Some people have no business owning dogs.

[avebury]

I was walking my dog and saw some kids in a backyard with 3 dogs. I saw one of the little girls take a leash, raise it up and hit one of the dogs. I called over to her "Don't hit the dog" and stopped to watch the kids. Well apparently Mom was looking out the window and got pissed. I told her what happened and the dog wasn't doing anything to warrant being hit and that is it no right to animals. She got more pissed and she went flying out their front door to come around to the side to confront me. I am think she is crazy. She indicated that there was nothing wrong with what her child did. I am thinking: 1) she has nothing wrong with violence, 2) she is teaching her children that it is ok to hit animals and 3) does she hit her children?

I intend to avoid her in the future because she came across as crazy and I don't know if she owns a gun. I definitely don't feel safe around her. I plan on taking my pocket recorder with me from now on when I walk my dog to turn it on if she confronts me again. It is legal to record conversations where I live as long as one of the parties to the conversation is aware that it is being recorded. I will probably start taking my cell phone wihth me as well.

[japple]

1. Bless you for standing up for that poor dog. I hope the mother will realize

that people are seeing what goes on with her dogs and her children. On the other hand, I hate to think of what goes on behind closed doors.

The child learned that behavior somewhere, so you are right to be very concerned for both the children and the dogs. Is there some way that you and your neighbors could monitor this situation?

[avebury]

2. I live in Oklahoma and you never know who owns guns around here.

I do not own a gun and for all I know she could be dangerous. I walk my dog a lot and I keep my eyes open on what goes on around me. I will definitely take my cell phone and my audio recorder (which is great because it look like a USB drive and anyone looking at it would never know it was a recorder). I will keep it in my pocket and flip the switch on if I think that I need to record anything.

[japple]

3. I live in rural Georgia and everyone around me has/uses guns frequently. I do

have a gun, but it is an antique and my father was never able to find ammunition for it!! We all have to do what we can to help the animals. We are their voice! They are innocent creatures.

[Duppers]

4. No way to treat dogs or teach children!

The woman is crazy.

Could you call PETA, ASPCA, or another humane org to report her, perhaps anonymously?

And something really weird I thought of if you're afraid of her having a weapon: if OK has open carry, buy a realistic looking toy gun and holster it around your waist. Two can play that game. Don't let these people intimidate you or get away with mistreating an animal. These kids may grow up to be abusers.

Good luck!

And thank you for speaking out for those who cannot speak for themselves!

[HubertHeaver]

6. A realistic-looking toy gun will be perceived

as real and can get you killed.

[retrowire]

5. just be safe. nt

[CrispyQ]

7. People don't like when you tell them their kids misbehaved.

Years ago we had pet ducks. One day I came home & one of the boys who lives behind me was in my backyard chasing the ducks. When he saw me, he hightailed it over the fence & dashed into the house. I went over & talked to the dad. He had two kids standing beside him, neither one was the boy in my yard. The dad rudely denied that it was his kid. At that moment, the boy who had been in my yard stupidly stuck his head around the kitchen wall & I said. "That's him. That's the one." The dad called me a bitch & started to close the door so I said, "Next time I'm letting my dog out without warning." I had a huge sweetheart of a dog that everyone was afraid of cuz he'd 'smile' & it looked like he was growling.

Be safe. People are crazed & pissed off & a lot of them are looking for a confrontation.