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Dog owners in denial?
Dear Editor,
For the most part, I enjoy running in the mornings. In fact, most mornings, I pass many others who also seem to enjoy walking or running. Having said that, there is one thing that quickly makes my morning ritual not so pleasant. Take this morning (June 29, 2010) for example: I was running on West Third Street, making a left turn onto H Street when I met a dog that I thought, at first, was on a leash, but discovered it was not. [He] saw me and was less than friendly to me. I immediately turned and ran in the opposite direction searching for a safe haven from the aggressive dog that was now chasing me. Try not to laugh too much at the visual of me as I jumped on the hood of a Suburban parked in the street. I use my Blackberry as an iPod so I was able to call 911 for help. Once the police officers arrived, I continued an my way, but I stayed long enough to observe the dog continue to display aggression toward the officers.
I am not a dog owner, but I do like dogs as long as the liking is mutual. I used to run around the fairgrounds until I had two separate incidences with another very aggressive dog on West 10th Street. In fact, one might even use the word vicious to describe the dog. After the last occurrence. I changed my route. A few months later, a man was attacked by a vicious dog in that same area on West 10th Street. The attack required the man to be hospitalized.
I realize it is most likely rare for a pet owner to consider his/her dog or cat to be aggressive or vicious.
However, people like me can only come to one conclusion when met with the snarling face of a dog with its hair standing up an its back and neck, leashed or unleashed. I've been fortunate so far that I have not felt the penetration of any dog's teeth on my appendages. I pray such a day never comes.
So, you might be asking "What's your point?" My point is this: I would like pet owners to realize the terror that goes through someone like me when met with an unleashed, aggressive dog.
There is little defense against a dog who means to have me for breakfast. Even less defense for a small child or an elderly person. I don't understand why a pet owner would take the risk of his/her dog doing bodily and emotional harm to someone by not keeping the dog securely leashed or in a dog run. So this is my plea: love your dog(s), but please don't be in denial about the potential for your dog to be aggressive toward people it does or doesn't know. I can only guess what goes through the mind of a dog as it sees me; perhaps, it thinks I am the aggressor.
After all, I'm the one running; most often in its direction.
Any fine and possibly the loss of the dog assessed to a dog owner for having a dog "at large" is a small consequence compared to the terror people like me experience. So tomorrow, it's a new route so as to avoid the risk of another exchange with that unfriendly dog. It might even be wise to arm myself with something like pepper spray in the event I meet similar circumstances in the future. Dog owners, please help children, walkers,/runners, etc., be safe an our streets by keeping your dog securely leashed or in a dog run. You also will be keeping your dog or cat safe from motor vehicles or other potentially dangerous equipment.
Leslie Stramel,
McCook