What Singmesweet said and yes, when I go out with my dog I do allow her to go up and say hello to people sometimes. I'm not responsible for other people's phobias and pet peeves, if you will excuse the pun. It doesn't matter what anyone on the internet says that I'm morally obliged to do because I will continue to do what I like within the law in my own country. I'll take hir into shops and pubs, or anywhere else that I like unless somebody tries to stop me. If they don't say to me that dogs aren't allowed I'm just going to assume that it's alright and the same goes for when she wants to go up to people or other dogs in the street. There isn't even a leash law in this city and I'm not obliged to keep her on one but I do because I want to be able to control her when I think that I need to and not in situations where people on the internet tell me that I'm morally obliged to. If you want to walk about the streets of this city you are going to see dogs in the streets and in parks. As long as they don't foul the pavement or bite anybody that's within the law and if I do choose to restrain my dog I do so as a courtesy to people that ask me to or back away when she aproaches them.

Oh no problem. You can be fined or even have the pet removed from the home. Think of it this way a pet comes rushing at a person and the person gets frightened; they could have a heart attack or fall back and injure themselves. Now its also grounds for a lawsuit as well as having your pet removed. Animals are unpredictable. If a person came running at you without warning; I doubt you would just stand there and smile. It would frighten you so you have to think about the person that is unfamiliar with your pet. To me; it's common sense to keep your pet under control when other people are in the house. We have very strict laws here about pets. Both cats and dogs must be licensed and neither is allowed to run freely outside of your property. Leashes must be used for both cats and dogs. Fines start at $250.00.

I can see why it might bother people if you let your dog go up to them without them asking, or saying they want to pet her. Where I live, it's a very dog friendly city, but no one lets their dogs just walk up to random people. It's probably best to let someone else ask before you let your dog go see them.

That being said, if there is no leash law, then people who are out should know that and realize there may be dogs wandering around. If they don't like dogs, they should probably stay in an area that does have laws more in line with their preferences.

My parents have two dogs. People know that when coming to visit. I don't think they should have to keep them locked up or on a leash just because people are over, though. When they are off their property, the dogs are on a leash.

I have two cats. If someone comes to visit and isn't a big cat person, I suggest they sit in the chair, rather than on the couch, so the cat won't come sit next to them. I wouldn't lock the cats up to keep them away from people, though.

Oh yeah, it's fairly common to encounter dogs here that aren't on a leash and I have to deal with them when I'm out with my dog and she isn't neutered. My dog is just particularly friendly and she wants to say hello to everybody. She isn't going to do them any harm and if they really don't like dogs they can just get out of my way when they see me coming.

There was some woman in the street that was afraid of her the other night actually. Keira saw the woman walking behind us and stopped to try to say hello to her. When I saw that the woman was nervous I just told her that Keira is just friendly and the woman walked past us. That's generally what happens, or it might be that we pass someone in the street that has kids and they will either tell me that the kid is afraid of dogs or they will allow Keira to go up to their kids so that they can pet her. My dog isn't a nuicance. When I take her on busses she will look for attention from other passangers but I don't allow her to obstruct them when they're getting on and off. She just has this habit where she will jump up and put her paws on someone's chest if they get close enough to her. She does it sometimes when people stop to talk to me in the street or with people that come into my house. It's never a problem when someone comes round to fix the plumbing or anything like that. Those people are used to going into people's houses and it's never a problem with anyone that isn't just scared of dogs. The guy that comes to repair my computers is afraid of dogs and when he comes round I just shut her in the bedroom. Even my dad likes playing with her and he isn't really someone that likes dogs and he used to be afraid of them because one bit him when he was a child.

I am aware of no valid excuse for having an uncontrolled pet animal anywhere but on one's own property or residence. The excuse, "It is just friendly" is extremely inconsiderate --�� many people do not like contact with animals, some are afraid of or allergic to animals, some have had bad experiences with animals in the past. In public they have a right to be unmolested by the "pets" of others.

Children can be traumatized by a "friendly" dog. People wearing nice clothes probably don't relish animal hair, saliva or paw prints. Those with nice vehicles perhaps do not wish to be "greeted" by a dog jumping on or a cat climbing on their car. Any who prefer to avoid fleas, ticks and animal-associated diseases do not desire close contact.

In one's own domain it is a different matter; however, visitors should be made aware that they will be entering an area that serves as animal housing and that they may be subject to various animal behaviors.

Back to the topic of the thread:

I actually appreciate "must love animals, children and god" because that identifies the priorities in a person's life -- and eliminates any need for me to waste time making contact.

In return, I attempt to save the time of many women by indicating that I expect a partner to be equal (not identical) mentally, physically and personally (though for friendship only, less is expected).

Nice little campaign speach there but I told you that I don't have an uncontrolled dog and that I keep her on a leash. Getting tired of repeating myself here but I'm no more responsible for someone else's phobia of dogs than a black man is responsible for racism. The only responsibility that I have as far as my dog goes is to keep her from attacking people (which she wouldn't do anyway) and I could get fined if she craps in a public place and I don't pick it up. If someone's cat takes a dump in my garden that's just something that happens and I can either just get a life and not worry about it or be an arsehole and go knocking on my neighbor's door to complain about it. I'm certainly not obliged to warn people that I have a friendly dog, either in my own home or in public but I do tell them that she's friendly to reassure them that she doesn't bite and if they still don't like it they can just piss off and stay the f**k out of my way when they see me coming.

A while ago, we had a paramedic that was bitten by someone's dog as he was trying to help someone that called 911. Needless to say; dog was removed and owner fined. A good example of what I was saying about keeping your pets under control. If you cats run around the house; that is your business; but they shouldn't be running in the streets. We had two dogs and one cat recently killed by an animal abuser. I hope that person gets some prime jail time but I also hope the owners get a fine for letting their pets loose and not protecting them.

Yep; I agree. I learned the hard way that my life was a low priority to a person who was more concerned that his dog was puking than me having cancer.

You sound like a responsible pet owner but there are many; especially where I live that are not. I was biking and someone's dog chased me and tried to bite me on the ankle. Luckily, just a small chunk of my heel and a ripped sock out of the ordeal but needless to say I gave it one hard kick in the mouth. Owner wasn't happy but couldn't do much about it as he was breaking the leash law.

I know how you feel. I started wearing steel toe capped boots because male dogs kept attacking my old dog. There was this kid that lived near here whose parents were junkies and he had a Staffordshire bull terrier that tried to savage my dog more than once and an old lady told me that the kid had set the dog on her. I have to be careful when I go into the park with my dog because other people go in there with their dogs and mine hasn't been neutered. My dog may be a bit over friendly sometimes but she has a very good nature and more often than not it's other people apologising to me if they get in my way when I'm out walking with her and all she does is to try to be friendly to people, who I will say sorry to if she annoys or bothers them. Not only do I keep her on a leash when I'm walking with her in the street but she has a harness and I can restrain her when it's really necessary.

My brother carries a walking cane to fend off attackers. We have had several attacks of big dogs killing small dogs here and my brother's dog is tiny. To top if off; there are a large amount of coyotes where he lives so it can be pretty scary at times taking his pooch for a walk.

Perhaps it would be prudent to check the posts to see if anyone was personally identified -- and discover that what was said was in the form of general (not personal) statements.

If the shoe doesn't fit don't wear it

For me it is necessary that any man I would even consider dating MUST love dogs and cats.
I do not have any interest in a man that doesn't.
Pets are a huge part of my life and that's the way it is and always will be.
Like Tawt said dogs will and do give you unconditional love.
. How many people do?

Actually my friends and family give me unconditional love and I don't have to pick up their poop or walk them.

That's true.

But I was talking about dating. Men come and go but my pets stick with me no matter what .

Now if only I could get them to shovel the snow !!!!!!!

That is what snow blowers are for. Funny story. My brother lived in an apt across the hall from me and asked to feed his cats while he was on away for 5 days. When he got home; the cats wouldn't come near him and came running to me. They even hissed and scratched him. Those cats did not have unconditional love for my brother.

HEY you just gave me an idea. I should add must have a snow blower on my profile.