Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
I should learn to keep my trap shut but there are things that can annoy me so much that I have to speak. A dog on a chain is one of those things.
Ever since I moved here – while taking my morning walk - I have been noticing this dog in the front yard a few blocks down the road. I don’t know the English name of the breed but in my language we call it a skaaphond which translates to a sheep dog. I suspect it may be of English origins. It is a black and white dog with hair of medium length. We keep them on our sheep farms as they are very good with sheep.
I would not really have bothered as it not a spectacular dog. It was well fed with water within his reach and enough shade. But it was tied to a stake in the ground by means of a 2-meter chain.
This morning, for the first time, I saw the owner in the garden. I introduced myself and we shook hands in true South African style.
“Nice dog”, I commented.
Yes”, he replied. “A well tended dog”.
“You mean a well fed dog”, I said. It slipped out before I could catch it.
“So what is the difference?” he asked. I did not fail to notice the annoyance in his eyes.
“He’s on a chain”, I said.
“Yes, so he is. Otherwise he ruins my garden”, he replied, now clearly irritated.
“That is easy to explain”, I said. “These dogs need plenty of space. He belongs on a farm”.
“Why don’t you mind your own business”, he exploded.
Well, he was right, it was none of my business, and I proceeded with my walk. I normally come back up the next street but my inquisitiveness forced be back the same way and when I passed the house he pretended not to notice me while attaching a steel ring to a tree.
Can it be that he plans to put the dog on a cable? I surely hope so. It will not satisfy me but it will certainly make me happier.
Have a good day out there and let sleeping dogs lie.
Comments (31)
In the case of the dog, I don't think any dog should be on a chain, make a run in the garden or get a dog who is not that active - our dog at home will only wear out the coach and not the garden and doesn't even need to be fenced in or tied down.
It will never happen that everyone minds their own business and I find in highly annoying in a lot of cases (e. g. nosiness), but in other cases it is warranted and good that people do it.
Just leave the men alone! Before he have his dog, to bite you. Or eat you! For as that matter...
Dogs don't bite me. They are clever sensitive creatures and know who is well disposed towards them.
As for the owner, he does not scare me at all.
Thank you. We can say that dog is man's best friend but I wonder if dogs would say the same about man if they could talk.
I somehow blame the authorities in this case. Certain breeds needs a lot of space and there should be a law prohibiting keeping those breeds in the city. There are so many breeds (even larger dogs) that adapts very well to a small environment. Why not keep those in the city?
The dog has no voice...has to rely on others to advocate for them...so keep on being vocal in regards to treating animals humanely!!...I have done so too...why have a pet if you have no interest in their well being?...
I have written enough blogs about animal cruelty so I won´t need to comment here. It is all very heart breaking..
Apart from being on a chain, the dog is being cared for. He is in a good condition. I cannot see sense in chaining a dog. My dogs were never tied and they never left the place even when the gate was open. Nor did they dig up the garden. But then I had different breeds of dogs.
I think you said it all. Nothing I can add to it. Why keep a pet if you don't want to care about it.
As I explained to Ken, the dog is well tended otherwise and an excellent condition. It is not illegal to tie a dog up in SA and technically he's doing nothing wrong. Being tied up as it is, the dog still has access to his kennel, water, food and shade.
The sadness of the story is that he's not doing enough wrong to make a plan.
I was a dog trainer for many years and it was not only the dogs that needeed to be trained and educated, but mostly the owners!
Yep, sometimes the owners need more training than the dog. Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with these dogs. They just don't belong in the city. They want a lot of space.
Somehow I think you did the right thing!!!
Have a nice evening!!!
Somehow, cats are not chained up. I don't know why dogs are. Anyway, when I went to the cafe a while ago, I drove by to see and indeed, the dog is now on a 4 meter cable, giving him a bit more freedom. Not satisfactorily but better than nothing.
If you have children in their teens you have to be an animal-lover. The closest resemblance they have to humans is their footprints.
Awwwwwwww.....Catfoot, sooooooo proud of you
Hmm, it should make an interesting headline. Cat Helps Dog!
I did not do much in the end. I passed his house again today and mister was in the garden again. On leave he said. I greeted him in passing and we buried the hatchet and had a glass of wine under his lapa. He told me that he planned to put the dog on a cable all along and when I came along he was working out how to do it.
Somehow I believe him. He could not have made the steel ring in the short time before I returned.
It could happen!
Why oh why have a animal when you have to chain it up?