Why have the law if you can't enforce it??

So this morning I'm doing my walk around the school track and this lady has a dog waking about 20 yards behind her- I honestly didn't even know if it was her dog- he was a big lab mix friendly enough but still not on a leash -- city has a leash law so I take out my cell phone call the cops and was told "we don't have a animal control office on today" -- so I say oh so the city of xx only has a no leash law during the hours of mon - fri 8- 5 when the officer is on duty?? then they ask is the dog aggressive I say no but isn't there a  law in the city that says dogs have to be n a leash?  yes again says the operator but we don't have an animal control office on duty today- I say why do we have this law then why can't a police office come across the street and ticket the lady- a law is a law- once again we don't have an control officer on duty I say well thanks for nothing and hang up.  well about 2 minutes later a police car is in the parking lot I top and talk to the office and say are you going to give her a ticket - officer says "we dont't have a AC on duty WTF I say why do we have this law then if you as police officers can't do anything about it.  I said there are senior citizens who come over here and walk there little dogs all the time and even though the dog may be friendly to people what might it do to some little old lady's lilttle poodle- what does someone have to get bit or somethingfor them to don anything.

They did talk to the lady and she did leave right away after that- but I'm still wondering why does a city have a leash law if they don't enforce it.  Guess next weekend I'll take my 2 dogs with me- they aren't aggressive and obviously if its during a time when no officer who can enforce the law is on duty why not break the law.

Thanks for letting me vent.

I know where you are coming from.  Where I live we have a very extensive biking trail and people are always walking their dogs off leash.  It is against the law here too.  it annoys me because people have children walking with them and many people think their dogs are under control when they have not encountered all the possibilities.

As for officers - lose, non-aggressive dogs are not a priority.  But I am sure they would have been more responsive if the dog was aggressive.  Maybe.

I say maybe because my own chi mix bit a kid who had come to my house last week.  The boy was at the door and my dog leaped at him.  I feel just awful of course and we called the police to report the incident.  They came and took a report and we took care of the childs medical bills.  But at the time of the incident we were told that an animal control officer would visit us the next day to discuss the dog and it's quarantine.  That was 10 days ago and we have not yet spoken with an animal control officer.

So, let me get this straight, you called the cops on this lady that was not bothering you and her dog was not harming you in anyway?

I don't get it.... I mean I get that you wanted to "enforce the law" on her or whatever but she was just taking a stroll with her doggy and I am sure if she thought it was going to harm you she would have it on a leash.

i agree with schnood...there was no reason to call the cops.....sounds like someone with too much time on their hands.....because the dog wasn't bothering you.....

I saw someone not use their blinker the other day.....I should have called for assistance.

I'm with schnooder on this - 

I know a law is a law, but I can't see how a non-agressive dog would be a priority for animal control, especially when they're not on duty.  You might want to consider that, like everywhere else, whatever public department handles that is probably being forced to identify money saving measures and cut back on schedules.

I would be more concerned about the fact that the public has that limited access to an animal control officer for support even if there were a definable threat, like a large, stray, rabid dog.  

On edit:  And a cop doesn't have to be the one pointing out the law to the dog owner.  Our next door neighbors have very aggressive dogs, including one large one that one time charged my husband, and another time charged my 6 year old son until I got between them with a shovel and chased it off.  We didn't call the cops - we took it up with them directly, and they started controlling the dogs better.  Granted, had they not, we would have been happy to call AC, but addressing the issue as a private citizen worked.

A basic concept in sociology:

There are laws which we have stated outright legally, and then there are laws which we follow. There are even some laws which aren't on the books which we follow. And in this case, there is a law which we have, but don't follow. A question for you: would you want to be arrested for jaywalking, or downloading an mp3? Probably not. And this woman doesn't want to be throw into jail for trusting her dog.

If a dog owner is going to break a simple leash law that is designed for the protection of the dog, it's owner and all of the people that use that facility, then what other laws (either written or implicit) are they going to break?  If the area were designated specifically for dog use, then it probably would not have a leash law in effect.  What about children who are afraid of dogs, should they be deprived of the usage of the school because someone won't keep their dog on a leash?  Even if your dog is the sweetest puppy and only likely to like someone to death, people can still unintentionally trigger biting behaviors.

It takes $20 to buy a leash with a long extension and next to no time to get the dog and owner trained in using it.  If they're too lazy/cheap/irresponsible to do this, what else are they neglecting?  Vetrinary care?  Dog licensing fees?

Do you people know why leash laws are on the books?  It's not because people are out walking there dogs without leashes.

It's because people are out walking their dogs without leashes AND some of these dogs got out of control and wound up mauling another family's pet or child.

Do you want to hand out fines to all owners of pets that don't leash their dogs?  Or do you want to just fine those whose pets eventually wind up mauling someone?

I'm a dog lover, and I have come across leashless dogs on some of my walks (I even have a really funny story about one of them).  I have never called the cops about one of these dogs, but I, in no way, fault dbackerfan for doing so.

I don't fault her for calling. I just think there is a differance between calling the law because you are concerned about the situation and calling the law just to tattle. In which I think this situation is just a reason to tattle. She said she thought the dog was friendly. If the dog was aggressive toward her it would definately give her a reason to call. She could have at least approached the individual and asked her if she knew about the law instead of bringing an officer into the situation.

Honestly, why didn't you approach the owner first?

I have no sympathy for your plight. Do you call the police on jaywalkers? People not wearing seatbelts? People who post garage sale signs in places they're technically not supposed to? In each instance you can make a public safety argument, so why did the friendly dog get your running to tell tales when the others haven't?

Well, schnooder, I agree with you there.  Approaching the dog's owner first probably would have been the best first step.  However, she said she wasn't certain the person in sight was the dogs owner.  Also, dogs have been known to be all friendly and licky and lovable one second and then turn into a vicious demon the second a squirrel, bird or another dog comes within sight.  I just wouldn't compare the situation to not using a directional signal.

Original Post by majorpayne05:

Well, schnooder, I agree with you there.  Approaching the dog's owner first probably would have been the best first step.  However, she said she wasn't certain the person in sight was the dogs owner.  Also, dogs have been known to be all friendly and licky and lovable one second and then turn into a vicious demon the second a squirrel, bird or another dog comes within sight.  I just wouldn't compare the situation to not using a directional signal.

It's comparable in the way that I do not call the cops on people breaking the law unless it is causing a problem. If someone blows a red light and doesn't hit anyone, I am not going to call the cops on them. I would like if they were caught but it is not my duty to be traffic control.

And if she did not know if it was the lady's dog why did she call the cops and tell them her dog was off leash? She obviously knew it was her dog because she called and asked the police about the leash policy.

lol yea...someone has way too much time on their hands....

If the dog wasnt causing trouble (And didnt look like it was)...just go on with your day (get a hobby maybe?).

There are a lot more serious laws that are ignored constantly...such as driving laws...and no one does anything about them. And guess what? Driving kills a LOT of people. How many do you think die from leash laws?

And...if its a big dog...you really think you could stop it if it really wanted to attack something? I see a lot of people with animals they have no chance to do anything about even with their leash....

You really need to get some more things going with your OWN life...and stop trying to make others worse...

We have a leash law here too and  I do have a problem with people walking their dogs without leashes. I have a BIG dog and he is extremely friendly - with people - but did not get the correct socializing when he was young and now doesn't understand how to 'talk' with other dogs. (Yes, I took classes at Human Society, even private ones to no avail.) When I take him on my walks, he is great, until another dog comes on scene, so I always try to cross the street or change directions and I call out "Major doesn't play well with others". No one takes offense most of the time except for the people with dogs off leash. They tend to be a little snooty about it. So needless to say, Major doesn't go on walks with me too much any more, I'm afraid he will swallow one of those ankle biters whole!

Also, my daughter DOES have a fear of dogs (she was bitten when she was very young and never outgrew it), she is fine with dogs we know, but one neighbor on the next street has a dog she insists on letting out in the front yard with little or no supervision. This little dog has followed her home, snapping and barking the whole way and yes, I did call the Humane Society and they must have come out because I haven't seen the dog for almost a year until recently. If that dog threatens or scares my kids, I will - with no hesitation - call them again. The owner is not what I would call a responsible one.  (Don't mess with my kids, I'm a tiger when it comes to them!)

Original Post by smwhipple:

If a dog owner is going to break a simple leash law that is designed for the protection of the dog, it's owner and all of the people that use that facility, then what other laws (either written or implicit) are they going to break? 

Murder, I totally think that woman was a murderer....give me a break.  She's a bad, evil person because she had a well behaved dog that can be off leash?  Lots of dogs (my puppy not included) that can.  I agree that ONLY very well trained and good natured dogs can do this.  

If you have enough time and energy to call the cops and whine on someone who isn't doing anything morally wrong than I hope every time you are going 71 in a 70 that someone calls the cops on you.  

Let me guess, you also call the cops when your neighbour's grass gets too long too...must be nice to have all that free time to complain. 

Original Post by thermal:

Murder, I totally think that woman was a murderer....give me a break.

baaahahhahaa.

You know what else? I bet she smokes crack. I bet she murders people and I bet she's a crack head. She also probably works the corner.

Original Post by schnooder:

Original Post by thermal:

Murder, I totally think that woman was a murderer....give me a break.

baaahahhahaa.

You know what else? I bet she smokes crack. I bet she murders people and I bet she's a crack head. She also probably works the corner.

Murders for crack.  That murdering crack-ho.

Original Post by thermal:

Original Post by schnooder:

Original Post by thermal:

Murder, I totally think that woman was a murderer....give me a break.

baaahahhahaa.

You know what else? I bet she smokes crack. I bet she murders people and I bet she's a crack head. She also probably works the corner.

Murders for crack.  That murdering crack-ho.

And her little dog too!

Ohhh man this thread is goin south fast. hahahha

Original Post by smwhipple:

If a dog owner is going to break a simple leash law that is designed for the protection of the dog, it's owner and all of the people that use that facility, then what other laws (either written or implicit) are they going to break?  

I went 68 mph in a 65 zone on my way home from my in laws today - with my KIDS in the car.  Somebody call Social Services!

It doesn't matter what they "might" do.  If a dog is causing a problem, call AC.  Although I should note that even if the dog from the OP was causing a problem, AC wouldn't have come out anyway since they were off duty.  Although I suppose the officer might have had a club on him or something...