For the third time in 6 months, I’ve been part of three different groups that have managed to capture a loose dog on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. In two cases, no one was with the dog. In the third, the dog had broken free from a prong collar.
Off Leash and Alone
Despite the number of dogs I see off leash in our parks, I still look around to see if I can determine if there is a scofflaw with the dog or if the dog is an escapee.
In the case of a pretty Bichon Frise, a group effort caught her and this mesh water bottle holder and its strap became a temporary leash. A call to the phone number on her tag revealed that her person did not know she was missing. He surmised she must have slipped out when a guest left the house.
My most recent stray was a small, mixed breed. A gentleman called the dog to him and gained control of the collar. The pooch had a license but no owner ID, so a call was placed to Animal Control. I managed to get a length of cable from a passing landscaper and quickly attached it as a makeshift leash.
A neighbor said he would wait with the dog. I went on my way and alerted dog walkers of the pup’s location in case they saw someone searching for a lost animal. When I saw the man again, he reported that the family came to claim the pup.
Poorly Secured, Aggressive Dog
In the third instance, another neighbor was trying to catch a rather aggressive, large, mixed breed. This dog had broken free from a prong collar. I took control of the dog that belonged to my neighbor so he would have two hands to work with and so his dog would be safe from the growling, snapping escapee.
With no hope of getting the pinch collar back on the pooch, we turned the dog's leash into a noose and tried to lasso the animal. We offered treats to tempt the dog, but nothing was working. I had an appointment and had to leave before animal control arrived. Later I learned a young man had joined the fray and was able to hold the dog by its ruff long enough to get the leash around its neck.
Preparation and Prevention!
None of us is a perfect guardian and we’ve all had scary near-escape moments. But there are things you can do to help prevent these situations and to be prepared when you encounter one.
With an anxious dog like our Poppy, extra safety is a priority when we're outside. In addition to her Freedom No-Pull Dog Training Harness (in the photo above) we have a strap connecting her collar to a leash.
With the vast number of off leash dogs I see each day, I now carry an inexpensive slip leash with the pickup bags that are always in my pocket.
Leash or confine your dog when people are coming and going from your home. Especially if a door leading to outdoors is available.
Training is essential. I've been watching puppy Howie (above) grow up and seen how training is paying off. See how nicely he sits and waits when asked. And notice the gentle foot on his leash helping him obey and earn, "Good Boy" praise.
Don’t use pinch collars
A British coalition headed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has called for an end to the sale and use of both shock collars and pinch or prong collars. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen someone trying to get one of the latter back on a dog after the dog has broken free.
Finally, keep your dog on a short, strong leash with a secure collar or harness. If you have a dog with aggression or fear issues, add a second safety connection.
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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino: Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws Newspaper columns.
Photos: Top photo from iStockphoto, Poppy and Howie photos are ©2016 Penny Cherubino