This morning, it was 16 degrees out when we left the house for the usual 5 mile run. But it turned out rather un-usual, and left me in tears and completely useless today.
About 1.5 miles into the run, a jack russell terrier was ahead of us on the sidewalk, on a retractable leash. "Reel him in!" I shouted. I tried again, "Reel your dog in!" It started about 6' away from its owner. It ran about 8' more toward Molly, and then things got out of hand.
At first they just sniffed. Then the other dog showed teeth. The black cord of that retractable leash wrapped once, then twice around Molly's leash, right at the collar, locked on tight. They were tied face-to-face, and neither were happy. Molly growled, the little dog showed teeth again. I tried to separate them, failed, stepped back, and the other guy got them pulled just feet apart. He tried to get his leash untangled and ended up making it worse. I couldn't look at him. I untangled his leash. Looked at the little white dog- there was no blood showing. Then, wanting not to stand there with our dogs still unhappy with eachother, I ran away.
1.5 miles later, there was the dude, standing in front of the White Hen, waiting for me, camera in hand. He started taking pictures of Molly. He asked for her tag number, and I gave it to him. He yelled at me for running away, I explained the way to stop dogs from going at eachother wasn't to sit them next to eachother while their owners discussed who was in the wrong. He claimed Molly bit his dog's face, and when I said I saw no blood, he agreed that there was none. I told him I called twice for him to reel the dog in, that his dog was out of control, that Jack Russells are dog-aggressive and that Molly wasn't, that she goes to Daycare and is well trained (as she sat there patiently). He said he didn't hear me call out, that he was going to call animal control, th
at his dog is not dog-aggressive. I said that in the 1000 miles we've logged this year nothing like that happened, that if he reeled his dog in and controlled it we wouldn't have had a problem. He told me he had all the info he needed. I told him Molly's not in the wrong just because she's bigger. We ran on.
As I ran away I realized that his leash was, in fact, illegally long, and that if he wants to get the law involved, I might as well try to get him a ticket for that. I didn't have his info though. I ran back looking for him, but couldn't find him. For the next three miles (I overran the 5, but I needed to think) I was thinking about how it doesn't matter what an idiot the owner was, or how wrong those leashes are. Molly's bigger, she's a pit bull. It must be her fault. And Animal Control could kill her if they wanted to. That's what they do to pits. I got home and cried, freaked out. Molly knew something was up. She didn't eat her breakfast. All we can do now is wait and see what happens.
I have no doubt in my mind that this is 95% the fault of the owner with the dumb retractable leash that didn't control his dog. Not his dog's fault, not my or Molly's fault, it's him and that leash. If his dog was on a regular leash of legal length, Molly and I could have jumped into the street and avoided. But as those leashes get longer, that's when trouble starts. Once it's out, there's no way to get it back in. Chicago leash law is a maximum 6', for a reason.
I shouldn't have run away. But it's all I knew to do. It's funny, when I'm involved in a bike accident I know exactly what to do-it's innate and automatic. But with dog stuff, I'm still learning. I get the sense that me running away pissed off that owner more than anything, and he mentioned it a few times. But Molly was losing it and his dog was too. I just don't have the skillz for handling this stuff.
Ugh, what a day.
Ridden and Reviewed Kona Libre CR
8 months ago
10 replies:
That's total bullshite. I completely believe that retractable leashes are the worst leashes ever made and should be banned. Whether it's to prevent incidents like this, or when dogs stray on the lakefront path, or when dog owners clearly have a bigger dog on these leashes that they can't control, they're completely useless.
A good strong solid leash with a limited amount of give is best for everyone.
Sorry you and Molly had to go through this. Some dog owners are way too protective over their dogs (and we are too) but we understand that dogs get in each others faces and sometimes they don't get along. We have neighbours, right next door that have a dog who is absolutely rabid almost when she sees Shaun and who I've feared (and the owners know that too and have started avoiding us). She once was so rabid that she broke through the screen window trying to get at Shaun, from half a floor up!
I try to let Shaun be as social as possible but it's hard sometimes. This neighbourhood has plenty of dogs and we know a good chunk of them but some dogs we avoid. I notice that some dog owners and myself included will cross the street when they see us or I'll do the same -- mostly because either their dog can't behave (and some owners have been polite to alert me of the fact that "It's not you, it's me") or I'm not feeling up to small talk and possible dogs not getting along.
Hopefully nothing will come of this -- it would be silly for that owner. Ridiculous.
yeah, it's tough. we all think our dogs are angels, but they're dogs, and they do what dogs do. I didn't yell at Molly this morning- she did all she knows to do when another dog is in her (or tied to her) face.
I'm used to dogs crossing the street. I used to think it was because of Molly but I know now it's just as much about other people's dogs- they know they dog will freak out, so they cross.
In the past I've had the same reaction to folks with dogs crossing the street away from me and Natasha. Then I started to experience how much more aggressive other dogs are/were than she is. Especially now that Natasha's older, she is so much more mellow with other dogs, and will only get antsy if someone provokes or threatens me (or Gary).
Dude was definitely in the wrong with the absurd retractable leash. Those things are foolish and lead to bad dog behavior.
What a horrible way to start your day. I would have ran away too. What else are you going to do but separate two upset dogs.
My cat is my furry child too, so I can only imagine how stressful it is going to be for a while, waiting to see if anything is going to happen. I'll be thinking of you!
OMFG, if anything happens to Molly over this, I swear I will come to Chicago and find that MF and wrap that stupid flexi leash around his neck! FUCK! I am so sorry this happened! Yes, if it's a pit, a Dobe, a Rott, it must be THEIR fault. The thing is, if Molly had really bitten that dog, that dog would be dead. DUH. And JRT's are the most annoying dogs EVER. What you need to do is call the SCPA, and the rescue you got MOlly from. First, tell the SCPA when and where it happened, and then call the rescue and see if they have any options for you. And if all else fails, HIDE MOLLY. I mean it. Those SCPA fucks can sometimes be total assholes and will come and take your dog. BSL is alive and well in Chi town, even if the laws haven't passed there.
Big hugs - Judi
P.S. If that had happened with my dogs, Lucy would have bit that JRT's head off. I don't let any dogs come up on mine when they are on leash. Or Lucy will bite. And I tell that to idiots using flexi leashes.
Good friend here in town was taken out riding his bike by a dog on one of those retractable things, broke his collarbone. I really dislike dogs on those things, you never know which way they are going to go and how far.
That totally sucks. That's all I can really say. As an owner of a leash-aggressive dog, I know that my dog will bark, snarl, and lunge at other dogs when on leash. As such, I cross the street when I see another dog coming towards us. It really angers me when I see others with equally leash-aggressive dogs who refuse to do the same.
In the moment, it's easy to think that your dog was absolutely in the right, but hopefully this stupid JRT owner will come to terms with his stupidity, take some responsibility, and leave you and Molly alone.
I'm so sorry to hear that happened. Those freaking leashes are an excuse for not being able or not taking the time to train your damn dog.
That really sucks and drives me nuts how dog owners won't take responsibility for their dog's actions. We have a crazy terrier and there is no way we would ever use a retractable leash. Terriers can be territorial and sometimes aggressive, and we need to keep him in close contact in case we do come across a bigger dog. I really hope nothing happens to your pooch!!
I'm so sorry to hear about that. I would have been useless all day too. Hopefully, the guy has calmed down by now.
I'm usually out with Drexl and Christopher at the same time and always warn people that our dog can get aggressive when Christopher is around. It always amazes me how many people still let the dog come right up to us.
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