My 10-year-old grandson is visiting from Boston and we went for a bike ride today at midday, to a local park. We were riding along a path and saw a woman walking ahead of us with a puppy on a leash and a young girl, maybe three or four years old. As we got closer, I could see that the woman was wearing a hands-free leash – one of those commercial products made for people who jog with their dogs, a waist belt with the leash attached to it. And as I got closer yet, I could see that she was essentially pulling the puppy behind her. The pup was on his feet, but was obviously hot and scared and was resisting at every step.
I took my phone off its handlebar mount and took this picture from a distance. I made an assumption – that this person was not going to be interested in dog-training advice or a stranger’s opinion about practically dragging what looked to be a 4-month-old puppy in the middle of a pretty warm day. And if I saw anything worse, I was going to call my friends at the city animal control department. After I took the picture, I called out in my best cheerful voice, “Hi, coming through on bikes!”
The woman immediately stepped to the side of the path and held her hand out to the little girl (presumably her daughter). She smiled as my grandson and I rode slowly by, and I smiled back and said, “What a cute puppy! But he doesn’t look very happy…”
Her smile disappeared immediately. “He’s getting leash trained,” she said firmly. And then added, “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
Ah, the dilemma of what to do about what we consider to be training that is, at a very minimum, certain to be ineffective and counterproductive – when we see it in public.
In this case, I didn’t stay to talk to the woman. Her response and demeanor were so determined – so not open to further discussion – that I kept pedaling slowly, before stopping 100 yards or so away to see what the woman did next. Just a minute later, she put the pup and little girl into a car and drove out of the park.
My grandson and I biked to a spot nearby, where we put the bikes down and took a quick dip in the river. As we biked home, we talked about the woman and her pup a bit more. I told my grandson, “It’s like seeing some parent do something pretty mean to their kid. You don’t want to say nothing, but you don’t want to make them even madder.”
I also assured him that if the puppy had actually been getting pulled off his feet, or if she had yanked on the leash or hit him, I would have taken some video and called animal control. “Some people just suck,” said my grandson and I agree! How could she not see that dragging the puppy along by force was not going to result in a dog who trusts or even wants to be with her and her daughter. How could that treatment possibly result in a dog who has good feelings about going on a walk with them?
Does anyone have the perfect thing to say to someone in this situation? Does anyone know a course of action that wouldn’t just make matters worse?
Such a difficult scenario. I went to the supermarket one day in April when the weather was abnormally hot. As I was leaving, a man with a pitbull mixed breed parked right next me. I watched in disbelief as he turned the car off and left his dog inside it with all the windows closed except for one that was open maybe an inch. No air conditioning, no water, and zero shade. I intended to wait five minutes for the owner to return but I probably didn’t make it even three. The dog looked very distraught and I couldn’t bear to watch his suffering. I went inside and found the owner…”Excuse me, I’m so sorry to bother you but your dog seems so hot and uncomfortable in your car and I’m just concerned for him.” My concern was not well received so I left and waited in my car until the owner returned. Fortunately, it wasn’t long after I spoke with him. I drove away cringing about the entire scenario. I don’t want to be “that” person but I’m always in awe at the lack of concern pet owners have for their animals and perhaps it’s best to start provoking some awareness.
Erin,
You obviously made a difference (saving that dogs life!) in that the man came back outside within minutes.
He heard you!
Way to go!
Next time please call the police. This is illegal.
The unfortunate thing is that the law doesn’t protect animals beyond outright violence being perpetrated against them (and even then it’s sketchy).
Besides my primary gig as Crystal the Pet Nanny, I used to also deliver Amazon packages as a side gig. I will never forget the day I delivered to a man who was clearly hostile when I rang his bell to let him know his package was at the door. There were several dogs barking inside the house and one – an Australian Shepherd, shot out the door and cowered behind me – obviously terrified of this man, who was glaring defiantly at me, just challenging me with his eyes to say something about his dog’s clear distress.
He reached around me to scare the dog back into the house and continued glaring at me intensely. When I caught the dog’s eye, I swear to you he was PLEADING with me to help him.
There was nothing I could do in the immediate moment though. And quite honestly, I was afraid of this man myself. I had to leave the poor dog behind and it BROKE me!
I made a note of the address and immediately called our local county animal welfare office to find out what I could do to help the dog (and likely also the others who were inside the house). While they sympathized, they said there was nothing that could be done unless I actually witnessed an illegal act. I really wish I could have helped him.
That dog’s eyes haunt me to this day. It’s heartbreaking.
Jeez, next time something like that happens just SAY you saw him kick the dog or whatever! It’s a dog’s life at stake. This is not the time to be 100% honest because you KNOW this man abuses his dogs.
So many wonderful answers! I am always confronted and speak out on the animals behalf.
A neighbor would leave out their dogs (I just moved in) in freezing temperatures, single digits.I knocked on the door (after feeding them treats to help keep them warm) and said your dogs have a frozen water bowl, no safe warm place to enter and are shivering. Please take them in. He tells me they love being outside, but come in for the evening at 11:30/12:00 midnight. So, he continues to leave them outside-I continue to feed them. I come to find out he locks them in crates for the evening in the basement. I left him a note that was very nice. I am more then willing to help you in anyway you need. He ignored my note and my extended kindness! Next, I called animal control. They spoke to him, told him he at least needs to put a dog shelter out in the yard. The next morning, he bangs on my door and threatens me! He loves his dogs and they are well taken care of. Thanks to you my name is now associated with animal control. I was polite and truthful. I asked if he wanted to come in and discuss other solutions that would help his dog. He screamed…and don’t feed my dogs! My reply was simple. If you leave your dogs outside, they are shivering in single digits, hungry and wet, I will most certainly FEED YOUR DOGS! As it turns out, I baked healthful dog treats, leaving bags & assortments at his door. I eventually baked him good things too. He finally gave me his phone number to call him so he can bring the dogs in when necessary, told me the dogs love the treats and they appreciate my kindness. He was truly appreciative! It took awhile and tons of patience on my part (not to mention enormous stress and sleepless nights) but a bad situation ended well. So never give up!
Oh I love this. Progress yeah!
My advice is to be as pleasant as possible and honest. I would say, ‘because your puppy is behind you perhaps you aren’t aware he is having a difficult time keeping up. This could cause his young bones stress, he can easily overheat and if he is forced to run he could be damaged permanently’. If she replied don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. I would say,’ I don’t think so. Do you know puppies shouldn’t be forced to run before their bones are fully developed?’ Then if she told me to mind my own business, I would say, ‘it is my business when I believe an animal is being harmed.’
Would this make matters worse? It could. I may be yelled at or called a name. But I have no doubt the exchange would stay with her for days, if not forever, and make her think. I would bet money she would look into whether it is risky for bone development to force a puppy to jog. Doing what’s right doesn’t always feel good. It can be upsetting and unpleasant. But we do it in the hope of a greater good, in this case, the health of this puppy, will be protected. It’s when we don’t say anything that nothing gets better.
Would just casually ask her, “How would you like being dragged by the leash?”
No one is suggesting do nothing. Maybe you should read the comments.
I did not read the comments. But really people. We have laws in Ohio against this cruelty! The Goddard Law after a huge advocate Dick Goddard. I’m sure other states have laws. Really really really. People do NOTHING! Get a grip! Take photos and videos. Get the license plate # and report to the authorities. I think people have to take a stand instead of doing nothing. How else are these MORONS going to pay for being IDIOTS! Let’s see maybe we should put the owners on a leash and drag them behind a car!!!!
LOVE THAT IDEA!!! How far do you think we should drag them??? [Just kidding, here…]
I was sitting at a light in my car and saw a guy across the street standing on a grass verge, talking to a friend. He was positioned so that his dog was on the asphalt, picking up its feet, trying to avoid the heat. I rolled down the window and yelled, “Hey, your dog’s feet are burning!” This one had a happy ending. He looked down at his dog and immediately moved him to the grass, then waved a thank you to me. There’s really no argument to being told your dog is in pain and seeing it for yourself.
In that vein, I suppose Nancy could have yelled, “Hey, your dog’s having a hard time keeping up with you!” acting like the owner was simply unaware and that she was being helpful rather than accusatory. After all, the dog was behind the owner so she couldn’t see it. She could even follow up with “No offense, I just thought you’d want to know.” And then go with the “whatacutedogwhat’shisnamehowoldishe” blah blah blah before the woman could get angry.
A neighbor was walking her dog at noon …..on the road and the dog was picking up each foot really high ……I was driving by and had just heard on the radio that is was the hottest day of the year so far……I rolled down the window and said “I just heard it is the hottest day of the year the road may be really hot today” she gave me the finger. Now every time she sees me she gives me the finger……she is still walking the dog on the road no matter the weather…..ughhhh yes some people just suck at being human.
Wow! Some people suck. They don’t deserve the love and loyalty of a dog. Can you inform your local animal control? Maybe they can speak to the neighbor
I know the animal control people in the county because I foster dogs with a rescue group who pulls dogs and cats from the kill shelter. No animal control will not intervene in this matter……unfortunately……
I would have continued the conversation in as professional manner possible. I would also have to be willing to walk away without resolution. Becoming an instigator of trouble is different than reaching out to truly help and perhaps open her eyes. And yes sugar gets way more favorable response than vinegar, so finding things to compliment her for is a great start. Then move into – “phew its hot out, I bet the puppy is getting hot too, did you know their feet…..blah blah blah? Would it be better for you to walk in the morning in and evening when it s cooler for all of you?”