Ummm tough one - my first instinct is probably not, I'm not a dog person, I don't handle dogs well, and I'd be more worried about them biting or something. Did you have DD or were you alone? That'd be my other concern, if I had kids with me it'd be all a bit harder...
For me it'd depend on the situation, and what else was going on. If I had somewhere to be that was time-constrained, or if they weren't easily able to be encouraged to come to me, I'd ring the council to send the rangers around for them. Otherwise I'd try encourage the dogs to come over so I could catch them, then ring the council.
I stopped. They'd come up to me earlier on the walk, out the front of a house where a couple were in the front yard. I asked if they were their dogs and they said no. I asked them for help while I walked past, so the guy held on to one dog (German Shepherd - probably full height, but a young dog). About twenty minutes later, I was walking through a park area and saw the dogs standing on an opposite footpath. Turned around again and they were running in the middle of the road. That particular road is a full on speedway here. So I ran to the side of the road and called the dogs over. They came and I grabbed them.
Nobody stopped to help. I had DD in the pram, my dogs tied to the pram, and I was hanging on to the collars of these two dogs (the other was a toy breed) so they wouldn't run onto the road again. I waved someone down who stopped and took off again. The toy dog kept getting away and going back onto the road. I got hold of DH so he could use his iPhone to get the number for the ranger for me, and then called the council. Took DD out of the pram because my dog kept pulling and the pram toppled. It was a disaster. Woman opposite came out of her house, stared at me, jumped into the car and took off. All the cars that passed me stared at me but kept driving.
I know I should have probably let them go. But I couldn't. They had no road sense and they would have got hit. The ranger was a lovely bloke, thanked me for hanging on to them. They were lovely dogs. I did it because I would hope that if my dogs escaped, that someone would help them. I hope they find their way home. I've made a complaint to the "company" of the person who took off - I waved him down because of who he worked for and given that the ranger works for the same "company", I'm stunned he didn't help. He just left me there.
I wouldn't approach dogs I don't know (was bitten by a german shepherd when I was 9). But, time allowing, I would have stopped to help you as having another person there would make me more confident of dealing with the dogs.
I'm a dog person, so unless I thought they might chew my leg off or something, I would have stopped. Unless I was walking my little dog, then no, I might not have for her safety.
Good on you. It sounds stressful but everyone was safe and the dogs should be returned to their homes. I cant believe noone stopped to help though.
I would have done the same and have done similar. It was only one dog though so it was easier to deal with. We found a black lab running down a main road on NYE as we were coming home. She'd been frightened by the fireworks. We pulled over and I whistled her to me. We called her owner who was at a party. He caught a cab to our place. DH walked her home and I drove. It wasnt far to go. She was really strong and I woudnt have been able to handle her. Anyway, she got picked up by a grateful owner. Apparently she'd chewed through a rope and jumped a 20ft fence to get out. Poor thing.
Should add since you posted while I was that I would definitely stop to help a person with dogs but yeah, not something I could do alone as I'm just super uncomfortable around dogs.
Both DP and I have stopped numerous times for dogs that were running along the footpath, especially seems to happen when it's raining! I take the dogs to a vet, where their microchips can be checked, if they don't have a collar and tag.
Our dog/s have been rescued so often as our little JR is a demon for digging under fences (about once every six months he just takes it into his head and discovers new and innovative ways of escaping, then gives up). Every time some nice person has called us (our dog wears a collar and tag with our address and both phone nos). We think we're generating good doggie karma by helping others! Plus, I'd hate for someone to lose their pet when I could have helped. We keep a lead and towel in the car JIC, but if I was walking I'd probably just try to hang onto them and check their collars. I have knocked on nearby doors and asked for some help, ie with a lead/rope, or if it is someone who is obliging they'll often keep the dog there until the owner can come.
The towels in the car have also come in handy to rescue possums and birds on the road. Sometimes we joke we run an animal rescue service! But it only generally takes 20 mins out of my day and I feel better knowing I didn't just walk away.
Good on you for helping them. It might have caused you a great deal more trouble, but I'd hate to think what would have happened otherwise! to those who wouldn't help. That's not a good attitude to go through life with is all I can say.
Wow Pac that does sound like a bit of a disaster!! Well done for stopping and persisting when things all went a bit pear shaped.
I wound definitely have helped you. I'd be willing to hold a pram, a baby, or even your friendly dogs on leads, as opposed to the unknown dogs. If I come upon that situation I would look to the person in need of assistance for guidance - if you say your dogs are ok, I'll take them. Its the unknown that scares me.
Jellyfish / Tuesday's Child - If I was scared of dogs, I wouldn't have stopped. I have no issue with that.
Ausgirl - I stood a bit away from my dogs once I had hold of them. But mine lost interest pretty quick, and the two strays were panting like mad, so a bit stuffed to care!
I'm wary around dogs I don't know, but having seen the German Shepherd being handled already by a stranger, I wasn't too concerned. My dogs strangely enough left them alone too, once I had hold of the strays. I was more wary about the smaller of the two, in case it was snappy, it kept trying to get away, but once I sat on the ground, it rested it's head in my lap for a bit. I'd say they'd escaped early on today and had been on the move for a while. I think too that if they'd had a bit of road sense about them, I would have called the ranger but not grabbed them. But they had no idea.
Tashybabe - Dogs and fireworks hey? We went searching for our next door neighbours dog last Chrismas - we were home, but they were out. People behind us set off illegal fireworks and we heard her smash through the side fence. I made it to our front door only to see her run past. We went looking for her but didn't have any luck. Neighbours came home and we helped them until about 2am. No luck. She found her way home though at around 6am, hungry and filthy. Glad you stopped for the lab.
Seems I'm a sucker for helping dogs Either that or they just find me! Thanks for all the replies.
If the dogs didn't seem aggressive I would but if they scared me I would just call the ranger and keep my distance especially if I had my children with me.
You sound like us when we're out walking! Two dogs & a pram
I'm a dog lover so unless they were looking aggressive I would definitely have stopped & grabbed them. I'd want someone to do the same if my dogs had run away.
I guess I would have just taken them off the road & waited or looked for their owner. If there was no one around or they had no ID tags, I'd call the council & have them picked up.
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Would you have stopped?
and discovers new and innovative ways of escaping, then gives up). Every time some nice person has called us (our dog wears a collar and tag with our address and both phone nos). We think we're generating good doggie karma by helping others! Plus, I'd hate for someone to lose their pet when I could have helped. We keep a lead and towel in the car JIC, but if I was walking I'd probably just try to hang onto them and check their collars. I have knocked on nearby doors and asked for some help, ie with a lead/rope, or if it is someone who is obliging they'll often keep the dog there until the owner can come.
to those who wouldn't help. That's not a good attitude to go through life with is all I can say.
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