Why do people take risks? [multiple questions inside]?

I think leash laws are fine as most people don’t have control over their dogs off-leash. As someone with a very well trained dog who is velcroed to my left knee (on lead, off lead, in the house, doing laundry, etc.), I am not worried about having my dog off lead in most environments. I do get concerned when we are asked to search areas along railroad tracks and I will typically keep him on lead for that (I need him to range away from me when searching).

I follow the leash laws but often just throw the person end of the lead over my shoulder—no need to hold it as he isn’t going anywhere unless I direct him to do so. I would never put my dog in a place where he would be in danger unless he has proper equipment (boots for searching areas with broken glass, etc.).

I have a pin that I wear that is a shield shape with 2* (2 ass to risk) as a reminder that it is not only my life on the line when we go on searches—I am also responsible for my dog’s well being.

I take my dog to a local park where he can see but not get to ground squirrels. I drop the leash. He won’t move twenty feet in the half hour I let him sit there – it scares the squirrels off.

He’s also safe with children.

They are not very responsible dog owners.

I am glad you have leash laws at least. In my area they have control laws. “As long as you are in control of your dog”. This I have issue with because as good as you think you are trained to control your animal, you still can’t cover all situations.

I think they take the risk because they think they are doing their dog a favor. Sadly, they are not. The risk of a fine means nothing to them and so they will do it until it hits their pocket hard enough to matter. If they lost their dog to an accident or other, it may make them think, but at this stage, they simply have not learned about being a responsible owner or suffering a loss. Would they do risky things with their children? More than likely not because I bet they think the animal is expendable. They really are not thinking things through.

Some people have dogs who don’t need to be on a leash. I understand its still the law, but they realize their dog won’t go anywhere, so they aren’t worried about “putting peoples lives at risk”. And that is definitely not the case for all dogs, but for some it is.

Why do people takes risks? A) they may not assess the risks the way you do. They probably think it is a very low risk and could have hundreds of reasons for thinking so. B) they may be less risk-averse than you are. People have different tolerance for risk. I’m sure there are many other factors that feed into decisions like this.

Some people take risks because they’re sick of the law micromanaging their lives. Now, I think it’s rude to let your dog run loose in a public park where kids play sports. Considerate people should have some respect for the other people who use the park. But the law is so intrusive that I can’t blame too harshly people for flaunting it.

@HungryGuy The laws are made to protect responsible people like you and I from those other kind. It’s a necessary fact of life.

@HungryGuy I disagree. I hardly think laws are put on the books to micro manage our lives. But as @YARNLADY stated, some are put in place because people simply do not act responsibly.

They make enough money not to worry about the fines? I don’t know, but when someone else does something that affects them negatively, they cry blue murder. It makes no sense why do.