Tonight I had a scary thing happen on the way home...I came very close to hitting one of our neighbor's dogs. Who also happens to be a Weimaraner, so I have an extra soft spot in my heart for him. Not that I don't love ALL dogs. ;)
Anyway, it was about 4:50-5:00ish, definitely dusk. Now, we may live out in the sticks, but our road is a county road and does serve quite a few houses. And unfortunately, a lot of people go WAY too fast on it. Fortunately, though, I was tooling along pretty slowly...I especially always try to slow down a bit when I'm passing in front of people's houses. As I was passing this little guy's house all of a sudden I saw a blur of grey streak out in front of my car and jump around by my left front tire. He was close. It totally startled me...I jumped in my seat and my heart started pounding furiously. I always try to keep my eyes peeled in this area, but with this guy's coloring (he's the same color as Caleb) he was very hard to see at dusk! I'm still trying to figure out where he came from. I think he might have been on the other side of the road and decided to dart out in front of me. Holy cow. Scared the crap out of me. And pissed me off too. I collected myself and pulled to the side...thought I might just mention to his owner that we had a close call. I got out and approached their driveway...finally the ding-dong comes out and feebly starts calling for him. Meanwhile, another neighbor is drives by and the dog is still running around.
Still shaken, I politely said to him, "you might want to keep him in when it's dark like this. I almost hit him." I promise, I was polite. Didn't yell or anything. Well, the creep doesn't even respond. No acknowldegement whatsoever. Hoping for some kind of response I said "that was really scary". Still nothing. What a butt. Just turns around and heads back for the garage. I was still shaking for about a half hour after this. One, because of the close call, and two, because of his rudeness!
Now, I realize it's really none of my business what people do with their animals. But I do think that we all have a responsiblity to look out for animals' safety. And especially when there's an incident that directly affects me, it becomes my business. That was a very close call and if I would have hit that little guy, my life would have been turned upside down in an instant. I was shaken enough just from the near miss.
It's not hard to be responsible. When you're not, it's not only unfair to your animal, but it's unfair for others who may have to suffer from the reprocutions of your irresponsibility.
Having said that, I will confess...I am a bit of a crazy dog lady. I know it and I embrace it. Maybe I'm a little over the top...by someone's standards anyway. But if there are moving vehicles around my dogs are either on a leash or in their kennel. When it's potty time, they're on their leashes and I'm out there in the rain with them. Even if it's at 2am. It's what I signed up for. Our property is not fully fenced yet and what fencing we do have is defininitely not Weimy proof.
If my dogs are ever off leash on our property playing, I'm with them watching. If Cabela gets a wild hair up her butt to go taking off over to the neighbor's I'm chasing after her and apologizing to the neighbors for the intrusion. Not acting like it's no big deal. And trust me, if we were near the main road where that other little guy lives there is NO WAY in H-E-double hockey sticks that they'd be allowed to run free and cross the road. Accidents can happen anytime and it usually happens in a split second.
Sometimes people (especially those who don't have dogs) look at me like I'm nuts. But I don't care. Being a dog owner is not always an easy (or fun) job. But again, it's what we sign up for. We are responsible for ensuring their well-being. And personally, I'd rather be known as a crazy dog lady and keep these knuckleheads around for as long as possible than have to deal with the unthinkable alternative.
Okay, stepping down now. Sorry for the bitch-fest. But thanks for listening. ;) I feel a little better now.
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Is that a new header? I like it. I am totally with you on this. Our cats are now inside because of where we live. Rosie never goes out unless one of us is with her at all times. I worry about someone just snatching her too. Great post.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you! And you are not a crazy dog lady, you are a responsible dog owner, who happens to love her dogs like they are your own children! That is how every animal owner should be! I would be totally devastated if I ever hit someone's pet!
ReplyDeleteI hate it when people just let their dogs run wild and crazy, terrorizing a neighborhood, or other pets. People think it is cool that they can own a dog, cat, horse, etc, but can't take responsibility for them. I have such a big issue with this!
I am glad you stopped and tried talking to that idiot dog owner, he shouldn't even be allowed to own an animal! Okay, I better step off now too, because I could just so keep going on and on!
Got room on that soapbox? I have a neighbor who is just like the one in your blog. Lets his dogs out and doesn't watch after them. The dogs go in other neighbor's yards and antagonize their animals, including my neighbor's horses...runs them up and down the fence line. I've seen them almost get hit by pickup trucks on several occasions. And one of his dogs recently spent 2 weeks in intensive care because it went into another neighbor's yard and that neighbor's dogs attacked it (remember the antagonizing I mentioned?). You would think after a $10k vet bill they would learn...but no. We actually put up a fence to keep his dogs out of our yard since we own a pitbull, and I know that would end ugly even though Doom is never out unattended (can you say responsible pit bull/dog owner). Anyway, I could go on forever, too. Glad you didn't hit the dog and I applaud your efforts to try to make your point to the irresponsible owner.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys. It's so nice to know that I'm not alone in being frustrated with this kind of thing. I just don't get it. Argh.
ReplyDeleteWhat have you started??? :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you all the way.
Some people have no idea and what is worse they don't care....if they let their dogs run wild imagine how they bring up their kids??
I agree, I am pretty much the same way...except for that moment with Duke =( Who knew the slowest driving guy on our road (which hardley sees any traffic in the middle of the morning) would drive by right at the one moment I have ever taken my eyes off of Duke!! Still makes me completely sick to think about. I am glad there are people like you out there that actually care and watch, unlike the guy that hit Duke and then continued on his slow trek up the road, oblivious to what just happened. And you would think with him driving SO SLOW that he would have umm...maybe stopped for Duke? Why on earth would he drive so slow in the first place?? I miss my pup so bad still! BTW, our fence is almost up, yay! I know you guys would never let your guard down for one second like I did, please don't! Because if you do and something terrible should happen (Lord forbid!) you will never be the same and the guilt is just unreal! I have been having the worst last few months. I haven't had motivation to do much but take care of little Jimmy and survive. I think its getting better now, but I will always remember. Thanks for being loving, responsible pet owners!
ReplyDeleteThat would have freaked me out, too! I have never hit a dog or cat- but many close calls with cats. I would be SO upset. I know it wouldn't be my fault (even though I would still feel like it was) - animals just have a way of getting in front of vehicles. But I would feel awful. I think anyone who owns a dog/cat near a street and lets them run loose is just taking that risk. It's unfortunate that man doesn't have the heart for animals that you do, or he would have been more aware of his dog's whereabouts. Your pups are lucky to have such a caring and considerate owner!!
ReplyDeletep.s. I heard Paint Girl has a little treat from you, for me, at her house. I am heading there now and SO excited!!! ;)
Your soapbox is going to be crowded! The county leash laws cover the ENTIRE county, not just urban and suburban areas. These laws are enacted for the safety of the dogs, other companion animals, livestock, and drivers who may swerve into a tree to avoid hitting a dog.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever noticed how quick negligent animal owners are to sue when someone inadvertently injures the unattended animal?
I'm with you. I'm an animal lover and close calls really shake me up. Then I get mad at the owner who placed me and the animal in the precarious situation.
Off soapbox.
I got the treats! Thank you, thank you! I am watching movies tonight and those are the perfect snacks! Especially the New Moon ones, LOL! Tune in next Thursday, I am going to do a Twilight post and your candies will be on there! ;) xo
ReplyDeleteUgh! No fun at all! I'm sure that got you all fired up, I would have been! And then to have the stupid owners just blow you off like that. AARGH!
ReplyDeleteYou're not a crazy dog lady either, just a good, responsible owner. Nothing wrong with that! :)
Oh, and I think Pony Girl is getting us confused! lol
Okay...Soap box still open?
ReplyDeleteHow about a crate of soap?!!
I will add to this by saying...what a creep that does NOT deserve to won a lovley animal!
You think your bad thoughts and double hocky sticks are bad? Well...get ready for bad but so releived and not one ounce of guit after actions I have taken in the past....
I actually have "rehomed" 2 animals of some creepy neighbors in the past.
Yup...you read that right. It just seemed the appropriate thing to do at the time...there was no planning or scemeing...just a new loving owner waiting to love on the animal in danger and neglect...they showed up and despirately wanted to help and find the owner of the animal(s) (one was a 5 week old kitten, left outside for 2 days, one was a dog, almost hit the exact same way you described)
I gave them a SHOVE to adopt on the spot...they did so without guilt too...
as I did kinda lie about knowing where they belonged. I had witnessed such abuse and neglect for years and had interviened with reports and me physically going over as well...to no avail...untill!!!!
They went happily on, and never bothered to even ask about the animals..almost a relief for them that they no loinger had to feed and care for such.
There is my own soap crateful of stuff!!
KK
You're preaching to the choir, my friend!
ReplyDeleteWell, you know how I feel after what happened to Rojo because of the irresponsibility of his owner. His horrific death was completely preventable!
So sorry you had to go through that. Those near misses are often more frightening than the actual crashes. It's the 'what if' that can that can scare your pants off.
(((HUGS)))
~Lisa
And I forgot to add that your last photo of your beautiful dogs is just precious!
ReplyDelete~Lisa