Social Status of Early Retirees

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Now go away or I will bite-a you a second time-a....

John, I wont try to reason with you. Your expressed behavior with regards to your dogs is inconsiderate to everyone else. Its not a case of everyone else needing to 'lighten up'.

However, you're hardly alone. There are plenty of self-centered inconsiderate dickwads in my neck of the woods too.

You wanna hear the funny part? When I'm out walking alone and some dog runs up, owner in pursuit, and I end up having a talk with them? Every single one eventually makes a comment like "We've had old 'blue' here for two years...our old dog got run over by a car...and the dog we had before that did too. Just a run of bad luck I guess". Mmmm hmm...

 

[JB]

My dog is old, and very peaceful. If an off-leash dog runs up on us he gets kicked hard, or he gets my umbrella or cane smashed across his nose.

A-hole dogs have a-hole owners.

Are you saying that you will strike a friendly animal who comes over to sniff and greet your dog? If so, you're the ahole.

Our dog is walked regularly, on and off leach. We almost always pick up after him (we don't if we're in the deep woods). When we're at the beach, or in a park, he walks next to us and sniffs around or swims. He's the most gentile animal I know (including humans). He will not approach another dog unless he feels the vibe is good.

Hitting a dog is not cool. This is what makes some dogs antisocial.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

How exactly are the people who lawfully and in a positive social manner have their dogs leashed, know what to expect when your dog runs over to us?

A couple of years ago I had a "friendly wagging dog" run up to us on the beach and suddenly grab one of my dogs by the throat. I'd have kicked it until it stopped moving but our other dog attacked it first in defense of our other dog. It left a few moments later with a huge bleeding gash on its throat, fortunately the harness on my dog took the brunt of the initial bite. That really worked out great for everybody and was a whole lot of unleashed fun! We had two upset dogs and had to leave the beach and go home, the other people had to take their dog to the vet.

Thats why I said 'me and my dog dont know what to expect from you and your dog'. As per my name, WE DONT KNOW YOU.

First thing that runs through my mind when your happy-go-lucky unleashed dog runs up is "Oh crap, is this dog going to start a fight?". Second thing my dog thinks "Uh oh, that dog doesnt have an owner or a leash on, he might try to attack me or my feeder". My dogs get upset and start barking and pulling on the leash. I have to yell at and try to wave off your possibly friendly, possibly unfriendly dog until you drag your lazy ass out of the house/chair and call it back to your property.

As a result of widespread loose dogs in peoples yards and on our local walking/biking path thats a block away - - a major reason why I bought this house - - I cant walk my dogs in the neighborhood during the day or at all on the bike path.

Thanks for giving everyone an extra helping of your "friendly dog".

 

[haha]

Are you saying that you will strike a friendly animal who comes over to sniff and greet your dog?  If so, you're the ahole.

No, but thanks for asking. And if you walk your dog without a leash in a  leash area, you are an A-hole, and also a lawbreaker.

 

[laurence]

Anyone had luck with doggie mace like the mail carriers use?

The law is the law, guys. I'm surprised at you JG, that someone who proclaims his total independence and identification with Ayn Rand and self reliance would then turn around and impose a burden on society, however small. Not trying to go heavy on you, but just saying it doesn't jibe with your image.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

We used to carry hot pepper spray when we walked the dogs in my wifes old neighborhood, as many of the dogs who came racing out to 'greet' us were obviously not very friendly. I only had to spray 'at' a couple and only hit one. We didnt notice them "out front unleashed and alone" after that. After a few weeks of getting our hearts in our throats every fourth house, we started packing them in the car and taking them to the park, where we could plainly see the unleashed dogs that would be 'greeting us' while stepping in JG's dogs crap.

 

[JB]

Around here you are allowed to take your dog off leach for swimming at the beach. Our dog is generally focused on us. If another dog comes along, he'll usually ignore him completely. If he's interested he'll approach very slowly. There's plenty of time for the owners to talk and for both dogs to assess the disposition of the other animal. I've also come across loose dogs roaming sometimes in a pack, and sometimes without an owner-- it's a real problem. Our dog has also been attacked by loose dogs. Allowing dogs to socialize with each other is very important. When owners don't allow their dogs to greet other dogs they get aggressive and territorial. There has never been a case where our dog had approached another animal where the owner was concerned. Never has anyone complained about our dog, everyone loves him. Sometimes I care for our friend's dog. I don't let him off leach if there's anyone around. He's just too unpredictable.

Regarding 'the law is the law', if you win a small amount of cash gambling do you report it on your taxes? Do you always come to a complete full stop at every stop sign? Ever speed? Then there's speeding through a busy intersection running a red light. Big difference.

 

[laurence]

Around here you are allowed to take your dog off leach for swimming at the beach. Our dog is generally focused on us. If another dog comes along, he'll usually ignore him completely. If he's interested he'll approach very slowly. There's plenty of time for the owners to talk and for both dogs to assess the disposition of the other animal. I've also come across loose dogs roaming sometimes in a pack, and sometimes without an owner-- it's a real problem. Our dog has also been attacked by loose dogs. Allowing dogs to socialize with each other is very important. When owners don't allow their dogs to greet other dogs they get aggressive and territorial. There has never been a case where our dog had approached another animal where the owner was concerned. Never has anyone complained about our dog, everyone loves him. Sometimes I care for our friend's dog. I don't let him off leach if there's anyone around. He's just too unpredictable.

Regarding 'the law is the law', if you win a small amount of cash gambling do you report it on your taxes? Do you always come to a complete full stop at every stop sign? Ever speed? Then there's speeding through a busy intersection running a red light. Big difference.

Um, I can't say that I've never, but I try not to. I own all the software I use, too. I don't gamble. I don't use napster or Kazaa or whatever is the latest file swapping tool. I'm not big into moral relativism. But the point of my comment is that it's silly to argue it. John Mellancamp said it best, "I fought the law and the law won!" If you make a personal decision to break the law, knowing you are doing it, there shouldn't be any griping at the inevitable results. Personally if a dog ran up to me and I couldn't tell what it wanted, especially if my 8 month old is with me, I'm assuming the worst for her sake and taking appropriate action.

....I recieved one speeding ticket, came down a hill and wanted to save my brakes, cop tagged me for 10 over the speed limit. Hey, he got me, I paid my bill and took my traffic school and moved on.

 

[JB]

I'm like you, don't gamble or steal and try to be a good person. Do you pay your CA sales taxes on internet purchases too? I don't. I did engage in sodomy in the state of Georgia. In the late afternoon sometimes I take my dog off leech at the end of the beach and let him chase some sticks. Maybe you think immoral for doing these horrible deads. The law is about the last place I look for morals. My dog does not approach people he doesn't know. If a dog approaches me, I try to gauge his temperment, even if he's astray. If he acts hostile towards me, or my dog, a firm 'No' usually does the trick.

When it comes to questionable dogs I'm a hard-liner. If they show aggressive actions, they shoud be put down, and the owners held accountable.

 

[VoyT]

   Not just dog walkers who have problems ... dogs running loose are a major problem for bicyclists, too.  A friend of mine is in the process of suing a dog owner for medical bills. He was riding on the street when the dog charged out of the unfenced yard and attacked him.
 

 

[Spanky]

Not just dog walkers who have problems ... dogs running loose are a major problem for bicyclists, too. A friend of mine is in the process of suing a dog owner for medical bills. He was riding on the street when the dog charged out of the unfenced yard and attacked him.

I can relate to that. It is very scary and dangerous.

 

[laurence]

I did engage in sodomy in the state of Georgia.

Too much information!

Maybe you think immoral for doing these horrible deads.

A buddy of mine likes to say, "whatever you can live with!"

Seriously, who cares what I think about your morals, I'm just some anonymous guy on the internet! I only gave examples for the sake of explaining where I was coming from. If the tack on this thread was, "I think dog leash laws should be banished" that would be a more solid starting point for a debate. Saying, "I flout the law because I know better" is kinda shaky. I bet there are some instances in your life you wish people followed other laws and in their mind they felt the way you do about dog leash laws.

 

[Mr._johngalt]

I can relate to that. It is very scary and dangerous.

This is a great segue into a conversation I had this afternoon.
First, some background.  From 1998 to 2001 I lived in a rural subdivision about 10 miles downstream from where we are now.
Our current subdivision is about the same (same style homes,
same social classes, same size sub., etc. )  One difference is that
my old sub. had an association, rules, bylaws, etc.  Present
sub. has none.  We are subject to state and county law and regs, but otherwise just a group of people living in the same area.  My
neighbor (weekender who lives in Chicago suburbs) opined that
we should have an "association".  I don't agree.  I like the lack of rules.  Dogs run free and the residents are unfettered by a bunch of
imposed restrictions.  If you don't like your neighbors, just move.
You won't lose money on water frontage.  In other words, I would prefer to take my chances without any localized structure, as opposed to setting up a bunch of rules. OTOH, I have no respect for authority
in general, my views on dog excrement being but one example.

JG

 

[Nords]

Not just dog walkers who have problems ... dogs running loose are a major problem for bicyclists, too.  A friend of mine is in the process of suing a dog owner for medical bills. He was riding on the street when the dog charged out of the unfenced yard and attacked him.

I used to have that problem with a pack of dogs along a bicycle trail, and it used up a lot of water bottles.  (Squirted, not thrown!)  I finally saw the owner one day and told him that I couldn't imagine how he could afford his liability insurance.  Leashes appeared as if by magic the next morning.

We had a very energetic dog approach us one night during our neighborhood walk and the owner wouldn't bring him to heel.  I finally threatened to call 911 (the system here at the time) and he finally brought the dog in to make me go away.  So we don't walk there anymore-- it's really hard to round-kick a dog when you're wearing slippers.

Hawaii's Humane Society has a group of volunteer cat feeders.  HHS provides traps (cages) and food which the volunteers use to coax the feral felines into the cages.  They (the cats, not the volunteers) are taken downtown, spayed or neutered, and released back at the same location.  They're not socialized so they can't be adopted, and the average survival is less than five years.

Our yard supports a whole flock of birds despite the local cats.  We hear the cat fights after dark but the sprinklers solve that problem pretty quickly.  Our bunny hears the cats before we do (he's an indoor pet) and he thumps like crazy.

As long as the pet nuisance is an occasional dog or cat fuss, we feel we're lucky.  Hawaii state law allows residents to keep up to two chickens (including roosters) in their yards.

 

If you don't like your neighbors, just move.

Sorry, John, easier said than done. I'd prefer to improve the neighborhood I'm in than to flee to some putative safer haven.

 

[Mr._johngalt]

I can relate to that. It is very scary and dangerous.

I think we need more laws to protect us from everything...........
overzealous dogs, their "emissions", nosey neighbors, slow
mail delivery, old drivers,  shoddy workmanship, weird/sick/abusive bosses,
parasite corporations, wacko rightwingers, wimpy liberals,
and dopey posts on this forum.  Yeah, that would be great.
I used to have a neighbor who was afraid of all dogs over 10 lbs.
A freaking head case!

JG

 

[Nords]

...and dopey posts on this forum.

Yeah, but what about the other six dwarves?

 

[Mr._johngalt]

Yeah, but what about the other six dwarves?

Reminds me of.........."I used to be snow white, but I drifted!"

JG

 

[laurence]

OTOH, I have no respect for authority
in general, my views on dog excrement being but one example.

JG

Untill your neighbors start running a meth lab out of the house, of course.

 

[JB]

15 years ago I was reprimanded my a policeman in a parking lot of a public beach. I getting out of a wetsuit under a towel and apparantly I showed too much cheek. Leech laws and poop laws are like laws against public nudity, or urination. There's a big difference between pissing in a parking lot, and on a tree in the woods. Between changing under a towel and steaking through the public square. IMHO leech laws are similiar. I can understand why many people don't unleech their dogs. Many of the dogs I know should be leeched all the time. However, given the right dog, at the right place and time, I have no problem with it. Now tell me all you law abiding folks never take a leak in the woods!

 

[JB]

Untill your neighbors start running a meth lab out of the house, of course.

This happened to me. We moved after we were attacked my a meth addict and his pit bull. The cops did nothing, even though the man had a proir record. And that's the point. I don't care that the dog wasn't leeched. I care that his owner instructed him to attack and he wasn't held responsible. Luckily the dog was young, and thought we were playing. Hopefully, he has a new owner.

 

[Mr._johngalt]

I'm like you, don't gamble or steal and try to be a good person.  Do you pay your CA sales taxes on internet purchases too? I don't.  I did engage in sodomy in the state of Georgia.  In the late afternoon sometimes I take my dog off leech at the end of the beach and let him chase some sticks. Maybe you think immoral for doing these horrible deads.  The law is about the last place I look for morals.  My dog does not approach people he doesn't know.  If a dog approaches me, I try to gauge his temperment, even if he's astray.  If he acts hostile towards me, or my dog, a firm 'No' usually does the trick.

When it comes to questionable dogs I'm a hard-liner.  If they show aggressive actions, they shoud be put down, and the owners held accountable.

I want to know more about the sodomy in Georgia. Was there a dog
or other domestic animal involved? Inquiring minds want to know.

JG

 

[JB]

I want to know more about the sodomy in Georgia. Was there a dog
or other domestic animal involved? Inquiring minds want to know.

Nothing radical, just oral sex. It is nice to think back on it
I think the Georgia sodomy laws were eventually overturned.

 

[Nords]

15 years ago I was reprimanded my a policeman in a parking lot of a public beach.  I getting out of a wetsuit under a towel and apparantly I showed too much cheek.

I guess HE's not a surfer. But I'm still trying to get over the surprise of learning that police officers actually go to the parking lots of public beaches.

 

[laurence]

There are definitely some stupid laws still on the books. I'm glad to hear no animals were hurt in the filming of that stag film.

 

[retire@40]

There are definitely some stupid laws still on the books.

Not anymore. 

BOSTON (AP) - The Massachusetts legislature repealed a 330-year-old law Thursday that barred native Americans from entering Boston.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20050520/ca_pr_on_od/boston_natives_ban_lifted