Why Do We Allow This?
- Miri Levy
- Jan 22
- 2 min read
By Miri – Dog Training with Miri
Yesterday I saw something disturbing.And this wasn’t the first time.
A man was hitting his dog with all his might using a leash. The dog was screaming, and the man kept going. The dog was on the back of an open pickup truck. He cried—and for crying, he was whipped again.
This was not training, It was abuse.
I screamed at the guy. I said things you couldn’t wash out of my mouth with enough soap. Of course I called the police and animal control. I took a photo of his license plate number.
About two months ago at Point Isabel, I saw another man “training” his dog. The dog was in a sit. The man wanted a down. The dog didn’t do it. So the man hit him—full force.
Yes, I did say what I had to...
The man said he was training and showed me a finger.
These are not the only times I’ve seen abuse in public. I’ve seen dogs yelled at, dragged, jerked on leashes, and hit—people unloading their anger on animals who are already scared and overwhelmed.
Last night, during an online trainer meeting, one of the trainers who runs classes shared her experience: A student slapped a dog in front of the class because the dog “wasn’t listening.”
So here is my question:
Why?
Why do we allow people who should not care for an animal to have one?Why do we let this keep happening?
People are willing to hurt their dogs in public. I can’t imagine what happens behind closed doors.
Dogs don’t learn through pain or fear. They shut down, panic, or break—and later, they’re blamed for the damage.
If you witness dog abuse, don’t look away. Call the police if the dog is in immediate danger and report it to animal control. If it’s safe, take photos or video and note where and when it happened. Don’t step in if it puts you or the dog at risk—but don’t stay silent. Reporting abuse can save a life.
Some countries take dog ownership more seriously.
In Germany, dog owners are required to take education courses, and many punishment-based tools and methods are restricted or banned.In Japan, dogs must be registered, and animal welfare laws are strict and enforced.In Switzerland, new dog owners are required to complete mandatory education courses.In Austria, certain dogs and owners must complete certified training and behavior education.In Norway and Sweden, physical punishment, intimidation, and causing fear fall clearly under animal cruelty laws.
Here, we don’t require education. We don’t hold people accountable until a dog is already damaged—or worse.
Dogs deserve caring people.They deserve to feel safe.
— Miri
Dog Training with Miri
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