Distressed by lack of dog park etiquette
For almost two years I have taken my 28-pound Schnauzer-mix dog to the dog park at Propst Park. It has been a pleasure for me and a fun treat for Sapphire. In this time we have never had a problem with other dogs, and I’ve rarely seen anything more than annoying nipping by one dog on another. When there was the rare aggressive growl or move, the owner quickly took care of the situation by removing the dog. Sapphire, for the most part, would sit back and observe the other dogs, having fun vicariously.
However, this past weekend I took her to the new park in the soccer complex. We were greeted by an aggressive dog on Saturday, but, as at Propst Park, the owner removed the dog to her car while her other dogs played. On Sunday we went back. The normal behavior is for the dogs already within the park to come over and sniff out the newcomer. Sapphire has always patiently stood while being checked out.
On this occasion, however, she was attacked by two of the dogs. Thankfully, my husband was there. He was able to kick one of the dogs off of Sapphire, but the other one had taken hold of her body, biting her twice. Terry tried to pull the attack dog loose, but was mindful that it could turn and bite him. The owner did not jump in to help. He finally did come to the rescue and he and Terry were able to separate his dog and mine.
Needless to say we left. I just left the vet with $58 worth of pain pills and antibiotics. Sapphire is so sore she can hardly shake her head and refuses to eat.
What do I want? Well, for starters, an apology would have been nice. Maybe even getting our number for a follow-up call. But, more than that, I ask all dog owners to know their animal well enough to make an intelligent decision about whether to take them to a public dog park. If the dog is not socialized or hasn’t been around other dogs, then this isn’t the place to begin. If your dog even starts to signs of aggression at the park, it’s time to leave. Remember you are responsible for your dog. And, also remember to clean up after your dogs, please.
Anne Freeze
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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