Off leash dogs in Rock Creek Park. What to say?

[Anonymous]

I just want then to do some targeted enforcement. Spend a weekend ticketing people, and hopefully the message will get out.

[Anonymous]

sometime ago my friend and I were having a picnic at RCP with a fresh baguette, cheese and prosciutto ready to fix ourselves nice sandwiches when we saw this huge Labrador running in our direction, he grabbed the baguette (all of it!) and run away. The owner was behind and came to us to apologize and offered to pay us for the baguette but the moment was spoiled. We should have told her to go buy us a baguette right? We were nice and just let it go.
I love dogs but I am scared of them. i will normally walk the on the opposite sidewalk, or move away if I see a dog. I feel defenseless when I see an unleashed dog at the park.
I think the Park Police should star ticketing owners.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure glad I don't live in DC anymore!

I live in Austin now, and most of the major park areas are legally off leash, including a lovely large open park not far from the downtown area, Zilker Park. Even in the areas that are technically on leash areas, there are a lot of places where leash laws are not followed or enforced. Interestingly, I've rarely witnessed any issues (maybe the occasional food begging if someone is having a picnic, that's about it)--even though there are plenty of hipsters with their rescue pitbulls/GSDs/Doberman/insert aggressive breed here in off leash areas. People usually socialize their dogs, and people with crippling dog fears don't go out in public, I guess. In this large, central, off leash area, people play soccer games, toddlers and kids run around without fear of being mauled, and people have picnics even when there are off leash dogs around.


Why are people in DC so freaking uptight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:sometime ago my friend and I were having a picnic at RCP with a fresh baguette, cheese and prosciutto ready to fix ourselves nice sandwiches when we saw this huge Labrador running in our direction, he grabbed the baguette (all of it!) and run away. The owner was behind and came to us to apologize and offered to pay us for the baguette but the moment was spoiled. We should have told her to go buy us a baguette right? We were nice and just let it go.
I love dogs but I am scared of them. i will normally walk the on the opposite sidewalk, or move away if I see a dog. I feel defenseless when I see an unleashed dog at the park.
I think the Park Police should star ticketing owners.

This. They are rarely present so dog owners exploit the leash law.

[Anonymous]

The leash laws are dumb. Parks are for animals and people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The leash laws are dumb. Parks are for animals and people

Yes, and my 2YO and 5YO don't deserve to be bowled over by a stupid excited dog. Why should animal's rights be put ahead of people? There are areas in the park that are off-leash - large fields to run in! I don't see why the trails need to be off leash too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love hiking on a weekly basis in Rock Creek Park and DH runs through at least twice a week. Last year, he was articles by a large dog who leapt at him while he was running and tore a hole over his tshirt by his kidney. He was very lucky and only had a scratch. He stopped, yelled at the dog, and it backed down. Meanwhile, the owner still wasn't even in eyesight. When my husband did run up to her she was nonplussed and declared the dog "friendly."

She was nonplussed? Did your DH berate her or something? I could see her brushing it off if she thinks the dog is "friendly," but to be nonplussed, your DH must have been yelling at her or something similar.

He doesn't yell but definitely upset since he was just attacked by a dog.

Not excusing the behavior of the dog or the owner. But that's not at attack. My German Shepherd has torn plenty of our tshirts in simple play. And he's very well trained.

OMG. I grew up around several german shepherds, and they never tore any article of clothing! Maybe not so well trained?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pepper spray + cell phone photos of dog and owner.

Can't stand people who let their dogs off-leash, and it's even worse when they think it's no big deal that their dogs are attacking/menacing/bothering people.

And then call the U.S. Park Police, tell them there has been an off-leash dog incident and give them your location. Let's see if the cowardly, scofflaw dog owner hangs around. Make sure to get a photo of the dog and the owner.

Off-leash dogs are illegal oN all NPS land, including at Ft Reno. The Park Police will come quickly and ticket the owners of off-leash dogs. I know that they've made at least one arrest where the owner gave the, back-talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The leash laws are dumb. Parks are for animals and people

On-leash animals.if you want to have your dog off flesh, then go to a dedicated dog park (aka a poop pen) or keep it in your fenced yard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:sometime ago my friend and I were having a picnic at RCP with a fresh baguette, cheese and prosciutto ready to fix ourselves nice sandwiches when we saw this huge Labrador running in our direction, he grabbed the baguette (all of it!) and run away. The owner was behind and came to us to apologize and offered to pay us for the baguette but the moment was spoiled. We should have told her to go buy us a baguette right? We were nice and just let it go.
I love dogs but I am scared of them. i will normally walk the on the opposite sidewalk, or move away if I see a dog. I feel defenseless when I see an unleashed dog at the park.
I think the Park Police should star ticketing owners.

They do. Call them, and if a dog has been aggressive, be sure to tell them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous



There are deer and foxes and squirrels are off leash too. Why don't you go pepper spray them.

Yes because you some how have a right to have your pet off leash. They should just shoot the dogs off leash.

No, but I hear that off leash dogs love chocolate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the dog came near your husbands kidney? not near the rest of him, only his kidney? WTF are you worried about then?

It was a specially trained kidney sniffing dog

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For OP whose DH was bitten by dogs (evne if just his shirt), why not call the police? That's a dog attack in my book.

An off-leash dog jumped on me and wrecked a $140 sweater. I asked the owner for his address and to send me a check and he just walked away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The leash laws are dumb. Parks are for animals and people

Yes, and my 2YO and 5YO don't deserve to be bowled over by a stupid excited dog. Why should animal's rights be put ahead of people? There are areas in the park that are off-leash - large fields to run in! I don't see why the trails need to be off leash too.

A 2 yo can barely walk on a trail. Carry him in a forward facing back pack--that's what we did when ours were that small. 5 yo can fend for themselves. The human race didn't come this far to coddle your weaklings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For OP whose DH was bitten by dogs (evne if just his shirt), why not call the police? That's a dog attack in my book.

An off-leash dog jumped on me and wrecked a $140 sweater. I asked the owner for his address and to send me a check and he just walked away.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. You're lying. You're so crazy you're exaggerating/lying on an anonymous board. Pathetic. Get a life. Or better yet, get a dog--maybe then you could grow a soul, you worm.