Friday, June 12, 2015

Rant from a non-dog-owner

I was just minding my own business, enjoying the sunshine without anyone else around for hundreds of metres.  Out of nowhere, four or five dogs are suddenly galloping at me at a million miles an hour.  One of them helps himself to my bag, opens up the tinfoil inside with his teeth, and within thirty seconds has devoured my entire packed lunch.  The owner saunters up, says "Sorry, mate, sorry about that", and then wanders off as if it's no big deal.  I know there's not much more he could have done, but it doesn't seem good enough when you've just found out you're going to go hungry for the next four hours.

Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

61 comments:

  1. I've 2 satsumas left from my packed lunch.

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  2. with you on that one....

    dog owners should undergo several weeks intensive training and pass before they are allowed to have one ...and only one...

    if they want another then they need the advanced course in animal handling and the relevant zoology degree

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  3. We have multiple dogs but never let them off the lead (small doggies) not so much to protect other people's lunch packs (although they would probably do something similar) but because we probably wouldn't see them again.
    Freedom!!

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  4. " know there's not much more he could have done,"

    he should have offered to buy you a new lunch!

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    1. I totally agree!( about the lunch) but he should have controlled his patently untrained dogs which are a menace to the general public going about there own business. Grrrrrrrr from me too!

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  5. Well known cybernat blogger in hate filled anti-dog rant....

    Had a similar experience on golf course once when a dog being walked off the lead (despite signs all over the place forbidding this) ran up as I was about to take a shot and jumped all over me covering me in mud then stole my ball. The owner eventually sauntered up in no particular hurry to stop it and with a big friendly smile said to me "Ah, he's only playing..."

    When I politely asked her how she was going to compensate me for loss of my golf ball and pay for the cleaning of my mud stained clothing as she had failed to control her pet and indeed have it on a lead as required, she went into one and proceeded to berate me as if I had just suggested something grossly indecent.

    Far from an isolated incident either...

    Totally get how attached people are to "mans best friend" but some, not all, dog owners seem to think them and their pets rights to public places override all others and how dare you object...

    Cats are cool though :)

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    1. No, cats are evil. And they seem to think my roof is the perfect place to saunter around at 3 in the morning, leaving *just* enough time between saunters for me to start to fall asleep, only to (I can only assume) start tapdancing above my head.

      Cool, he says.


      ;-)

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  6. If a dog does something inappropriate or unacceptable, it's the fault of the owner, not the dog. I'm not saying a dog will never decide to do its own thing, they do, but it's up to the owner to train the dog to minimise this, and try to anticipate the dog's behaviour and take control before an incident occurs. If one of my dogs stole somebody's lunch I'd be extremely embarrased, apologetic, and would give the victim enough cash to amply compensate.

    On the other hand, we have become a very dog-unfriendly country. It's virtually impossible to take a dog with you to the shops, or to even get a coffee. It's even hard to find suitable places to walk dogs off-lead, which many breeds require.

    I've been on the receiving end too. I've been chased, bitten, and covered in mud, so I know what it's like. Sometimes the owners are apologetic, other times not.

    Our lives would be diminished without our furry friends, so please don't blame them, blame the owners.

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    1. Apologist crap. When will dog owners realize that people don't want to be sniffed, barked at, bitten, jumped on, drooled over, sexually assaulted by a mindless bag of germs. They are noisy, smell and are dangerous. When I am shopping, walking, having a coffee or a pint, I don't want an animal in my company.

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    2. "don't want to be sniffed, barked at, bitten, jumped on, drooled over, sexually assaulted by a mindless bag of germs."

      Marriage problems?

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    3. Anon - sounds like an Orange walk.

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    4. "Our lives would be diminished without our furry friends". This is typical of dog owners. No, MY life would not be diminished by these animals. Please don't try to speak for others. I want nothing to do with dogs and would be quite happy if I never saw another one again. So, to put none too fine a point on it, piss off and take your vile mutts with you.

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    5. Anon when people say they do not want to be bothered by my dog I understand,
      Mine is bathed once a week because of allergies so I take offence about cleanliness, there are humans who you certainly do not want near you or your food.
      I have a Pug because he is human friendly I can assure you in his seven years on this earth he has only bitten his owners and that in play. He actually bites his play partner more often than me and I think drawn blood once entirely by accident.
      As a Pup he did cause me major embarrassment by jumping up on a gentleman wearing cream trousers, I did apologise, if the gentleman had asked I would have taken them home to wash,
      I would suggest you have a problem which may need assistance, dogs have lived with humans and have been useful, Guide dogs for example, one nearly gave it's life for it's person in New York recently. Heating Dogs for the Deaf, Sheepdogs, Cattle Dogs, and mine was a hot water bottle, still works as well.

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    6. "I would suggest you have a problem which may need assistance". The arrogance is breathtaking. No, I don't like dogs and I don't want them anywhere near me. Do I have a choice in this? No, as on a daily basis, I am disturbed by these animals in some way or another. You just don't get it, do you. I don't want to be woken up in the night or disturbed during the day by barking dogs. I don't want to be charged when I am trying to run in the park. I don't want to have to pick up my child at the approach of an animal whether on a lead or not. If a dog serves a valid function fair enough. If it is just for your company, two suggestions - a. I would suggest you have a problem which may need assistance and b. Just keep the bloody things quiet and away from me.

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    7. I think you are being silly. You have no more right to the pavement than anyone else a dog on a lead is hardly a risk to you or your child. Dogs serve many functions. How about that lonely old lady who doesn't have any family or friends near and her dog is her only companion in your world she would be denied that. If you have issues you should cross the street, and let people live their own lives without your nasty judgement

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    8. "a dog on a lead is hardly a risk to you or your child"
      are you out of your mind? There are numerous incidents of attacks made on people of all ages by leashed dogs. I have personally experienced several. As for "let people live their own lives", that's precisely what so many of us are trying, and failing, to do because we are constantly disturbed by other people's animals.

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  8. On a positive note James, you clearly manufacture a tasty packed lunch!

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  9. When I was seven years old, I fell and skint my knees.

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    1. I did that four weeks ago (genuinely). I didn't blog about it because a dog-owner wasn't to blame.

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    2. Pop over to me James I will see if I can remedy it. Having a wee dog it is amazing how may ways you can fall over them and if not them something left lying by them.Then you can blame the owner, it is nearly always their fault, my pet hate right now is those who pick up the poo and leave the bag lying.

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  10. I've tried to train my dogs to open bags and steal items from within for absolute ages.

    It's the zip/buckle thing they cannot master.

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    1. Am I sensing that your general reaction to the story I've related is "you should have thought of that"?

      Hmmm. I'm guessing you would also recommend that I never open a window at home, in case a dog jumps in and breaks all the crockery?

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    2. Dogs off the lead running around, generally having a good time not attacking anyone, find free food lying about.

      My dogs tend to ignore crockery that has no food in it...

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    3. Are you going to be terribly offended to discover that I would be unhappy about your dogs attempting to open my bag, regardless of whether or not they succeeded? I mean, I'd be delighted that they're having such a good time and everything, but my bag belongs to me and so does my personal space.

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    4. Your bag lying on the ground open means 'free food' to any foraging animal.

      I'm not sure 'personal space' is a concept that dogs would understand.



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    5. That's why you keep them on a lead.

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    7. Hang on, I'll define that a bit more.

      I don't know where you put your bag down, containing these delicious and much missed morsels. Public parks in city centres proclaim that dogs should be kept under control.

      My dogs always are, even when running about off the leash.
      There are those who have dogs within a city that use parks so that their dogs can run and play catch and fetch.

      Were you in one such?

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    8. Simple answer : no. Let me absolutely clear about this - if your dog is a) not on a lead, and b) sticking its head into someone's bag and helping itself to the contents, it is not "under control". It is totally and utterly out of control, and that is your responsibility.

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    9. This is turning into a flame, not my intention; a light hearted response to a rather funny occurrence has become a focus for you to 'rant' about irresponsible dog owners, of which I assure you I am not one.

      My attempt to inform you of canine behaviour (food lying on ground - mine!) was responded to as if I was responsible for the 'crime'.

      I wasn't.

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    10. I must say it's rather telling that you interpreted the blogpost as being about a "funny occurrence", rather than being about irresponsible dog owners. For the avoidance of doubt, it was the latter. I was hopping mad about what happened - I was nowhere near a shop, so I couldn't simply replace the lunch. I eventually ate five hours later. The dog also made a complete mess of my bag.

      Whether or not you intended your comments to be light-hearted, you clearly implied that people's possessions are fair game for dogs in public places. That's a ridiculous notion that needs to be knocked right on the head. We're not talking about feral animals - if they can't be trusted to behave, they should be kept on a lead in public places.

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    11. This is the point, isn't it? Our dog lovers above find the behavior of their lovable scamps all very amusing. Well, for many of us it is not. Ruined clothes, damaged property, noise, shite etc, etc. Get it through your heads, many people don't, like or want dogs near them. We have the right not to have the bloody things intrude into our lives on a daily basis.

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    12. It appears many dog owners, even those who are responsible, are incapable of any empathy regarding this. You are unable to understand that not everyone likes dogs, or wants any interaction whatsoever with them. Try to put yourself in someone else's shoes and image being confronted constantly and having to physically deal with an animal you find offensive. That is how it is for many people whose feelings are accorded no consideration. They are even accused of mental illness. Thanks Helena.

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    13. "a rather funny occurrence"
      This comment says it all. It's not bloody funny. At the very least its a pain in the arse, like dogs and many dog owners.

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  11. LOL

    Not much sympathy there then. Woof!

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  12. Cybernat mauls muts over missing munchies.
    Seriously though, he could've given you a couple of quid.
    Love dogs though. Cute n loving. I mean, not rotweilers n crazy stuff like that, but you know, shi tzus n all that.

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    1. Mine is not fond of Rotties either, he was all set to take on the one which turned out belonged to an old neighbour of mine, turns out the Rottie was more frightened of the Pug. Another reason for dog owners to be vigilant, sometimes dogs can be taken by surprise. Yellow Lab thought it would be an interesting bit of fun to chase mine in the Park one day, well he got within ten feet when mine took off after him. Something to do with the back fur being up and the tail out, mine did not like the idea, never saw anything so funny. The Lab screeched to a halt and reversed in double quick time, being followed by an irate Pug.

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  13. What a dick, he could have at least offered to pay for a lunch. Even if only for a couple of sandwiches from a convenience store.

    Dogs are a pain in the arse. Obviously not all of them, but some owners just can't seem to get it through their thick skulls that there are people around who might just want to mind their own business without somebody else's untrained mutt jumping all over them, damaging their property or eating their food.

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  14. Interesting. Especialy btl.

    Perhaps we should have a poll on it?

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  15. Yes, yes... but what are the implications of this incident on the 2016 'list' vote?

    ;-)

    braco

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  16. That’s what you get for taking a break from blogging. No dogs will molest you and your lunch if you stay behind your keyboard and tap away diligently...;-)

    Lest there be any doubt and for the benefit of those who have had a humour bypass, this is an attempt at irony.

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  17. This incident highlights the legacy of Thatcherism; it's a dog eat sandwich world now.

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  18. Actually it just struck me that I ate dog years ago. So, you know, that'll show em.
    But I still love the furry little tykes...so adorable.

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  19. I am a dog owner and I do not like dog owners who walk them without control. I watch any number of people walking the dog, hell they do the same with the bairns in push chairs, with the Mobile stuck firmly to the face. I will not say mine is a saint because is isn't he loves all humans and thinks everyone wants to be his friend but he is not fond of all dogs and hates being loomed over, much to the surprise of those who do the looming, big dogs you see, wee dog, Pug who is very dominant will sort them out in his own way but his owner, me would prefer that the owners were there to leash said dog if asked.
    By the way I doubt he would have eaten your lunch but then he is a Prince so he would have demanded you unwrap it and feed it to him a bit at a time. I would certainly have offered to buy you lunch I would have been so embarrassed otherwise.
    He is well trained and has a certificate to prove it, but many forget when temptation comes their way.

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    1. You just don't get it. For many people the antics of your animals are not whimsically amusing but cause a great deal of distress. Really, large numbers of people DO NOT like dogs and wish nothing to do with them. Please respect that.

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  20. I would suggest you develop a taste for hot Chilli Pepper garnish on your sandwiches.

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  21. O/T

    The racists and bigots on Stormfront Lite PB are foaming at the mouth even more than usual after an unsuprisingly low IQ tory tabloid syle 'take' on Devo Max FFA from one of their resident out of touch right-wing twits.

    Admittedly, watching PB tories trying to grasp Devolution is always hilarious but the sheer extent of the ignorance on show was laugh out loud funny even for the likes of them.


    Reminded me of this wings tweet.

    For fuck's sake, stupid people: FFA is MORE COMPLICATED than independence.

    *chortle*

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  22. Meanwhile, over on Political Racism(tm).

    The genius suggestion that the english government should just impose FFA on Scotland to call the SNP's bluff.

    It will be such a financial disaster for Scotland that the SNP will be destroyed and the Union saved forever.

    Britnats are quite literally insane. Punishing Scots for not doing what we tell them will make them love us!

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    1. If these buffoons want to reframe making major concessions on Home Rule as "calling our bluff", by all means let's let them get on with it. While they're at it, could they "call our bluff" on a fair voting system, an end to austerity, the removal of Trident, and full sovereign independence, please?!

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    2. Pure poison over there today.

      Remember the entire Referendum was down to DCPM calling Salmond's bluff.

      Madder than mad Jack McMad.

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  23. Given that, every day, about 1800t from the animal kingdom (ie 5ooo pigs, 100 000 chickens, 100 000 fish and 1250 cows) is sacrificed for Scotland's lunch (assuming breakfast, dinner and kebab is included in definition of lunch), it is refreshing to hear of at least one minor instance where the roles have been reversed, Thank you!
    Stuart





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    1. "the roles have been reversed"

      You seem to have got the wrong end of the stick, Stuart. There was no human meat in my packed lunch. What do you take me for?

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    2. :)
      as rant from a non dog owner transforms into a tale of 5 hungry bitches and a human sandwich ..

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  24. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy

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