Drunks with dogs

[eyeshade]

Every morning from my office window, I watch a group of about 10 drunks who wait outside the post office for their benefit, it would seem, most days. The council have kindly provided a lovely bench for them which they lounge around (giving total disregard of the no alcohol zone sign above them which has a hefty fine on it). They have between them, a beautiful Roweiller dog and a staffordshire bull terrier, equally beautiful. both look very good pedigrees. However, between them all they taunt and tease both the dogs so that both dogs are barking and quite nasty when approached. When the rotty starts barking which it inveitably does, they throw it in the phone box nearby and leave it there. I have just watched a woman come out of the Post office and the rotty dog has just lunged into her barking at which point they got out a mouth muzzle and put it on. They called the woman a B**CH! My question is why? ? Why are these people allowed to keep animals. They may or may not be fed and watered, who knows. I did hear that they are given a special benefit allowance to feed their dogs if they are unemployed, not sure that would go on food but I don't get it. What do you think? Should they be allowed to have them?

[allotment10]

ps: where's scuzzball gone ?

[wolf63]

I love animals, even psycho cats, and agree with you that some of these people are irresponsible.

Dogs are pack animals and would stay with their owner even if they were really miserable, and it can't be much of a life being the only sober member of a drinking club.

The current law should be able to cover the situation, but lets face it the police and sspca or rspca are stretched to breaking point.

It is probably another case of - "in a perfect world". I really don't know - what would the wee man circling Earth in his space ship think about us. Probably thinks that we are all savages who care nothing for each other (a generalisation, I know, but true in so many cases).

[allotment10]

you are so right wolf, brilliantly said :-)

[eyeshade]

Well said, it is so sad to see especially every day, although you will be plesaed to hear they weren't outside today but they are probably in the park next door, I will watch next week and will do my bit I think it necessary. The dog attacking woman episode need not of happened and that needs to be prevented.

[allotment10]

good luck eyeshade :-)

[scuzzball]

I am here. I was right, benefit is not paid for pets, wolf63 has clearly shown that. I am not trying to wind anyone up. I do get fed up of people regurgitating half-baked nonsense.

[allotment10]

no need to get on your high horse scuzzball, we were only trying to find out! careful you don't catch your head on the way out the door! :-))

[scuzzball]

I quote you - 'I think scuzball is trying to wind us up'. You helped me up onto my high horse.

[eyeshade]

We're losing the plot a little here. There was a query as to whether they got an allowance for their dogs which may or may not be cleared up completely as there are varying degrees of possibility. I don't really care about the drunks, what was concerning was the treatment of the dogs whilst with them based on what I actually saw in 5-10 mins of action, chances are a lot more happens when they are coming down off their booze, drugs whatever. It is still not a good environment I don't think to have dogs.

[scuzzball]

"No money is paid to people in the form of benefit for dogs. Until very recently I worked in the benefits office and did so for 25 years. Benefit is paid for humans only" . I would say wolf63 has cleared it up compLetely, wouldn't you??

[scuzzball]

You raised the benefits issue in the first place. To me there is no issue other than that people who abuse or neglect animals should not be allowed to own them. Their social status, employment prospects, standards of dress, religion, race, or behaviour in public (other than towards their animals) is entirely irrelevant.

[kita1]

I would say more along the lines of should these people be walking the streets - let alone should they be allowed dogs? The well off people in work are not always the best owners, I recall one person replying to a question a while ago worked for 9 hours a day and left a two year old rescue boxer bitch in a cage for the full 9 hours! No one could see the suffering of that poor dog.

If the dogs appear healthy and well fed then maybe they are not in the worst homes.

I agree they should not be allowed to attack other people or animals, but like I say the owners should be arrested and put away, in the town where I live it is illegal to drink alcohol on the street. Maybe the dogs are there to put the police off arresting them? Lets face it alot of police are scared of dogs!

[mike_jln]

i have followed this thread from the beginning and think that the majority of us believe that the people involved should not be allowed to have these animals,it doesn't really matter wether they get any benefits to help them or not, eyeshade is right, nobody is concerned for the people, it's the animals & their welfare that causes the concern, and judging by everyones replies the question has been answered, NO, they should not be allowed to have them.

[eyeshade]

Thank you for your feedback, they are not there this morning but they will be back on Monday. I am calling the police today to see if they can keep an eye open. It is a sad thing, and nobody wants to take animals away from people but some harm could come from this and maybe I can prevent that, who knows? Will keep you posted.
ES

[capper1985]

we have a RSPCA vet by us where you can take your pets for treatments if your on benefit, you don't get any money given to you, you do get free/reduced treatments for animals though depending on the problem...i think it costs about �8 and that covers, check-up and all associated medicines...they don't enforce it though, it's funded by charitable donations and volunteers, not social security

[eyeshade]

Yes, I think the PDSA also gives free donations, thats fine no-one would say anything against that, that's all good!
Thanks.

[kita1]

The PDSA will pay all vets fees for people who are in receipt of council tax benefit.

I am and recently visited the vet with my 10 year old dog, (I needed flea treatment) I happened to mention that he had a touch of arthritis, and immediately the vet was insistant that I put him on Metacam 45 pounds for a bottle that would last him not more than a week. I said I did not want it, and did not feel the dog needed it, he insisted and got me to sign a chronic treatment form for the PDSA to pay the treatment. When I got home I read the document and found the PDSA supposedly does not cover insured dogs (mine is insured and I told the vet that and he put it on the computer).

I did not go to that vet again. I do feel that the vet is ripping off the PDSA and put my dog on a long term expensive drug that he was getting paid for from the PDSA.

As regards to people having pets on benefit, what are people supposed to do if they loose their jobs put their middle aged or old animals to sleep? You cannot generalise on a subject like this. Every case is different.

[allotment10]

oh dear! i am not moaning or complaining about people getting help to pay for the animals upkeep, my brother has 2 dogs & he is unemployed so therefore could not afford full vet fees, he to goes to the PDSA, i have numerous friends who are retired, in reciept of benefits etc that need help to look after thier pets, and i for one do not begrudge that, after all it is the animals we care about, it is the way the drunks treat these dogs that seems to be the main concern, and i know every case is different but from what i've seen in my town centre the majority of the drinkers sit around all day, the dogs are teased & bullied (as eyeshade pointed out) i have even seen them urging thier dogs to fight each other! so, i'm afraid i'll stick to my answer that eyeshade was asking, no, i don't think these people should be allowed to keep them, at the end of the day they are usually "out of it" and can hardly cross the roads let alone keep the dogs under control!

[jedimistress]

Kita.
The metacam thing! I wonder about it, each time I go to my vets with my dog (who comes to work with me!), for anything....he tries to sell me a bottle of metacam. I think there is something very odd about it.
Just wanted to share that with you.

[eyeshade]

Never had Metacam for the wee beastie, sounds like something you should have on your computer, I trust it does wonderful things for that price!