A question for dog owners

[meriad]

how long do you think it's OK to leave a dog tied up outside a shop? Obviously a lot will depend on where it is because I realise a small village shop will be safer than somewhere in a larger city, but still...

I had to pop into Morrisons on my way home tonight; got there about 6.30pm and noticed this dog tied up outside. My shopping took about 10 minutes and when I got out the dog was still there. I hung around for another 10 or so minutes and then went inside to see if the staff could page the owner to make sure the dog hadn't been abandoned - which they apparently can't , but they came out and pondered for about another 5 or so minutes.

At this point I made them promise to keep an eye on the dog as I had to head off to collect my car. Not totally happy though I drove back to the store; just as the owners came out and collected her; by now about 30 minutes after I first got there.

Now as said, all OK (well, not really) depending on where you live, but Woking isn't exactly a sleepy little village. Dog-napping is an ever growing concern and I just find it astounding that someone would leave their dog outside a shop for that long?

Or am I just being over cautious?

[Kaz]

imo you should never do it, too many stolen pets end up
s bait in dog fighting

[meriad]

exactly Kaz - that is why I was so concerned.

[Workingman]

I think that it depends on the dog as much as the area.....and whether it is stressed or not.

Not that we ever did it, but Max (Alsation) would have been happy to watch the world go by, and he would have loved the pats and strokes from passers-by. Barney (Lurcher) would have been straining at the leash the moment we left, he would have been like a kite in a storm.

It's not an easy one, but I understand where you are coming from Ria. As for the dog being stolen, that can happen in the blink of an eye, it does not have to have been left alone for a long period.

[Diflower]

We don't leave Minnie, except for literally a couple of minutes on a Saturday when Bb gets the paper, and personally I'd be worried about doing it for longer, but not sure if that's logical.

For instance outside Waitrose, they have a proper dog-tying-up spot, with a big bowl of water, under cover (ie in the shade). They've thought it out, if there's a dog already there, there's room to tie your dog far enough away from it if you want. And I've seen the trolleyman come out with a second bowl of water too.
Around here there are an awful lot of campsites, B&B's etc, and you can't leave your dog there. So if they have them with them, in a car, but it's warm/sunny, then actually the only option is to tie them outside.

Yes there is dognapping, but most dogs don't get stolen by chance from outside shops by a passing dognapper.
Half an hour I think is not unreasonable to be in a supermarket, although probably no longer.

I think also a lot of people who live alone with their dog don't go anywhere without them.

[meriad]

I like your Waitrose Di... this poor dog was just tied to a low railing; and if it had started raining there wouldn't have been any cover. The couple who owned her were probably end to mid thirties.

Maybe I am being over cautious but I woudn't leave a dog tied out outside if I wasn't able to keep an eye of it at all times

[debih]

We rarely do it and if we do it's the village shop, for a couple of minutes to get milk/bread/paper. They have a special hook to tie dogs too, with a bowl of water next to it and you can see it from inside the shop.

I came across the same thing on Tuesday at Tescos Ria. I went in for at least 30 minutes. A little dog was tied up outside, crying and was still there when I came out. The old chap that collects the trolleys was getting very concerned about it.

[Diflower]

Gosh of all things I wouldn't worry about cover for rain lol, most dogs love getting wet, even the ones that won't go outside the back door if it's raining They'd be getting just as wet if they were walking with the owner!
Some of them do cry, but, y'know, that's how some dogs are
Compared to being left in a car on a sunny day it's not exactly cruel is it?

[miasmum]

I left my cocker spaniel tied to the ice cream sign outside the village shop once. But he was such a mummy's boy as soon as someone opened the door and he saw me, he pulled the sign over, narrowly missing a parked Ferrari (not that we get many of them) and dragged it up the steps and into the shop Never did it again.

I would worry, so wouldn't be able to concentrate of my shopping anyway

[JoM]

LOL Shell! I was just going to say that if I left Billy tied up outside a shop I'd be met inside by a frantic dog trailing a length of railing behind him!