I really can't stand people who don't like dogs!

If an unleashed dog would come up to me even if it's 'just to say hi' and I didn't see it coming, there would be two possible reactions from me, the first being freeze dead in my tracks not daring to move or speak and the other panic and start screaming to get that dog away from me.

I do love all animals and am educated in caring for small animals and horses, but that is a reaction that I have left after three separate dog attacks when I was 4 years old, none of them were even serious but it was enough to scare me for life. It has improved in that if I can tell by first sight the dog is friendly, I don't panic and start screaming anymore but it's far from good, I still avoid all strange dogs whenever possible and the first impression quite a few dog owners have been getting from me so far is that I don't like dogs, which is very far from the truth. So sometimes things just aren't what they appear to be.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that not everybody knows what a submissive position looks like with a dog. In fact most people don't know. They also don't know if a dog is friendly or not. Most people don't know any of that. They just know a dog is coming toward them that they didn't invite. The thing is, most people do not appreciate a dog off-leash. It scares them or as a minimum makes them uncomfortable. There are also people who are very afraid of dogs. We all have our phobias. That's a common one. To be really honest with you, I am a dog person and I wouldn't appreciate it either. Not one bit. I would probably be very bothered. It is not because I don't like dogs, it is more Human Nature. That is because we know our own dogs, but we cannot expect others to know them or even care about them like we do. I know instinctively that I will always get a better reaction from people if I am walking with my dog ON leash. I also wouldn't be all that comfortable walking my dog off leash for her own safety. I know that my dog is pretty well behaved off leash, but the world and this board are riddled with stories of dogs that bolted just that one time and didn't make it back alive.

My mom has never been hurt by any animal, but she still has a fear of dogs..........she has no problem going through life not owning any pet, and that's ok.

I would challenge you to find a more generous, loving person anywhere.........she has litterally given her last dollar to someone else in need. There is NOTHING missing from her soul whatsoever.

I personally would take offense to ANYONE not obeying the leash law........PERIOD. There is a time and place for dogs to be offleash, and walking down the street is not one of them. No dog..........NO DOG, is one hundred percent reliable when it comes to obedience. So you are putting your dog at risk by doing this.

I remember before I was going to go for a walk around the complex with my friend & her friend. I was going to bring along Didi, when her friend said ''why do you always gotta bring her''. I really didn't want her to be cooped up in the house and also it was a way where she could get exercise. Anytime where I could spend time with my friends and my dog, is a good time for me. Didi never bothered or was hyper, yappy, it was like she wasn't even there in the walks, but since someone didn't seem to happy with having her there with us, I told them they could go on without me, and I got Didi and spent the time with her in the front porch listening to music. Don't like my dog, then don't even bother spending time with me, unless its a place where you can't bring a dog like the mall or movies, my dogs are going to come if given the opporunity to go somewhere like for a walk or to the park.

Oh, gosh I wasn't talking about people with a fear of animals! My grandmother was terrified of dogs but still had compassion for them. My "soulless" comment was directed more towards people who despise animals and don't value their lives.

people don't HAVE to like dogs, the way they don't have to like kids or other people. it's kind of strange to me, but i think this woman had a right to act the way she did. She could have been bitten before. She could be afraid of dogs. And since it wasn't a designated off leash area, she had every right to ask you to keep her away, even though poor little Zoe was probably so confused as to why this woman didn't want to scratch her cute little self.

I love dogs. My friends call me the crazy dog girl becuase they think I'm just obsessed with them lol.

But on that note.

I HATE walking down the street, or at the park with my dog. And a random dog just runs towards us. And the owner yells "Dont worry s/he is friendly!." I dont care how friendly it is. how do you know MY dog is friendly (which he is, but thats not the point).
I think it is rude to assume every one should just be happy to see any dog walk up to them.

If I walk my dog, I make sure if I am to pass some one to move him to my side away from the person.

I have friends that dont like dogs (they like some. Just wouldnt ever own one ever) Its fine they dont like them. But when at my house where my dog lives it is tough sh&t to them. He lives here, and I would never send him out of the room becuase they didnt like him. But that is differnt then letting him walk up to a strange person.

When I was in elementary school, I had a friend who was terrified of dogs. We had to keep our very friendly Pomeranian confined since she was so scared of him. This girl had never been attacked by a dog... she was just really scared of them... I mean, to the point of tears.

When I was little I was attacked by a dog... I was bit on the lip and had to have stitches. I've never been afraid of them; even after that.

I wish that everyone loved dogs, but it doesn't bother me if people dislike them. I do, however, dislike when people think that their dogs can run around off leash and that everyone should love them.

I guess I didn't clarify... I mean people who actively HATE animals. That look of hatred, that means they just can't wait to kill it or torture it. That kind of hatred. Not "I don't like your dog." If you don't particularly like animals/dogs/cats/penguins, idc. If you loathe them with all of your being for god knows what reason... well. Yeah, I think there's something wrong.

I had a "friend" who grew up with a loving family and houseful of dogs and cats... She said she didn't like them. The one time I actually saw her with an animal it scared the **** out of me, that look in her eye. It was hatred. It was loathing. It was in intent to KILL.

That is what I am talking about. I've met several who are like that with ALL living things, and two of them tried to permanently screw me up.

Let me re-iterate... I am not talking about someone who doesn't like animals. there's a difference between lack of like and hatred. A big one.

This story reminds me of an experience that we had a few years ago. I was with a friend and she needed to pick up something at a farm supply store. I had a puppy and Petie with me and I am used to taking a dog into the Feed store that I purchase horse supplies from all the time. But this other store was in a small city and I looked for 'no dog' signs plus I stuck my head in the door and asked a staff member if dogs were allowed and was told yes. So in we went, both dogs were quiet and well behaved (on leash lol). While my friend was in the line up at an ordering desk, the woman behind her was clearly upset and not impressed by the presence of my dogs near by. When it was her turn she asked the staff member 'why nobody was telling that woman with the dogs to leave. They guy told her it was a farm supply store and dogs were allowed as long as they behaved, that he saw no problem with the dogs in quesiton. She then demanded that she speak with the Manager, the guy pulled his jacket to the side to show her his employee name tag......Manager lol. She left in a huff, he shrugged his shoulders, then came over to visit with the dogs!! And told me they were much nicer and friendlier than some customers that they had to deal with lol. Then he went and got them a treat.
Lynn

Good post.

One of the reasons people don't like dogs is because some dog owners allow their dogs to go "greet" other people who do not wish to be greeted.

I hate cats (yes, I'm a vet tech who hates kitties). Period. And I cannot stand to be "greeted" by someone's loose cat nor do I like that greeting etched into the hood of my car.

Geeze I'm glad I don't use your clinic.:yikes:

I really dont like cats either but I'll tolerate them if I have too...

You guys don't even like cat soup? :yikes:

yes that is where I was going with it too RD. That and those who hate them and will allow them to suffer or will hurt them. Not wanting to own them is not a problem in fact quite the opposite but to see an injured one and walk away or to let us say see a lost confused pup running the streets and let it do so knowing it will get killed and let it happen is what gets me.

WTF?????

Not everyone has to like cats either...

This is true, but I kind of like to know that the people in the clinic I use dont HATE them, don't you? I mean I would like to know my cats are safe when they are sick.

But you can't say cats aren't smart. I mean I never had the hood of my car etched. They maybe know who to etch or something. lol.

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BP I made this comment because this is a person who PMs me perpetually for advice on her "beloved" cat, up to, and including today. So you can imagine my shock after all the time and effort I have put into the responses.