Stray dogs

[leelapops]

Hiya.
There's a local dog that strays into the park (from a busy main road), and according to other local dog walkers has been around for some time. He is a nice boy, oldish, black, with little tan paws, and has never harrassed or set upon my dog.
I reported him to the Dog Warden today, probably for the 5th time in as many months. I explained that he was a "regular", and asked if any action could be taken against owners of persistent strays. He said that the dog and his owner are known to them, and that they can send another letter out.
Well, that should really impact upon this irresponsible and fe ckless owner...If the first, second, third letters haven't worked, why would he bother his useless self to look after his dog more appropriately after his umpteenth warning?
Does anyone know if there's anything else that can be done? The poor dog is quite evasive I think, and doesn't like to be caught. If I caught the owner, I would put him down myself.

[aka pixi]

Some owners are totally irresponsible, I have no idea what you could do about the dog apart from maybe phone the RSPCA, not sure what they could do though.

imo dog wardens are crap. A dog went for me last week on my way home from work. It was terrifying, the dog was like a rabid crazy thing. It was snarling and snapping mere cms away from my legs. It never bit me but I think if I hadnt slowly backed off and cross the road it would have done. I reported it to the police and the dog warden cos there are a lot of little kids play in the street. The police were in the owners house all of 2 minutes and as they left I could see her laughing through her window, the dog warden informed me they would ASK her to TRY to keep the dog in in future. Im pretty worried about the weather getting warmer and the kids starting to play out more. Kids are likely to run or kick out at it and I believe if that happens the dog would attack.

[daffidazey]

You could try the RSPCA, although I think all they would do is issue a warning, and from what you have said the owner is unlike to pay any attention at all. But I think if the RSPCA have had a dealing with it, if they are called again then it goes higher up in priority so a stronger warning then removal of dog occurs. I may be wrong, please someone correct me if I am. I would give them a ring and see what they say. You are far more polite and gentle than me, I would have paid a visit to the owners myself by now.! As you know only too well, (lol!) I do not take kindly to any form of neglect or cruelty when it comes to animals! x

[cruella]

Hi leela.
How you doing?
That is terrible that the owners of that dog are so irresponsible.
They don'y deserve to have a dog and if the Dog Wardens were doing their job properly, the dog ought to be taken into their kennels and offered for adoption.
You could try the Police but they never seem to be interested in what they see as minor complaints.
I even doubt by writing to your local newspaper would shame the owners into looking after their dog
It's just a downright shame that some folk do not care anymore.
Hope you find a solution. xx

[lankeela]

I would try to catch the dog and take it to the local police station. The owners would then have to pay to retrieve the dog from the local rescue kennels, and if they refuse to pay the dog might be rehomed to someone who actually cares about it.
Responsibility for strays switches from the police to the local council (I think in April) so the situation will get even worse then.

[leelapops]

Hiya all, thanks for your responses. It seems the situation is dire!
aka, what a horrible thing to happen, how frightening for you. I would take it further, before someone is really hurt, and just full-on complain about the owner!
daffi, I don't know this waste of space's address, unfortunately, if I did I might be round there with a few choice words. Apparently, he is the kind of guy who seems to acquire puppies and younger dogs, and so has clearly just left this poor older dog to his own devices. I HATE that he gets away with it, and not only does it make me worry for my own dog, but it makes me worry for the stray. Also, I don't see the guy chasing round after him with poo-bags! And walking across a MAIN ROAD! I mean, for goodness' sake!
Hello cruella, how are you and hubby at the moment hun? And your baby girlie?
I wish the Police would pay more attention; it really is a safety issue, for the dogs, for other dogs, for kids, for car drivers, for pedestrians....You would think they would pay a little mind!
It's a good idea lankeela. If I was alone, I would give it a go, but I only ever see him when I am out with my dog, who wouldn't appreciate another male dog invading his space...He never sticks around for long, he is really very evasive. Poor thing probably doesn't want to be caught and sent back to his horrible owner :(
Given that funding allocations are feeble for the switchover, I can well imagine it getting much worse. I mean, who the h*ll decided that? How many LAs are going to man 24-hour helplines? And how many people are going to bother to report dogs or help out by picking them up, when society is so anti-dog at the moment anyway?

Argh!