Lost dog on the run in Dulwich Park

[annapatat]

We've just got back from Dulwich Park where we bumped into a young man trying to catch a small light brown whippet. It had obviously lost its owner was wearing a bright blue jingling collar. It's been running around the park for hours evading capture. Initially had a red leash attached to blue collar, but this fell off at some stage during the chase. If you've lost your whippet in the park please contact the park warden. Offices near the main parking area.

[micromacromonkey]

Perhaps if the man wore a flat cap the dog might become amenable to capture.

[lrm123]

The dog isn?t lost. We thought the same last week. She just runs around the park hunting squirrels for long periods and has such a high prey drive, her owner, who is with her in the park (with another dog) leaves her to do her thing. She?s a lovely dog, a Podenco ? Spanish hunting breed, i think.

[Froglander]

A dog is supposed to be under control and it doesn't sound as if this one is. If the dog is killing squirrels then I would be worried about small dogs and cats in the same vicinity. Podencos and galgos are used for hunting, but many are rehomed through various Spanish charities after they are abandoned by their hunters.

https://galgosdelsol.org

https://hopeforpodencos.com

https://sospodencorescue.com

[kiera]

I agree with Froglander that dogs should be under control. It is irresponsible to leave a dog running around for hours.The park is a family friendly and wildlife friendly place, not a place for hunting wildlife. It would be distressing to families/other park users to see a squirrel killed.

[annapatat]

Thanks for feedback Irm123. The dog did not seem aggressive at all and the only one that seemed the worse for wear was the poor young man who had been trying to catch it for 2 hours!

[singalto]

Dogs are supposed to be kept on a lead in much of the park. The dog walk is clearly marked.

[Froglander]

If a sighthound, or any dog, has a high prey drive then it should be muzzled. I know that sighthounds have previously killed squirrels in Dulwich Park. It might not be aggressive to humans, but that isn't the point here. I also know of two greyhounds who have killed a small dog and a cat. This dog clearly isn't under control if someone else was trying to catch it for two hours. Where was the owner?

[lrm123]

I need to clarify - ?hunting? was a poor choice of word, she isn?t killing or attacking anything, she?s just a dog with some energy to burn, running from tree to tree. She?s not a nuisance, she?s not aggressive - she could not have been less interested in my small, fluffy, prey magnet dog who also, like many dogs I know regardless of prey drive, likes to squirrel watch, a lot.

[Froglander]

Where is the owner if someone else is trying to catch the dog? They are only supposed to be off lead round the perimeter track.

[Upwind]

lrm123 Wrote:

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> The dog isn?t lost. We thought the same last week.

> She just runs around the park hunting squirrels

> for long periods and has such a high prey drive,

> her owner, who is with her in the park (with

> another dog) leaves her to do her thing. She?s a

> lovely dog, a Podenco ? Spanish hunting breed, i

> think.

I assume the owner thinks the dog will pick up it's own poo and keep to the dog off lead areas. Lovely dog maybe, not such a lovely owner!

[Froglander]

Annoyingly, too many owners ignore their dogs when out 'walking' them which leaves their poo scattered hither and yon. Far too busy chatting on their phones or to their walking companions.

[taper]

Froglander Wrote:

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> Where is the owner if someone else is trying to

> catch the dog? They are only supposed to be off

> lead round the perimeter track.

That's not true.