Out to lunch the other day, talking about this and that, a friend commented that it seems to her that since the Covid pandemic there are far more dogs around than ever there used to be. Quite so, I agreed. A large number of people, maybe living on their own, felt the need for a dog to keep them company. Then there were those who wanted to go out for walks but felt uncomfortable or vulnerable going for walks on their own. If they had a dog, they reasoned, they had an “excuse” for being out and about unaccompanied.
One consequence is the huge increase in numbers of dogs all over the place. Another is the huge number of dogs that have been sent to rescue centres or simply abandoned. But that’s a different problem altogether.
Part of my friend’s complaint about dogs involved extendable dog leads. When she was recovering from a hip replacement operation and was advised to gradually increase her mobility, she found such dogs on extendable leads a great hazard. Imagine the situation: you are walking along, being careful and feeling a little vulnerable, knowing that a fall could set your recovery back, and suddenly someone’s dog crosses your path, extendable lead just waiting to trip you up!
Unfortunately, as a rule dog owners don’t like to be challenged and criticised about their dog-handling. Some of them find it hard to comprehend that not everyone wants a friendly dog to leap up at them to be caressed and given a treat.
Here’s a link to an article by someone called Oliver Keene, someone who has been described as quite brave to challenge dog owners with his views. Basically he argues that there is a case for dog-free areas for small children to play and for older children to practice sports-related skills.
This has provoked supportive letters to the newspapers, such as this one:
Oliver Keens is brave and correct to make this stand. There is no rational argument against banning dogs from gated play areas and sports areas. Rather than children needing to be educated about how to behave around dogs, too many dog owners need a dose of realism about how others perceive their beloved pets.
There is a blind spot for many owners who just can’t comprehend that not everyone loves their dog and therefore allow behaviours that are antisocial and threatening to children and adults alike. How many times have people encountered dogs racing up to them in public spaces, jumping up on to them and generally not being under the control of their owners, whose only counter is “Oh, he’s just being friendly”.
Dogs may be of benefit to individuals, but are a net negative to the city and urban residents. It’s time the imbalance was righted.
Christopher Gray
Edinburgh
Or this one:
I like dogs, but as a small person who walks a lot, dogs can frighten me. The current trend for dog‑friendly everything is getting ridiculous. I now search high street cafes for “No dogs allowed” signs. And don’t get me started on extendable dog leads.
Ruth Pritchard
Rhyl, Denbighshire
Which brings me to another point, dogs in shops and cafes. My Spanish sister tells me about supermarkets in Spain which now allow dogs to accompany their owners, rather than being tied up outside. (Goodness, I can remember a time when mothers left their babies parked outside shops! Not to be imagined nowadays.) We haven’t come to that in the Uk as far as I know. However, more and more cafes, pubs and restaurants display “dog friendly” signs.
I recently sat in the cafe in Waterstone’s bookshop on Deansgate, Manchester, and watched another customer settle her small dog on the seat next to her and produce a bowl for the animal to eat or drink from. (Oops, that’s a dog in a shop, of course, contrary to what I just said.) i have also seen passengers on local buses settle their dogs onto the seat next to them, rather than have them sit on the floor. Now, personally I don’t want to sit on a seat which has previously been occupied by a dog’s bottom. Nor do I want my clothes to smell of dog!
I have nothing against dogs per se. I am very friendly with a whole lot of dog-walkers around here, whose dogs I know by name even when I don’t know the name of the owners. I usually apologise to the dog for not having treats in my pocket, something that many dogs seem to expect! I would not do anything to harm a dog, or any animal for that matter. But I don’t want to live with one.
Our daughter has owned several dogs, largely because she didn’t want her children to be afraid of dogs, something she blames me for in her case when she was a child. However, she always asks the owner before letting her children stroke a dog. And the dog-owning has not been totally successful; her smallest children love dogs but are a little wary of them.
So it goes.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well everyone!
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