Bring your dogs or not?

[Steve9290]

We came over to Canada with our 2 dogs. here's our lessons learnt:

1. Get pet insurance immediately - no questions. Vet care here is extremely expensive...... extremely!
2. If you are in the city, there is some 'off-lease' parks you can take your dog to so they can run around and socialize (or be savaged by some pit bull brute...see 1.)
3. If you are rural - Canada has Coyotes and Porcupines - both are merciless and will either savage and eat your small dog or quill them so badly you'll be traumatized as well as your dog. Having emergency surgery for your dog costs $000's if no pet insurance.
4. Finding a rented house with a pet is extremely difficult, you join a queue of other pet owners all pleading with potential landlords to let their 'quiet, non shedding, delightful' pet move in. Its a tough market, especially in Alberta.

Loads of people have pets in Canada, its not bad - just factor in the pet insurance - be aware of the breeds that are allowed here and don't let your recently emigrated pet run around the bush or forest unleashed until you really know its safe or fenced in etc....

We came over from the UK with 2 dogs. Both had pet passports, we flew into Edmonton with Air Transat with both in the cargo hold. It was relatively cheap and hassle free. No drugs for the dogs, we put ice in their dog bowls for the flight so they had water, the ground crews were good and caring. I can say they both didn't enjoy the experience.... but at the other end after a tasty treat meal, some fresh water and a quick walk at the airport they were OK.

 

[steaky]

1) Many people don't buy pet insurance. No problems. It's a consumer choice.
2) Still you can socialize and walk around with your dog on leash
3) There are also bears in Canada which might be a threat to small dogs.
4) That's not true. A friend of mine had waited for months until a tenant and his dog moved to his house in Calgary.

I've seen many dogs not on leash and walk round around the bushes, shorelines, sidewalks, trans-canada trail and farmland. No problem.

 

[loncan]

1. Check your house insurance - some policies cover the 3rd party stuff.
3. Skunks!

 

[steaky]

3) Cougars, foxes and bobcats!

 

[wolfpack27616]

Totally agree with Steaky!

Finding an apartment that is pet friendly narrows down your choices- but it wasn't that difficult. We found a pet friendly place for rental within a couple of weeks- no begging etc. If they advertise as pet friendly and have an availability , you are in. (hair shedding or not!)

Rural or urban- it's never a wise idea to let your pet run unleashed unless you are absolutely certain that the place is safe from wild animals.

Pet insurance is expensive, but then so is auto insurance. Gotta take the good with the bad.

For most of us, leaving our pet behind when we move is not an option. They are family!

 

[Alurra71]

Letting your pet run unleashed is simply a recipe for disaster. Not only is your pet in danger of being harmed by other animals, you are putting yourself and your pet at risk of someone more than willing to take advantage of your precious unleashed pet and claim it as a 'savage beast' that tried to attack me, look at this bite! All while holding out their scratched pinky that lil fluffy just knicked because they didn't know enough to not just get into a strange dogs face and dive in for the much desired ear scratch.


Don't ever put your pet and/or yourself into a situation where you no longer have a choice or control. Never do that, never! Keep your 'fur babies' safe!

 

[steaky]

Letting your pet run unleashed is simply a recipe for disaster.

That's nonsense. Even if pets are on leashed, they might still be in danger of being harmed by other animals, putting yourself and your pet at risk of someone claiming it as savage beast that tried to attack others. If you really in concern, don't even bring your pet outside at all and keep your pet safe at home!

 

[Alurra71]

That's nonsense. Even if pets are on leashed, they might still be in danger of being harmed by other animals, putting yourself and your pet at risk of someone claiming it as savage beast that tried to attack others. If you really in concern, don't even bring your pet outside at all and keep your pet safe at home!

So, if I am out with my pet, whether my pet is on leash or off leash running around, I have the same control over the situation?

Let us try this scenario.

My pet just loves children. She runs to them with tail wagging and licks their whole face whenever she sees them. She is a pretty big dog, so easily can knock smaller children down accidentally in her excitement.

She is off leash running and she sees a child and runs immediately to the child and knocks him/her down making him/her cry in a distraught manner. Now mom and/or dad jump in screaming about how my vicious dog just attacked their child unprovoked and oh my, I'm calling the police, my attorney and the local news to report your vicious dog and how you just let it run around with no control. It should be put down before it hurts someone elses' child/children.

Now, for argument sake.

My pet is on a leash. She sees a child and tries to run to the child happily wagging her tail. WHOOP! End of story, she's on a leash and I am in control of the situation. I am able to remove her from a situation that could potentially cause harm to my dog and/or myself and/or another party. It's called responsible pet ownership. It falls in line with the same idea that if your dog takes a crap on someone elses' lawn while you are out walking him/her that YOU should pick it up and dispose of it properly.

Letting your pet run unleashed, anywhere other than A DESIGNATED DOG PARK NO LEASH REQUIRED AREA, is a recipe for disaster and you are putting yourself and your pet in a potentially harmful situation.

 

[steaky]

Now, for argument sake.

My pet is on a leash. She sees a child and tries to run to the child happily wagging her tail. WHOOP! End of story, she's on a leash and I am in control of the situation. I am able to remove her from a situation that could potentially cause harm to my dog and/or myself and/or another party. It's called responsible pet ownership. It falls in line with the same idea that if your dog takes a crap on someone elses' lawn while you are out walking him/her that YOU should pick it up and dispose of it properly.

What if your pet is on leash, sees a child running near her and snapped that child? Whoops! End of story, she's on a leash and you were not controlling the situation. You were not able to remove her from the situation and came in the situation of causing harm to your dog and other party.

 

[Alurra71]

What if your pet is on leash, sees a child running near her and snapped that child? Whoops! End of story, she's on a leash and you were not controlling the situation. You were not able to remove her from the situation and came in the situation of causing harm to your dog and other party.

You're right and in that situation you are fully culpable for the outcome. So tell me, why would you let your pet off leash if you can't even control it on leash? You wouldn't.

For myself, when I have my pet on her leash and out in public, I keep her away from situations where she could harm herself or another. If you don't exercise the same caution then you'll find yourself in a whole heap of trouble eventually.

To tell folks it doesn't matter if the pet is on leash or off leash is utterly ridiculous. That is akin to muttering it doesn't matter if your child is in a safety seat during an accident or not. The outcome in both of these situations can be mitigated a great deal if you are a responsible parent or pet parent.

 

[steaky]

You're right and in that situation you are fully culpable for the outcome. So tell me, why would you let your pet off leash if you can't even control it on leash? You wouldn't.

Sadly there are people who could not control their dog whether on or not on leashed. Or else, I wouldn't see lost dogs postings on billboards.

For myself, I often bring him without leash in public, but keep him away from situations where he could harm himself or another. I exercise caution at all times.

But to tell folks that letting pet run unleashed is simply recipe for disaster is utterly nonsense. Furthermore, child safety seats are not requirement (or non-existent) in many countries of the world. However, I agree with you that the outcome in both of these situations can be mitigated a great deal if you are a responsible parent or pet parent.