Mind the off-leash dog zones for everyone's safety
Your large, unleashed, uncontrolled, light-coloured, short-haired dog jumped, without reason, on my mother a few Sundays ago, knocking her down.
She had simply been walking along a road in the vicinity of the off-leash area in High Park with a friend, enjoying a pleasant afternoon just as you were doing with your friend, the kids and The Dog.
My mother was bruised and quite shaken by the incident, and experienced soreness and stiffness for days after the fact. The outcome could very easily have been much more serious given that she is in her late 70's, has osteoporosis, and weighs only 100 lbs.
The memory of the incident involving your dog is sure to linger and will no doubt, significantly affect her ability to enjoy walking in the park in the future. It's a pretty sad state of affairs when senior citizens can't enjoy a walk in the park without worrying about their safety because of irresponsible dog owners such as yourself.
It should go without saying that it only takes the actions of a few inconsiderate dog owners, yourself included, to taint the image of all dog owners. This, in turn, increases the difficulty of campaigning for improved facilities or services from which you, arguably undeservedly, would also be able to benefit from.
Try to recall that the park is for the enjoyment of everyone, not just you and your dog. The community has given up the right to use a part of its park so that there can be an off-leash area for dogs, including yours, in which to run and play. Is it really too much to ask of you to reciprocate by respecting the rights of the non-dog owners in the common areas of the park?
What happened in the park that Sunday was serious and not something to be brushed off or treated lightly by you just because your dog did it and not you. You, as the owner, are responsible for the behaviour of your dog.
I am sure you are of the opinion that your dog is friendly and wouldn't harm anyone and consequently, you feel justified in letting it loose in a public area. Clearly this incident has proven your assumption to be incorrect. Recall that a dog is an animal and is thus inherently unpredictable, no matter how well trained or good natured. Realize that even if your dog jumped on my mother with the friendliest of intentions, the fact remains that it caused her physical harm, and as such, it must be considered as being a threat to the safety of others when let loose by you, uncontrolled, off its leash.
I hope you now understand that you have to keep your dog on a leash from now on, without exception, when not in designated off-leash areas. I also hope, if you have the smallest shred of remorse about the pain and discomfort inflicted on my mother by your thoughtlessness, that you will make amends by becoming active in educating your fellow dog owners about the importance of leashing their pets.
Christine Dudek
