Stray Dogs & Pet Etiquette

Back when I was in school, riding buses, the kids on the bus would try to get the bus driver to ram into stray dogs. They even say "When I drive, I will hit any stray dogs on the road."
:| You shouldn't drive then.

These people think it's ok to punish dogs that are loose when it isn't their fault at all.
The one who is at fault? The owner.

They're the ones who are stupid enough to think "Oh I think I'll let my pets roam freely outside, herp derp."
Yeah... You really shouldn't be a pet owner.

Dogs and Cats alike when they roam freely are more likely to:
Get poisoned.
Get shot by morons.
Get hit by a car.
Get killed by another loose pet or wild animal.
Get pregnant/Get other pets pregnant. (Usually people who let them run loose don't fix them)
Get rabies/illnesses/fleas/ticks/worms/parasites. (Usually people who let them loose haven't had them get shots)
Not live as long.

DON'T have your pet as an outside pet. Your neighbors and pets will thank you for keeping your pet an indoor pet.

Pets were DOMESTICATED so that they could be INDOOR PETS, so don't be all like "But they're in their natural habitat!" No. Just no. You're even harming the environment having them roam around because they kill things they shouldn't be killing.

That said, There's nothing wrong with having a secure fenced in yard for your dog to run around in. I have a secure fenced in yard for my dogs and they haven't gotten loose once. They absolutely love their yard and it's easier to just let them go outside to go potty. We're thinking of getting a good dog door installed so that only they can get in and out.

What is wrong is keeping them outside in that fenced in yard, no matter how big or small it is. The problem with just having them live outside all the time instead of letting them in and giving them human contact is that they can get vicious over time. I've seen this happen too many times to count.
If you're going to keep them outside in a secured yard, be sure to give them LOTS of love and attention. Bring them inside if it's too cold, too hot, or rainy. You put your dog's health at risk by just leaving them out there.

Putting this aside, let's move onto Etiquette with pets.

KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEASH.
Leash law or not, keep your dog on a leash!
You have better control over your dog if it is on a leash.

DON'T LET YOUR DOG NEAR SOMEONE'S DOG.
Some dogs aren't used to other dogs or can't handle them.
You need to ask the owner first if it's alright to let the two dogs play together.

TEACH YOUR KIDS TO NOT PET STRANGE DOGS.
I've heard of kids just running up to someone's dog and petting them without permission. You fail as a parent if you can't teach your kids this basic rule.
Some dog owners are still getting their new dog used to people, having screaming kids running up to them and petting them, pulling on them, climbing on them, does not help.
People with service dogs don't want kids just petting their dog without permission as their dog is doing their job, kids petting them is distracting.

ASK BEFORE PETTING OR FEEDING SOMEONE ELSE'S DOG
Owners put their dogs on diets so they don't want people randomly feeding their dog treats.
Owners know what their dog is allergic to or can't handle, not you, so don't just fling food at the dog.
Owners know if their dog is nervous or skittish about other people, not you, so don't put your hand near them.

Basically, treat someone's dog as if they're someone's kid.
You don't feed someone else's kid without asking the parent.
You don't pick up someone else's kid without asking the parent.

So don't do it to someone's dog.

DooblyDoo has shared her thoughts and had a talk.
But will you DooblyDoo or DoonblyDon't?