Protection
 

:sad:A few days ago, I was at Mulberry dog park with a friend and our dogs. A seemingly lovely couple came in with their two, small dogs and there was much sniffing and posturing then the dogs did it too. (JK). At some point, two dogs approached the couple and their little gal barked as she was sitting alongside them on the bench. She did what dogs do. She protected her owners. No teeth. Just a warning.
Sadly, the man yelled STOP THAT and slapped the teacup dog in the muzzle three times. I felt sick immediately. He was indignant and let his dog know it.
Strange as he was explaining that the dogs are just checking each other out. Nobody would get hurt, yadda yadda. Then, BLAM. He hit her.
Shortly, they left and the little one took up the rear in the line. There is a line that is drawn and should not be crossed. Although dicey, I mentioned that it was a natural instinct in canines to protect their owner if menace is assumed. He aint having it. Nope. Poor dogs. what a stressful situation.
She is a sassy little dog with a beautiful, playful disposition. I hope he reconsiders his treatment and that the woman with him can STOP HIM from doing that.

I hate when I see that - and usually open my big mouth and try to point out that maybe there would be a better way to handle the situation.

Really no way to handle this.Pretty much its their dog and they can do what they like. This one you stay out of.

I thought this was going to be a thread on safe sex.:pray:

Gracie,

I'm getting too old for safe sex just going for the fun of it now.

Poor doggies
 

I would have had tears in my eyes. No need to hit the puppies. They can learn in some other manner. Just like when people hit children......I just cringe. These people are unconsciously unskilled.

I doubt the woman can stop him, he probably smacks her in the head too.

protection
 

SICKENING, no? My dearest friend had a dad who beat mom as a matter of course. One day, I entered their kitchen as she was cowering under the kitchen table and he was ABOVE her with a tightly rolled fist; menacing. I suggested he get the punch off STAT as the police were coming.
ANIMAL. He is dead now. So is she.
She hung around and enabled him as the makeup sex was wonderful.
PATHETIC.

An organization to think about contacting if you see animal cruelty.
 

SPCA of Central Cruelty Investigation

I assume this is the chapter for the Villages area. They would know though who handles this area of FL with respect to the prevention of cruelty to animals if the Villages is in another Chapter of the SPCA.

Neither human nor animal should have to suffer from physical violence. A woman or man at least has a voice and a choice. Even if the choices and the voice can be extremely limited.

Do not think this would be considered "Animal Cruelty".!

It is a matter of degree. This does look like a dog owner who should be monitored by other dog owners.

The best way though would be simply to talk to the dog owner in question gracefully (pun intended). Graciegirl often has the wisdon about how to approach something like this. With compassion and a sense of a humor.

We do watch for abusive dog owners when at various dog parks in the Villages. The first step should be to befriend the dog owner and see why he/she is so upset that he/she takes it out on their beloved pet.

Good Luck with that approach.!

Not saying it works a lot. For instance, if you see someone hitting a dog at the local dog park I go to, the dog owner and dog usually are not there very long. They are not the type of customers welcomed by the other dog owners nor by the dog park proprietors.

Other dogs also get distressed when they see one of their others being beaten.

I am not saying I have seen much animal abuse here in the Villages. Very little.

And if I ran into a man or woman abusing his or her pet out on some Villages street I would probably stay out of it as I would have no idea of what kind of situation might be involved.

Do not think a "Boy Howdy" would do it . This day and age you are better to stay out of it. What if the person says "Mind your own business",what would your next step become.

We are talking about a Villages' dog park not some tough neighborhood in Orlando, Ocala, or Tampa where you could see a gang member beating a pit bull for not behaving.

I do think that in this situation described by the original poster that trying to get to know the person hitting the dog is the right approach. It has to be done tactfully though.

Okay, Then what would your approach be if the person in the villages said,"Mind your own business" because I have heard that many many times here. Best bet just let it go and mind ones own.

I had a situation back on Long Island, I bought the dog. She charged me $60,I was willing to go to $600 (never told her that) or he was going "on the lam". Got her to sign a bill of sale and Buster was saved.

A few years later she showed up in the news, any Long Islanders remember Sharon McDonough?

Sharon McDonough Accused of Torturing Neighbors' Pets, Burying Them in Backyard - True Crime Report - Strange But True Crime Stories from Across America.

She has since gotten out of jail and apparently has a puppy, NOBODY CARES. People I know have called the courts (she served her time and is not on probation or parole), the judge didn't make it a condition at sentencing. PETA has been contacted, I called "Rescue Ink". NOBODY CAN DO ANYTHING.

I'm still sick that I was in that house and didn't see anything, I knew something was wrong, but didn't know how wrong.

Depends on the situation. If a dog owner is causing blood to flow from the dog because of blows to the dog, then I am certainly going to try to get that person's name and golf cart make and any other identifiers and report him or her to the SPCA.

There is a dog owner at the dog park I go to that often yells at her dog and makes the pooch cringe. The dog just takes it. That's none of my business, of course, because a dog owner has a right to discipline a dog. He/she does not have the right to physically abuse the animal.

I feel very strongly that no-one has the right to abuse other vulnerable members of society. Including animals. I could never condone this behavior or "look the other way". I would try to gently engage the person in conversation and understand the behavior. If he told me to mind my own business, I wouldn't. I would never stand by and watch a child or a senior or an animal suffer abuse.

If I see a dog or a child locked in a hot car, I go in the nearest store and have the owner paged. If I can't find the owner, I call the police. They will get involved. I know a lot of people would think I'm nutty. That's OK. In my humble opinion, vulnerable members of society need our protection.

Welcome back Bare. I don't think you're nutty. I could not stand by and watch someone abuse an animal or child without doing something. There are ways to intervene without getting hurt. Sad situation and it truly makes my blood boil.

Patty you brushed up against evil. Allowing this woman to have a puppy is unbelieveable. Michael Vick wants to have a dog as well and will probably be allowed to OWN one.:sigh:

Hope St Francis of Assisi is looking after these poor dogs. Sometimes it is so hard to believe how inhumane humans are.

:pray:

:agree:

I thought it was going to be about Wildwood

Good to see your input on this Barefoot.

Emphasis on "gently" for talking to the person who is hitting the animal.

Thanks Tal, it's an issue I feel strongly about. I totally agree that the emphasis has to be on gently talking to the person. I would never be confrontational. I would start off by saying "I used to have that problem with my dog, they can be really annoying, can't they?" And then try to work the conversation around to the benefits of using positive reinforcement or distraction rather than punishment.

As a side note ... I don't have the guts to work in an Animal Shelter, I would cry myself to sleep every night. I know a lot of TOTVers work in Shelters and I really admire them.