Fair warning: this is a rant.

Aditional warning: this rant may be heavily skewed due to personal motivations

I walk by a house everyday on my way to work. There are, or were, four dogs on that house. One I can't see anymore.

These are big dogs, with big bark but no bite. I know, because they used to be closer to the property walls and every single one asked for pets and some attention when I started walking by. I'd even set down some rules in order for me to pet them, like no jumping on each other, no barking, no mouthing. General good manners. I would just step back out of reach, wait for the mess to settle down and approach again when they were calm.

I was never aproached by the people of house in order to not interact with the dogs. But one day I noticed they had been spread on the small plot and chained. It was cruel. The dogs would bark to get me to notice them. A single one remained more or less close to the property wall and he could still reach me for pets and affection. I didn't deny him that little.

One day, a fourth dog shows up, the one I can't find now. Smaller, short aired, terrier type. From the first day, chained. Barked his head off at me. He was deep inside the property, so I never approached the dog.

A few days later, the property gate is open and new dog comes running out, barking and making of being on guard. I just stood still, looking at him. I did not show any fear, any reaction. I was just there. And the bravado just melted away. The tail got ticked between his legs and he was unsure if he should approach me or run. He opted to run back home. I went own way.

There are now four dogs in that house and I still stop by the one dog I can reach to give the pooch some affection. And one day I hear someone saying to me to be careful because the dog is mean. Fun detail: I had my whole hand in his mouth, picking out something he had between his teeth that seemed to be bothering him.

I find a face staring at me from a first floor window. I soothe the dog, pat him one last time on the snout and tell it's all good, and then address the woman, somewhere along my own age, that a dog like that, so gentle, should be inside. Like the others. I get a horrified stare and an excuse that they are too big. I have two bigs dogs in an apartment; they can manage and live happily if they get outside to play. I also make a remark on how I'd noticed some dogs had been so badly bitten by fly they had open wounds. I get another remark on how they are being treated for it. I say my goodbyes and walk off.

The only dog that could still reach the wall and me, by extension, is now chained a bit more inwards. He can still see me and whine when our eyes meet but that is it.

I've called and given notice to the proper authorities. If they've been there, I don't know.

As someone who is making his way to become a dog "trainer" (I dislike the word) and have an excuse to spend time surrounded with them, this is the kind of situation that makes my stomach churn.

A chained dog serves no purpose. Fulfils no role. A chained dog is a victim. A "dangerous" dog is more often than not a dog that was never properly educated and shown how to properly approach the human world.

I want to work with dogs. But I fear the type of people I may have to face and deal with. Like that woman. That small, sorry, example and excuse of a human being. None of those dogs arw dangerous but she most definetely is. Solely out of her ignorance.