I really, really don't want to be the bad guy...

I report it. It's dangerous. It's not safe. It's not ok. These dogs are not controlled, and probably cause more injuries than you think. Around here, there is a BIG problem with dog fights on the beach. There is a leash law, but it's not inforced. People let their out-of-control dogs run loose, and they get into fights. People who cannot control their dogs also don't know how to break up dog fights, and get bitten. There've been articles in the paper about it.

I've had big problems with loose dogs approaching Emma. She's made HUGE progress with fear and leash reactivity. One day, my neighbor's Laboradors ATTACKED her while she was on her leash, picked her up, and shook her. It was a huge, huge setback. She was not badly injured, but it could have been very ugly (if they'd gotten Teenie instead, it would have been... she was much smaller, and more fragile). I've reported them, repeatedly, and carried them to Animal Control, myself. My neighbors' house is for sale, so hopefully, they'll be gone, soon. 

Same problem in my small town. My solution, I would call the police and have their local number in my cell phone.

Also, I don't walk my dog in our town hardly anymore. Once in a while, one of the town's plumbers, who is handy with a catch pole will gather up strays. If he knows who the dog belongs to, he will return it. If he isn't busy maintaining the town's water and sewer system.

don't think of it as being a bad guy; think of it as protecting the dogs. I have no problem with loose dogs who are under control, but if the owner can't keep them from running up to you, how is the owner going to keep them from running out in front of cars?

I would most definitely contact the police. This was a HUGE problem in my old neighborhood. I would be walking 3 dogs(Rottweiler, Boston Terrier and friends Samoyed) on leash and it would never fail that some off leash, no sort of recall dog would come running our way. The best part is when the idiot owner would scream to me "CONTROL YOUR DOGS SO THEY DON'T BITE MINE!!". Uh yeah. My 3 are on a leash. Am I supposed to pick all of them up and hold them over my head because your dog is off leash and is not under any verbal control? What bothered me most was that there was a school located next to the park, the park was located by a busy street, Midway Airport was nearby which meant very loud airplanes were always flying over head and it was just a recipe for disaster. I lost count of how many times I contacted the police and animal control. The sad part is due to the irresponsible actions of others, this is why a lot of parks/places no longer allow dogs regardless if you are on a leash or not.

meilani

The best part is when the idiot owner would scream to me "CONTROL YOUR DOGS SO THEY DON'T BITE MINE!!"

This is also my favorite!

I've had this problem before too, with loose dogs in my SUBURBAN neighborhood...dangerous in itself! I have a neighbor with 2 chis...one is a sweetheart and the other is pretty darn aggressive. If i go outside with K&W, they do a full on charge. Luckily my dogs have never gotten aggressive with them, but i know it is frustrating to them.

Honestly, i would go the rude route first...i would say, "my dog is very aggressive, but he's on a leash. I would suggest putting yours on a leash to prevent an injury." If they do not comply, i would call the police. I eventually told my neighbor with chis that K&W were aggressive, to prevent an accident later...now she will not come out if she sees me with them.

This isn't a problem in my town.

The ACO in our town is very good and if your dog is running loose you get fined---PERIOD. If your dog is unlicensed and you ignore warnings, you go to court. Skipping a $7.50 license can cost you $120.

Does this mean there are no loose or unlicensed dogs in our town? No, but they are unusual. My former neighbor's dog got loose all the time but the other neighbors didn't call it in or the ACO would have dealt with them.

YOU SHOULD be able to walk where and when you want with your leashed dog. If you can't, then call the ACO and have them do their job. Strict enforcement of your leash laws is the only way to solve this. Think of it this way: you're helping keep the dogs safe, you're not the bad guy.

How's this - we have new rules/laws that require dogs be on ONLY a 6-foot leash when off their property.   Dogs ON their property can ONLY be behind a fence/wall or other containment when not on a leash. No tie-outs.  Your dog has to be wearing registration tags when off its property.  Fine - all of those seem like they're in the interest of the dog. 

Meanwhile, I have a rotten dog across the street who crawls under his fence to roam around the neighborhood freely.  Sometimes the gate is wide open.  The owners clearly see their dog in the street being honked at by cars - or in the neighbor's front yard tormenting their dogs behind the fence - or following the people walking their dogs on-leash.  The dog isn't wearing a collar - although I saw one on him three times in the 3 months I've been here.

Now, if someone went to bring that dog to the pound - they would be charged $100 to drop him off.  WHAT?!  Yep - not your dog, but if you drop it off, you get charged $100.  The dog isn't aggressively biting people or other dogs, so there's no way the police will come pick him up.  FUN, ain't it?!