A man's best friend is his dog? Are you barking?
This is a fantastic article which sums up most of the reasons why I hate dogs, and in particular, stupid dog owners:
In the country, where I now live, they bag it, but then sling the whole unpleasant package into a hedge where it hangs, immune from the process of natural decay, as an emblem of our disrespect for public space. Children are bowled over by glossy but feckless golden retrievers, which explode out of the back of Range Rovers like furry Exocets, inserting themselves 'playfully' into ball games or equally 'playfully' jumping up at people who want nothing to do with them.
In my old London haunts, stocky, pit bull-type creatures were towed along by their tracksuited owners as symbols of street credibility. More often than not, the Peckham and Lewisham animals had Class A drugs [i.e. heroin, cocaine etc] secreted under their collars where only the most foolhardy and desperate user, or the bravest police officer, would dare to look. And, years after the introduction of the Dangerous Dogs Act, banned breeds such as pit bulls still run free in our cities. Last week, a man was charged under the act after his dog killed a five-year-old Merseyside girl.
But for most dog haters, the animals are far more of a nuisance than a danger. 'Don't worry, he's very friendly,' is the refrain from owners who watch indulgently as Fido thrusts his snout for the fifth time into your crotch. And does anyone else share my revulsion at the sight of an animal that spends large parts of the day with its face buried in its own or other dogs' nether regions licking the faces of children?
Where I live, the easiest route (if not the shortest) is through a local open space, which is not a park and where there are no "no cycling" signs, but the dog owners apparently think they own the place, letting their stupid animals off leash and, more to the point, out of their sight. This means I often find myself approaching a large or muscular-looking dog and seeing that the owner is several yards ahead with no idea whatsoever off what their stupid pets are doing.
I've even had a couple of incidents in which off-leash dogs ran after me - the most recent of those being a couple of weeks ago in that same local open space. On the most recent occasion, I had to fend the wretched thing off by kicking back in its face while trying to pedal fast enough to outrun it. Eventually, its owner managed to call it back. On another occasion, I saw a dog trot up behind a blind woman who was walking along behind her guide dog and poke its nose up her behind.
However, some owners seem to have no clue that their animals are wild and that people have the right to go about their business without being harrassed by out-of-control wild animals - and it's not just in parks that this happens; I've even had to make deliveries to offices where people have let nasty little dogs run around. On one recent occasion, after fending off one such animal, the owner (or, at least, one of the group which was accompanying this and several other dogs) told me, "it's your reaction, mate". Uh, no, it's your dog, mate. It chases after people. It's out of control and cannot control itself. Why don't you get yourself an animal you can control?
A few weeks ago, Camden borough council announced that they were going to ban off-leash dog walking except for within certain designated, enclosed areas, and I thought, "great idea - they should do it in Kingston too". This caused outrage, however, with the TV news featuring an old lady complaining about how she would have to travel a mile or two to the nearest such place. Eventually, and sadly for those of us hoping it would extend elsewhere, Camden backed down.
Why can't people understand that some of us do not want to be bothered by their dogs? Do they not understand that some people, and particularly children, are actually scared of dogs, particularly those which are much bigger than they are? Why do some people not understand that some of us don't want them sniffing around us, or licking us or our clothes? These same idiots who let their dogs run around in my area also let them crap on the pathways, and do not bother to clean up after them. I agree with bringing back dog licences, along with laws stating that dogs seen off-leash and out of sight or hassling passers-by are taken away - no ifs or buts.
I went for an early-morning jog in the local park one morning. A dog decided to chase me repeatedly and I had a task to try and get it to go away, it kept on jumping in my path and barking at me. Ruined an otherwise brilliant jog. Plus always having your eyes glued on the ground to avoid dog litter means you cant enjoy the scenery!
Oh don't be so soft. Dogs are mostly fine - better than a lot of people. It's the owners that need to be trained.
This is one of my, forgive the pun, pet peeves, as well.
I was attacked and nearly killed as a small child by a neighbor's unleashed German Shepherd in Boston. A passing truck driver saved my life by getting it to let go of my 4 year old head, which it had been gnawing furiously on. Still have a few faints scars on my head from the encounter.
The owners refused to put it down, even after it went on to chew up another poor young boy's groin and maim him for life. (Sorry for the gory detail--that's what happened.) Subhanallah.
Was quite afraid of them as a child.
The outrageous problem with unmonitored free-roaming dogs (even if only briefly) is the psychological burden their presence imposes on those physically at risk. I can scare off most dogs (I literally bark back at them enough heartfelt ferocity to stop them dead in their tracks), but my wife can't do that and doesn't outweigh them as do I.
There are some college kids in our neighborhood who occasionally let their Doberman loose around the house. As a result, Shabana's afraid to take our baby daughter for a walk unaccompanied, just in case. It's outrageous.
salam alaikoum
What I hate is when dog owners think it is ok for their dog to jump on me, and then giggle and be all like, "Oh but Fido is nice!"...you wouldn't let your kid touch me, so don't let your dog touch me. Sheesh.
Just tazer the mutts.
Assalamu alaikum, I'm going to guess that we're not talking about dog guides and other service animals here? Although some owners of these types of dogs aren't very responsible either. However, if you go through a training class at any of the number of schools which train these dogs and train people to ahndle them, you are trained in how to keep them well-groomed and well-behaved, and yes, you're even trained on how to pick up after them.
As I commented on Umar's blog, most service animals, if they are well-behaved, are very inconspicuous unless you are sitting right next to someone who has one and you see them laying quitetly at someone's feet or guiding them calmly through a bulding or outside somewhere.
A large dog with a vicious history attacked my daughter right in front of me. I pulled out my walther automatic and shot it to death. The police conplimented me on my marksmanship and investigated the owner for negligence. Killing that dog made my day. I sued the owner on behalf of my kid and got a fairly decent chunk of money for her. I utterly hate dogs. My fantasy is to relocate to a community where they are outlawed. Does anyone know of such a utopia?
Yes - Iceland. But I don't think they will let you carry your automatic.
Assalamu alaikum
What about barking all the time?
There is a Pakistani girl in our street with two noisy barking dogs and the neighbors are none too pleased.
Are you kidding??? "Mindless and totally bias argument." You are a perfect example of a dog owner seeing things from their point of view. If you keep your dog under control then well done you, but you ARE in the minority. I walk to work every day and 3 days out of 5 I get either inappropriately sniffed or have some retard's pet running round me barking. Just because you've fallen in love with a big slobbering smelly canine don't presume that the rest of the world will too. Dogs are a social pest and the UK is not full of animal lovers.
I couldn't agree with you more. It is so unfortunate that WE (the anti-dogs) will always look like the bad guys. "What kind of a person doesn't like dogs"--people ask me all the time. I honestly can't understand what kind of losers NEED dogs--mostly because they're lonely or need to have SOMETHING to grab another human being's attention (or deflect attention, due to insecurity)... I see so many faults with dog owners' personalities.
Personally, I don't care about what people get out of having a dog. I am more concerned about those who fail to understand that others don't share their enthusiasm, and refuse to restrain them, and let them run around and annoy other people.
I hate dogs for all the above reasons. seeing as the second largest reason for someone to have the day off work is for shooting from both ends; and dog mess is apparently responsible for 78% of all cases; is it not fair to point out that dogs are harming the economy? As patriots, we should encourage the systematic destruction of these anti social animals. Any one know of a UK organisation that labbies government against dogs?
Is it disproportionate to have the dogs of owners who do not clean up dog mess shot in front of them?
Is there also something psychologically suspect about a human who is addicted to the unquestioning adoration of a lower animal?
I wonder about the origins of the Islamic prohibition against dogs. Could it be anything to do with the behaviour of dog-owners who become unfit for human society?
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I despise dogs, also! It's funny that you should say that, because I was just telling my husband the other day, that I wish there was a town or community where no dogs were allowed! I guess great minds think alike! The attitudes of dog owners just down-right pisses me off! When I object to someone's "vermin" sniffing me, or jumping on me, they act as if I'm the one who has the problem!
Thank God I'm not the only person who detests dogs. I feel they have no place in society, many people including children have been killed and seriously injured by these umpredictable and dangerous animals.Why would anyone keep a creature that can cause fatal injuries and extreme pain and trauma, leave excreta and urine in our streets and parks, disturb the peace and quiet with their incessant and annoying barking, we are then told " my dog wouldn't hurt a fly" and "they are man's best friend" Oh no they are not.
If so called dog owners love them so much they should pay for a licence, say £300 per annum, this would fund the enforcement of the rules, that so many inconsiderate and irresponsible people flout on a daily basis. In my local newspaper yesterday, yet another case of a dog attacking a child, horrendous pictures of a tiny face full of sutures, then of the owner remarking "Well he's never done anything like that before". Something must be done and soon, before another death or permanent injury occurs.
"I feel they have no place in society, many people including children have been killed and seriously injured by these umpredictable and dangerous animals.Why would anyone keep a creature that can cause fatal injuries and extreme pain and trauma, leave excreta and urine in our streets and parks, disturb the peace and quiet with their incessant and annoying barking"
Sounds pretty much like the average human these days - compare the amount of children killed by dogs to the amount killed by humans.
Who's the monster now?
Fair enough if you don't like dogs, but tarring all dogs and dog owners with the same brush isn't going to earn you any respect in the long run.
Thorne , my reply.
Perhaps if we all practised a little more empathy with our fellow humans, this world of ours would be a better place. Of course all people are not the same, what a boring place it would be, dread the thought, I do exercise honour, decency and high values in my life, and maybe I go a little over the top at times with some issues, for that I am sorry.
How can we control our "pets" if we have no idea how to control ourselves? I agree our society is shot to bits, WHY ? A word you mentioned may hold the answer "Respect" then how can we aportion blame? when most culprits cannot even spell the word never mind practice it.
So where does that leave us ? will all things in the end become equal or will we still criticise and condemn with impunity yet be slow to compliment and congratulate.
Thanks for your comment I have replied the best I can, I meant no offence to genuine dog lovers, personally I prefer to hug trees.
Animals are animals, and as such, they belong in the wild. Dogs, no matter how well bred and trained, come from hunting mammals, and are therefore potentially dangerous beasts. Moreover, while a wild wolf would probably run away if faced by a man, a dog has too much confidence towards humans and will not. Why man has exterminated wolves rather than dogs is quite beyond me.
Dogs seldom cause seriuos injuries when we consider the vast number of them, I must admit that, but I also think that being sniffed, licked and/or barked at by a dog is quite disturbing in itself, even if one's life is not put in danger by this canine behaviour. Don't we have the right to defend ourselves against that?
How many people are scared of vipers (and a viper would run miles to avoid contact with a human) and still sneer at people who are scared of or otherwise don't like dogs?
Anyways, I'm happy to see that I'm not the only man on earth who does not like dogs, for sometimes I nearly think there is something wrong with me.
Oh, and to the ones that may reply that owners are not all the same: no, they are not, and there are polite and civilized owners who apologize when their dog disturbes somebody and who are constantly watching the animal, but they are few and far between, and thus, quite statistically irrelevant.
"a viper would run miles to avoid contact with a human"
Really?