leash laws?

Well, you can't have one law for aggressive dogs and another law for non-aggressive dogs, because too many dog owners with aggressive dogs would say "Oh, my dog is a sweetheart. He doesn't need to be on a leash" because they can't be bothered to put their dog on a leash.

Unless you make a law that a dog doesn't have to wear a leash until  after it has already attacked someone - and by that time it is too late.

Sometimes you have to put up with laws that are inconvenient for the sake of everyone's safety.

yeah i understand. I just didnt want to come across as some "leash-mad" person or anything

if it was up to me, I would say all dogs should be on leashes. just to be on the safe side.

Even small dogs not having leashes does my head in. Reason being, our dog I mentioend earlier,the one that was rescused from the racing industry, has only stopped racing a little over a year ago, so when a small dog runs up to him, he tries to go for it (as instinct unfortantley thanks to the stupid racing industry)
And Im standing there trying to tell the owner to get their dog away from him and put it on a lead or else he is gonna have him for lunch. hes not aggressive, its just natural to him at the moment unfortantley

I'm through with the leash law mini-debate, but Ink, I just wanted to commend for rescuing a racing dog.  From a dog person to another - thank you for being such a kind person.

thanks mittajay, me and my partner are very anti-greyhound racing. Both our greyhounds are rescued. and when we get more dogs in the future, we will always get rescued greyhounds.
We try and get the oldest ones there,instead of the younger ones. So that they can atleast have some happiness and love in their final days.
Instead of being tossed aside like a piece of rubbish once they arent "earning money" anymore

However, my dog, for example, never NEEDS to be on a leash - she sticks to me like glue and may sniff a person or their shopping bag, but has never in her 10 years aggressively approached anyone.   For someone to say they don't like it when a dog even just sniffs them as an above poster said, is a ridiculous reason to call for leash laws.  

How do I know the dog is just going to sniff me?  A "nice, friendly, well behaved dog" mauled me as a child leaving me with permanent scars.  Just because you know your dog is well behaved, doesn't mean I do.  Like I said, as long as dogs stick beside their owners I don't care but I really hate when they run up to me, it scares me. 

How do I know the dog is just going to sniff me?  A "nice, friendly, well behaved dog" mauled me as a child leaving me with permanent scars.  Just because you know your dog is well behaved, doesn't mean I do.  Like I said, as long as dogs stick beside their owners I don't care but I really hate when they run up to me, it scares me. 

I feel the same way.  I can deal with dogs for the most part, even when they jump up on me, but I do not like it at all.  I fly on airplanes all the time and I don't think anything of it, but I can understand why a person might be terribly afraid of flying, even if I personally believe it's extremely safe.

just out of curiousity. ,geeta reminded me of this... ive often seen people take their dogs on public transportation, like trains and buses. Is that the norm here? Im not talking about "seeing dogs" ......just normal dogs.

I remember taking my daughter on the bus when she was first born. And there was a lady who came on the bus with a rather large dog and sat near us. And even though she was in a buggy and the dog was on a leash. it still unsettled me a bit

Back in the states I never seen people take their pets on buses or trains

just out of curiousity. ,geeta reminded me of this... ive often seen people take their dogs on public transportation, like trains and buses. Is that the norm here? Im not talking about "seeing dogs" ......just normal dogs.

I remember taking my daughter on the bus when she was first born. And there was a lady who came on the bus with a rather large dog and sat near us. And even though she was in a buggy and the dog was on a leash. it still unsettled me a bit

Back in the states I never seen people take their pets on buses or trains

I think it's ok as long as the dog is well behaved.  I must say it's quite common where I live and i've never seen a dog run amok.  They usually just lie quietly on the floor.

I don't think I used to see dogs on the buses or tubes in London.  Not sure if there is a rule though.  You see dogs on the public transit in Paris a lot!

It's quite common here as well.  As a person who uses public transport and hopes to have a dog soon, I appreciate it.  Although I would NEVER let any dog of mine near someone who hadn't asked to see them (on or off the leash!).  I love that dogs are allowed to be unleashed here, but I agree that it's the owner's responsibility to make sure they are well trained and well behaved. I just wish that a few lax owners wouldn't ruin it for the rest...

I don't think I used to see dogs on the buses or tubes in London.  Not sure if there is a rule though.  You see dogs on the public transit in Paris a lot!

No you can do it, as long as they're quiet and don't get on the seats, I see them snoozing over the engine normally.

There's a rule about one dog per bus, (2 for guidedogs) and the dogs are supposed to be muzzled and on a leash.

ive got no problem with them being on public transportation as long as they're leashed. I was just wondering. Usually its only guide dogs allowed.

I've wondered about leash laws too. Walking in the woods by my house, I've been jumped on, bitten, knocked down and charged at by dogs and more than once, the owners have said, 'I don't know what got into them, they've never done that before...' 

I love dogs but I am terrified when they come running towards me at full speed without a leash and they're owners don't call them off. They might be pets, but they are also animals and animals can be unpredictable.

They might be pets, but they are also animals and animals can be unpredictable.

I totally agree!

The law states that the owner must be in control of the animal while in a public area. Doesn't matter that the dog was muzzled, if she wasn't in control of the dog at all times, she's breaking the law and can be prosecuted.

The problem is that the Dangerous Dogs Act is really crap when it comes to first time offenders. It states that the owner had to be aware the dog could be a menace and really the only way you can prove that is if they've previously attacked. It's actually being debated at the moment as to whether the law should be altered.

I think it's good that you've reported it to the warden. I'd make sure you get a report made up because if the dog does it again and seriously harms someone, they could be sued.