Some People Should Not Be Allowed to Have Pets

I was at the beach yesterday when I saw a young couple with their two dogs (both looked like the Husky breed, around a year or two old), and was very annoyed, and angered, at the way they were treating these dogs. Though the couple did not seem to be intentionally mistreating the animals, they obviously had no idea how to properly take care of and train a dog. They were trying to get the dogs into the water, and instead of coaxing them in with toys and kind words, they were dragging them in by their leashes, as the dogs whined and tried very hard to get away. Once dragged into the water, the couple kept telling the dog to "calm down," while they held the dog up by it's leash and collar.

This is wrong on so many different levels.

First off, why force a dog to do something it so obviously doesn't want to do? It was quite clear that the dogs did not want to go into the water. They were not dirty or overheated. So why???

Second, the dog is obviously going to panic when dragged into the water against its will. And then, in the midst of it's terror and confusion, it's stupid owner is pulling on it's leash while it is trying to learn to swim! Then told to calm down! I was very tempted to tie a rope around the owner's neck, throw him into the deep water and begin yanking on the rope, all the while telling him to just "calm down."

Third, the poor dogs will never want to go near water again! After such a bad experience with water, why would they ever want to get in the water? Dogs are very intelligent, and these dogs are now going to associate water, particularly bodies of water, with negative feelings. In forcing the animals into the water, the owners were ensuring that the animals will forever be terrified of water.

Idiots!

Which brings up the question: What do you do when you see an animal in this situation? If the owner was intentionally mistreating the dog, or doing anything which physically hurt the animal, I would definitely go over and say something, and try to stop them. Though I felt terrible for the dogs because they were whining and obviously very afraid, they were not in any physical danger (yet). I was tempted to say something, but I am fairly sure that they would have just told me to shut up and mind my own business.

What would you do? Would you confront the person? Would you stay away and call the police, or local animal protection group? Or would you simply walk away and try to forget about it?

What if it was a human they were treating this way? A child? What would you do then?

Do we lower our standards of treatment because it is an animal, and not a child?

I admit that I did nothing, only discuss with my friend, who was also there, how the couple was ultimately damaging the dogs mentally and emotionally, and how some people should not be allowed to have pets.

Much screening is done when a person adopts a child, and I believe the same should occur with pets. It is true that most SPCAs try their best to not allow people to adopt animals if they believe the people may mistreat their pet, but this is not very extensive. Also, many breeders will now allow you to buy a dog until first having you meet the dog a three or four times, and seeing how well you are with the animal and how it reacts to you. I am very glad that some breeders do this, but perhaps there should be lawful regulations put in place to govern the adoption of dogs and other pets? Is this possible, and is it fair???

What do you think?