That’s Shelly‘s beagle. She e-mailed WSB to share her story about an incident you might describe as “dog-walking rage” – someone literally lashing out at her and her dog when they stopped for a bio-break – read on:
Just a warning to fellow joggers/walker with dogs…. I was jogging with my 7 year old beagle (Sunday) morning up from Alki on SW Hillcrest & SW Orleans Ave (eventually turns into Charlestown) [map] when my dog stopped to go no. 2. As we stopped we were approached by the apparent homeowner (white, male, senior, average height) who was carrying a 5ft metal pole going directly for my dog ready to take a swing at him! When I informed him that I was going to “pick it up” he mumbled something and then went for my dog again! When I screamed at him to stop he came at me ready to swing at me!! I screamed (I think the loudest I’ve ever screamed) for someone to help me and then he swung and actually hit my beagle as if he was swinging a baseball bat. This is a very popular street especially since it’s a street that many take from Alki Beach. … I called the police who came and took a report but that’s all that they could do at this time. …
Also, needless to say that I was very shook-up. As I waited for the police, visibly upset, there was a very kind woman who was driving by and who stopped and decided to sit with me until the police came. After hearing my story she did not want to leave me alone with this man. To her and the police I would like to extend my gratitude and appreciation.
Shelly says her dog “seems to be OK.” Meantime, this led us to wonder about the laws regarding animals relieving themselves on someone else’s lawn, parking strips, etc. We found two chapters in the Seattle Municipal Code: This one says that you have to pick up after your animal on private OR public property before you leave the area; this one says it’s unlawful to allow your animal to damage public property or someone else’s private property, though it doesn’t define “damage.”
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