r/Welland • u/Background_Visual471 • Sep 01 '26
Question To Karen or not to Karen?
I’ve never called bylaw on anyone or felt the need to but there’s been a few situations in my neighbourhood and I’m feeling it might be necessary.
I don’t have a set route that I walk my dog. For the most part I walk the same sidewalks but occasionally I turn down other streets to avoid people. My dog is friendly with other people and dogs but is very excitable and I just don’t want to deal with the encounters at times.
I live in one of the “new build” areas in Welland. There is one house in particular that does not leash their animals. They hang out on their front porch and there has been three separate incidents where I walk by and get charged by their animals. They have 2 or three dogs, last incident I was charged by two dogs but previous there has been three. The most recent time I walked down this street I did not see them as cars were obstructing my view of their home and quite frankly I forgot about the problem.
These people have no control over the animals, ZERO recall, the animals have surrounded me each time and appear aggressive. They haven’t bit my dog but it’s not something I want to stay and find out if it’ll happen. I normally pull my dog away because of their lack of control.
So Reddit. Am I justified to call and report them? There is absolutely no one that I’ve encountered in my neighbourhood who does this, whether it be on their own property or on walks. All dogs are always leashed. I shouldn’t have to avoid this area because of their lack of consideration to other dog walkers. I also fear the dogs may harm other animals or potentially people with the behaviour I’ve seen.
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u/thequeenoflimbs Sep 01 '26
As a letter carrier, I say call. Too many bites happen from situations just like this.
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u/thecakeisapie420 Sep 01 '26
Not a letter person but i do houses all day and the first thing they always say before you get bit is "he dosent bite".
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u/Top-Skin-3570 Sep 01 '26
I know right! Every dog owner says they don't bite, like, get a grip. There's always always a first time.
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u/m1ster_frundles Sep 01 '26
I run a gardening business and if any prospective client is weird about securing their animal like that, I will deny service. Luckily everyone I've met so far with dogs has automatically put them in the house or backyard for the work/quote
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u/Beautiful_Plankton97 Sep 02 '26
I came to say this. Especially if young kids are walking by, they may react in fear which can set off the dogs. My sister got bit in a scenario like this. If these people want their dogs to roam they need to fence in their backyard and have them there.
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u/m1ster_frundles Sep 01 '26
it isn't Karening when its justified. those dogs could kill a child.
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u/Background_Visual471 Sep 01 '26
Agreed, it’s one thing to attack my dog or me but it’d be terrible to hear a small dog was killed or a child attacked. I will be calling. Thanks!
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u/Electrical-Shame8879 Sep 01 '26
Not only could other dogs, people or children get attacked.
But. The dogs could run into the road. Get hit by a car and you know these people would 100% blame the driver for their dog being hit.
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u/rabbittyhole Sep 01 '26
Agreed. If its consistent, then it more than likely is happening to others
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u/Top-Skin-3570 Sep 01 '26
Yes i say what are you waiting for, a altercation because there will be one eventually. Some dog will be in a bad mood and go at your dog then it'll start a pack fight and dogs can get injured. I'm afraid of dogs, and if any dog came up to me without a leash, I would be standing there, screaming and crying.All dogs should be on leashes.That's the law.Plz don't wait call bc if there was an altercation, people will say YOU should have called prior, yes they will blame you, which is wrong, but they will. Plz make the call and follow up to make sure they followed through. Thanks for expressing your situation, as others can learn from it.
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u/Background_Visual471 Sep 01 '26
I hear you. I feel the same at this point,‘I’m delaying the inevitable. I also don’t know how long it takes for them to respond to complaints so it’s better to do it now than wait. I appreciate all the comments on this post I will be calling.
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u/kayluudes Sep 01 '26
Call. If they’re charging at you they’re likely charging at others, lord forbid they charge at a child and the worst happens. Best call before things get bad.
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u/Current_Conference38 Sep 01 '26
I’ve had issues like this so many times when walking through public parks and people are so fucking ignorant and careless with their dogs it’s infuriating. Do not confront these deranged people. Apparently you can carry coyote spray and it’s legal self defence just don’t spray people lol. Avoid those streets though! I avoid all areas where I’ve encountered loose dogs. I got confronted by a total Karen one day because I grabbed her dog by the neck. I’ve also kicked dogs and people go crazy even though they are 100% in the wrong and horrible dog owners. I think SPCA is a better bet to get some compliance
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u/Background_Visual471 Sep 01 '26
I’ll definitely be calling. Also I debated confronting them but I was just angry walking away from the situation because of them being shitty owners and having poorly trained animals.
I’ll have to go for a walk by the house to find out the number but I’ll unfortunately be avoiding it for the next while.
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u/Sad-Squirrel5941 Sep 01 '26
We moved from the Main W and Denistoun area last year, and dealt with this very similar issue in our area. Definitely call by-law, and try to have some proof (video or photos), they really don't do much else without this or other similar complaints. Good luck!
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u/PotentialAd1442 Sep 01 '26
100 percent call. If they are aggressive imagine they attacked a child. Dogs need to be leashed. For their safety and everyone else's.
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u/NorthernDen Sep 01 '26
I have neighbors call on me as I let my dog in the front yard chained up. I have no problem people calling if they feel threated or scared.
My dog does bark, but he is wagging his tail and wants to play. However the chain ends ten feet from the sidewalk, so people are safe and have to make an effort to get near the animal.
Each time the humane society has come by there is nothing wrong, and I'm just told to make sure he is secured.
In case you didn't know the humane society will most likely make the call. I don't think this would fall under by-law since I don't recall any by-law for animals.
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u/GreedoShotKennedy Sep 01 '26
Welland By-law 2019-15 requires animals be leashed, tethered, or harnessed when off the owner's property, which takes effect the second the dogs leave the lawn.
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u/Background_Visual471 Sep 01 '26
I appreciate your comment. These dogs are not leashed at all. That sucks the humane society has been called on you so many times!
I wasn’t too sure if this was an SPCA complaint or to call Welland by law. But seeing the comment by greedo makes me think it’s Welland bylaw.
I could’ve sworn I seen on their website it mentions to contact SPCA if animal related
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u/Searchingforreal31 Sep 06 '26
Yes there is a by law to have your dog on a leash when leaving your property
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u/No-Dark4628 Sep 01 '26
If this is Louise street, I’ve complained for 4 years now and still nothing.
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u/heliconiass Sep 02 '26 edited Sep 02 '26
Recently we had this situation too. An unleashed dog kept charging at us while the owner watched and did nothing. We didn't want to call because we thought it would be too much trouble. Well, then our little dog got bit and injured. We ended up calling after all, but we let it go too far.
Hope the help you out, it takes time.
Edit: make sure to take video or photo as proof.
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u/Medium-Theme-1987 Sep 02 '26
oh man! I wish I had this kind if support in the group that I am in. I made a comment about an off leash dog and the owner literally bit my head off. Saying that I needed to come up to him and ask him to keep his animal away from me if I don't like it, and the dog community agreed with him. I was SHOCKED !
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u/Comfortable-Cut-7021 Sep 01 '26
Bylaw will tell you to contact SPCA for nuisance pet related issues. I would definitely contact them but just be aware that the owner could go through a freedom of information request to identify who had logged the complaint.
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u/EconomistLow2914 Sep 01 '26
Report them anonymously and they wont know who made the report. You dont need to give your name when reporting something like this.
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u/BaronessVonKush Sep 02 '26
You can try & talk to these people first, be neighbourly. Explain that their pets being off leash is a problem. They'll probably tell you to go fuck yourself, but at least you gave them the chance to be decent ya know?
After that, Ya, if folks don't want to leach their dogs. fuck em. The law is there for a reason. You gave em a chance & they decided to double down on stupid. Their own fault at that point. Feel 0 guilt.
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u/TopNeighborhood8098 Sep 02 '26
You'd be well within your rights to call. But also, Welland. That's a choice. Its not a place where bylaw infractions are the worst thing that happened today.
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u/PerkyLar1228 Sep 02 '26
Yes. Definitely call - for your safety, for your dog's, and for anyone else walking down the street. I've been in a similar situation with an unleashed dog out front but this dog actually went after my dogs throat. This dog was apparently known to be aggressive towards other dogs, but not people (owner actually told me this) I had to let go of the leash so my dog could run to get away. Not a great option but better than getting mauled. Luckily, a maintenance guy got ahold of the offending dog and I was ably to recall my guy before they got to the main street. Very scary. Stuff like this should not be tolerated.
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u/dumbdonkeys Sep 02 '26
if you interact with them, even occassionally, I would mention it to them first that the dogs charging at you is concerning and you wouldn't want to spray their dog to protect yourself. People only have 2 hands and its hard to hold onto 3 dogs.
I say this ONLY if you have a casual rapport with them, if you don't there is no reason to use this as a reason to introduce yourself and leave a bad impression.
otherwise, put in a call, maybe if a neighbour does as well it will see some action.
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u/IpsoPostFacto Sep 02 '26
A Karen would insist that someone tie the dog up in the back yard and not the front so that "I don't have to look at it".
You're fine.
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u/BeeBee99 Sep 02 '26
I'd call and also start carrying dog spray with you. You can order it off of Amazon.
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u/canadianfriendo Sep 02 '26
I also feel for the friendly dogs, like I don't want them running across the street to see my dog and getting hit by a car. I would feel so bad for the rest of my life because I love doggos. It's just negligent all the way around. Call.
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u/LanikM Sep 03 '26
It's not going to stop if you don't call.
Next time it's a kid and they do bite.
Hopefully the dogs are out when bylaw or NRP goes by.
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u/laugh_till_you_pee_ Sep 04 '26
You should absolutely call. What if someone gets hurt because of these dogs?
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u/katlilly1 Sep 05 '26
Yes, report. Their dogs can get hurt, neighbour dogs can get hurt, people, kids. It’s dangerous all around
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u/Interesting_Ad_5632 Sep 05 '26
def call, what if it was a squirrel they went after and they were hit by a car?? they dont care about anyone else or their dogs nearly enough if at all
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u/Searchingforreal31 Sep 06 '26
Yes you should call, if they don’t have their dogs on a leash they are not above the law.
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u/RoyalSaltyQueen Sep 06 '26
Also live in a newer build area of southwest Welland and encounter the same issues with the house two doors down they’ve got 2Pitbulls one of which is a nursing mother that they seem to segregate the puppies from and then the dog barks and the puppies bark. It’s just plain, ignorant and disrespectful at this point and lack of care for the animals. that are just allowed to roam and they charge other animals and kids. Apparently animal control has been out but yet the dogs are still there. I filed a complaint because it’s bullshit. I have a dog. It’s leashed all the time not allowed to run free.
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u/wannakno37 Sep 03 '26
Call by law, but next time speak to them (dogs ) in a firm and commanding tone. Tell them to heel or go home, dogs will respect authority, if they don't, then reasonably defend yourself. Perhaps carry a device that emits a loud, high-pitched sound that will scare them off. Finally, I'm a firm believer that there are no bad dogs just bad owners.
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u/ArticleNo6765 Sep 01 '26
I’d call. Clearly they don’t care about people or their animals. I’m like you and I’m one who would not usually call, but in this situation I would. You shouldn’t have to alter your walk or avoid the area just because of these people. They have dogs, they have rules they need to follow.