Why do people think its okay to let their dogs walk around NOT on a leash?

It really scares me that these dogs might run into the street! As well trained as they might be, they are still animals who will respond with instinct.

Yesterday driving home I saw a dog off leash...owner a couple feet away talking to someone.

This morning as I was driving to work I saw a small dog (maybe a yorkie poo or a maltese?) walking along the grass closest to the street. No one in sight. I pulled my car over, trying to see if the dog would come to me. The dog then walked up to a nearby house and a teenager opened the door to let the dog in. He was looking at me like I was crazy so I tried to explain I was worried about the dog, didn't know who it belonged to, etc. I said I was sorry and went back to my car feeling kind of dumb.

I don't know why people can't either let their dogs in the backyard or walk them on a leash?? I was so worried someone would run over the tiny dog, or it would get into a fight with one of the cats that walks around our neighborhood.

Why do people think its okay to let their dogs walk around NOT on a leash?

Because people are lazy and don't want to put the leash on or their dogs are really mellow (or old) and don't wander into the street. It's usually the young ones that get killed. :o(

My trainer always told me that you can never ever trust a dog off leash until it is a the very minimum 3 years old AND spayed/neutered AND has REALLY thorough off lead training. Unfortunately, most of Long Island is heavily populated and not dog friendly at all. I have known dogs who could be off lead back in the day before leash laws. They didn't go into the street. Those that did maybe they were fine maybe they got hit. It was socially acceptable. I think it's older generations and people from different cultures that grew up with out leash laws that don't see it as a big deal.

Re: Why do people think its okay to let their dogs walk around NOT on a leash?

Dogs are allowed off leashes during certain hours in Central Park in the morning. I observed a dog start chasing another runner in the park while the owner was talking to someone else. Scared the living crap out of me.

Want to see another one? This dog was wandering the street yesterday on Park and 79th, the owner was trailing behind with a baby carriage. I took this picture because I was obsessed with how cute he/she was but what happened if the dog ran into the street? Would the woman chase after the dog and leave the carriage? Horrible IMO.

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Why do people think its okay to let their dogs walk around NOT on a leash?

This drives me INSANE. It just isn't safe no matter how well behaved someone thinks their dog is.

Re: Why do people think its okay to let their dogs walk around NOT on a leash?

I don't do this because Ozzie hunts and would chase a squirrel INTO a huge truck if he thought it would get him the squirrel. And I see how it is scary sometimes. HOWEVER, and maybe in Toronto it is different (I know the off leash laws are different), my dad's dog who is 13 almost never walks on leash. Ever. In 13 years. And she has never, ever, ever, taken off after something or gone out on the street. Even now, deaf, she is off leash. DH is super uncomfortable with it when we go home to visit, but she is 100% well-behaved with perfect recall. She doesn't stray far at all and keeps us in her sights at all times. She also doesn't approach other dogs without a release command - this one is very important, especially to me now because Ozzie isn't great with other dogs. I dislike when off-leash dogs can just approach us because Ozzie will get aggressive. But Maggie (dad's dog) won't approach another dog without getting permission first. In 13.5 years we have never had an incident with her, ever. I think you need to really know your dog and literally have 100% recall. Any dog that shows interest in small prey or likes to excitedly approach other dogs should not be off-leash, IMO.

Why do people think its okay to let their dogs walk around NOT on a leash?

to clarify there is no Leash Law it is a Health code. The parks dept has the authority to not enforce it which is how we have off leash hours in all NYC parks (that do not have a dog park) between the hours of 9pm and 9am if your park is open. No dogs should be off leash unless they have total control of their dog.

Why do people think its okay to let their dogs walk around NOT on a leash?

The NYS leash law is dogs must be restrained or confined at all times and the leash must be no longer than 6 feet long. So all of you with flexi-leashes... technically you are breaking the law.