I cannot tell his intentions when he is coming. Would you have a problem with me, in good faith, spraying your dog with Def Tec or some other deterrent? Are you cool with that vet bill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure the dogs are even allowed on school property? In Fairfax, no dogs are permitted on school grounds.

Same for Arlington.

I own two dogs but I always give people who let their dogs run loose on school property the what-for. I'm very loud and bold about it. Polite at first, but if I don't get immediate -- and I mean IMMEDIATE -- acquiescence, I'm dialing the nonemergency number for the police.

You're a peach.

Really? What am I supposed to do, live and let live? I do with a lot of things, but not dogs running lose on school property. Most of the time people who are that irresponsible also don't clean up after their dog. Also, they tend to think that rules don't apply to them. So, I make certain they learn that the rules do, in fact, apply to them.

I've only had to do this twice, thankfully. Most people have wised up. In both cases, the police arrived. Instructed the offender the animal control warden was on its way. One person backtalked and got threatened with arrest.

What are you supposed to do? Oh, I don't know...find another personal crusade? Realize the police have actual crime to fight? And can I ask, what would be the worst thing about dogs running lose on school property? Is it a sign of End Times?

I am a former dog owner and a dog lover. The worst thing about dogs running loose in a public space is that they could bite someone, which I have seen happen several times. Also, there are many people and children who are very afraid of dogs, and it is simply unfair to turn a child's playspace into your dog's playspace. And illegal. It is ridiculous that children should have to put up with dogs running loose and jumping up on them at a playground. A few weeks ago my 3 yo dd had to deal with a small friendly dog that WOULD NOT leave her alone. After we almost inadvertently injured the dog several times while trying to swing (and I got several bruises basically jumping in front of the swing so that DD wouldn't kick the dog in the head), we left with DD in tears.

Most dog owners wouldn't allow kind of crap, but it only takes 1 or 2 in a neighborhood to be a nuisance. It doesn't have to be the crusade of the century to warrant a call to the police IMHO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:hmmmm, i'm a dogowner who loves to let the dog offleash. i've been known to let the dog offleash where it's not strictly legal, but i would never in a million years do it where there might be kids around who aren't socialized to dogs. i occasionally let kids play with my dog in the dogpark if i can closely supervise, and i now know exactly how she behaves with them. my dog is definitely NOT perfectly responsive to voice commands when excited and will definitely chase a running, squealing kid (who, to her doggie mind, OBVIOUSLY wants to play). so, i tend to think this is pretty irresponsible behavior for all but the most sedate and well-trained dogs. if i were you, OP, i would try politely asking first - bringing it up at community meeting or something if there is an appropriate forum? or just approaching people individually. if that doesn't work, start calling the nonemergency number for the cops.

There are dozens of people at Lincoln Park and Garfield park on Capitol Hill with exactly this attitude. For this reason, kids can't really play in the lower part of Garfield park because of all the dog crap that the owners "didn't see" while they were chatting and their dogs were tearing all over the park. Also because it's not safe to let your kids run around down there due to the unleashed dogs. Same at Lincoln. Dog poop and unleashed dogs, every day. Massive parts of the park unusable by kids, picnic-ers. Agree with PP, even when dog poop is picked up, there is residue that everyone steps in.