In the Pipeline: Irresponsible owners can be deadly for dogs

My column two weeks ago on what I perceive as increasingly irresponsible habits by dog owners in Huntington Beach (and no doubt other places) prompted a slew of feedback. The dozens of emails I received were supportive of the premise and, in fact, added to it.

My article focused primarily on people who don’t leash or clean up after their dogs but do drive their cars with a dog on their lap. But, as I was reminded many times, other issues also need some focus: long leashes that can create havoc on bike paths and in other public places; the dangers of riding a bike while a dog trails along on a leash; dogs riding in the back of pickup trucks; and the increasing insistence of some people to take their dogs into retail environments, despite store policies against it.

But for all the brazen, selfish and sometimes unsafe behavior that many of us witness, Laurie Mitchell sees worse out on the street.

Mitchell is a seasoned, passionate and dogged rescue specialist who over the years has dedicated herself to saving canines, both with established rescue houses and today as a “freelancer.”

She will get calls throughout the night about animals being brutalized by Los Angeles gangs that regularly stage dogfights. She gets calls about lost and abused dogs. Many of us notice the problems, but she lives with them and helps solve them.

As she explained to me this past week, irresponsible dog owners contribute to animal deaths in myriad ways.

“Look at all the lost dogs that we see reported today,” she said. “A high number of them don’t even have tags on them or a microchip. So when that animal winds up in a shelter, it automatically is on a fast track on the kill list.

“People get puppies thinking they’re like a toy. But then they realize how much work it is and they simply dump the dog. It’s a never-ending problem.”

Mitchell also has a strong belief in the separation of love and leadership when it comes to owning a dog.

“Leadership over love is critical,” she said. “Discipline and basic obedience are the most important things in a young dog’s life. But it’s kind of like the parents that want to be friends with their children versus truly raising their children. It’s a very sensitive issue, and there are no easy answers.”

Mitchell made news last year when she and a group of local volunteers helped recover an escaped Shar-Pei named Benson. He had been found in Riverside, emaciated with six round burn marks on him. He was transferred to Huntington Beach to be neutered, but then escaped from a cage. For 47 days, Benson baffled Mitchell and her army of helpers, dubbed “Team Benson.” But as she wrote in September in a compelling online narrative, when they finally tracked down the crafty runaway, it was a very special night.

“That night around 10:30 p.m., TB received a call that he was back in Huntington Beach a few streets away from a park that they had seen him at a few days prior, as well as the previous month. Just like every other night, the ground crew spotted Benson a few times, [but he] would always cover more ground than the team could. … As he was trying to bite through the net and vigorously flail his body, a team member carefully and precisely grabbed both of Benson’s back legs. … The team spent the next 45 minutes steadily controlling his body with … two leashes looped on his neck. They were able to calm him down enough to loop a third leash over his snout and then muzzled him with a nylon muzzle.”

The riveting episode transfixed this community and many others. Today, Benson lives with Mitchell in Huntington Beach. The day I visited, it was fascinating to see how she has helped bring this beautiful animal into some sort of normalcy. Strangers can’t pet him yet, and that may never be possible. Yet he is alive and starting to thrive, thanks to Mitchell’s tenacity and expertise.

So, outside of common sense and personal responsibility, what can be done?

“Before you adopt a dog, research the breed,” Mitchell said. “Each breed has characteristics, and you want to know if that breed fits you and your family’s lifestyle. Every dog has its own personality, of course, but breeds do tend to have characteristics.

“If you work full time and are a single person, I highly suggest you don’t get a dog. Dogs need consistency and structure. If it is going to be alone 10 hours a day, it’s not fair to the dog.”

Also, if you become aware of a dog that is in danger or needs to be rescued, you can notify Mitchell via email at Lmitchell8@socal.rr.com. She works closely with certain breeds, but regardless of what you’re calling about, she can steer you in the right direction.

I think it’s incumbent on all of us, whether we own dogs or not, to help create awareness when it comes to responsible ownership. And after watching Mitchell as she worked at home with several rescued dogs, I am very thankful that we have her in our community.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 25 books, including “Legendary Locals of Huntington Beach.” You can follow him on Twitter @chrisepting or at facebook.com/hbindependent.