September 20th, 2011
Sep. 20th, 2011 03:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thewalkIn two years of running in Japan I was never once yelled at from a car and I never once encountered a dangerous dog. Or rarely ran past any dog now that I think about it, with the exception of the stray I had a stare down contest with one time by the bridge.
Here annoyances are a regular occurrence. I don't understand why high schoolers think it's funny to yell incoherent things or "Run, Forrest, Run!" as they drive by. Is it a disrespect toward healthiness or just general asshattery?
And the dogs. God, the dogs. There are days where I meet one every block and more often than not the owner either can't control the dog or isn't paying any kind of attention. Keep your dog on a leash. I don't care how well-behaved you think it is. Most dogs will chase a runner, biker, or other dog even if it's just to the end of the driveway. If you have an ankle biter, keep it on a short leash. If your dog is too strong for you, walk it with a friend or, god forbid, own a dog you're equipped to care for.
It's one thing when I'm running, I can go to the other side of the street even if it's a pain in the ass. When I'm biking though, most dogs I encounter get worked up about it. I don't want to get bit or knocked over. I certainly don't want to worry about whether you'll let your dog run out and get tangled up in my tires - consequently effing both of us up.
What gets me the most though is when I'm out with my dog. I don't want to worry about the safety of my own dog on the street because you're over-confident in your dog's "people skills." Deep down, most people know whether their dog is an asshole or not. They're just too lazy to do anything about it. My dog is not an asshole and has never come close to putting her mouth or paws on anyone or any other dog, but I keep her on a short leash anyhow because a long leash can still trip up a stranger and I know she gets excited and wants to say hello when others pass by.
I love animals, but I don't think everyone is worthy of being a pet owner. Whether it's malice or negligence - conscious or unconscious, a lot of people don't take proper care of their animals and often aren't respectful of the people around them even if they do all right by the dog. I like that a dog at a pet store will cost you 600-2,000 dollars in Japan. If you're willing to pay that much money for your animal, chances are you're going to give it the forethought and care it needs. It won't guarantee you as a good pet owner, but it will at least rule out some of the dumbshits.
Here annoyances are a regular occurrence. I don't understand why high schoolers think it's funny to yell incoherent things or "Run, Forrest, Run!" as they drive by. Is it a disrespect toward healthiness or just general asshattery?
And the dogs. God, the dogs. There are days where I meet one every block and more often than not the owner either can't control the dog or isn't paying any kind of attention. Keep your dog on a leash. I don't care how well-behaved you think it is. Most dogs will chase a runner, biker, or other dog even if it's just to the end of the driveway. If you have an ankle biter, keep it on a short leash. If your dog is too strong for you, walk it with a friend or, god forbid, own a dog you're equipped to care for.
It's one thing when I'm running, I can go to the other side of the street even if it's a pain in the ass. When I'm biking though, most dogs I encounter get worked up about it. I don't want to get bit or knocked over. I certainly don't want to worry about whether you'll let your dog run out and get tangled up in my tires - consequently effing both of us up.
What gets me the most though is when I'm out with my dog. I don't want to worry about the safety of my own dog on the street because you're over-confident in your dog's "people skills." Deep down, most people know whether their dog is an asshole or not. They're just too lazy to do anything about it. My dog is not an asshole and has never come close to putting her mouth or paws on anyone or any other dog, but I keep her on a short leash anyhow because a long leash can still trip up a stranger and I know she gets excited and wants to say hello when others pass by.
I love animals, but I don't think everyone is worthy of being a pet owner. Whether it's malice or negligence - conscious or unconscious, a lot of people don't take proper care of their animals and often aren't respectful of the people around them even if they do all right by the dog. I like that a dog at a pet store will cost you 600-2,000 dollars in Japan. If you're willing to pay that much money for your animal, chances are you're going to give it the forethought and care it needs. It won't guarantee you as a good pet owner, but it will at least rule out some of the dumbshits.
