I recently spent six weeks in Austria and Slovenia where I encountered numerous dogs while walking, hiking in the mountains, and biking through popular dog walks in the city of Vienna. Not a single one barked at me.
What I also found remarkable is that I never heard anyone in that part of Europe yelling at their pets. They would speak quietly to them, and the animal would comply. Every owner seemed to be a dog whisperer. I also did not have any dog there approach me without my clear invitation.
I have an acquaintance here in Squamish who was charged by her neighbour’s “friendly” dog. She thought the animal would stop. It didn’t. The impact of the collision with a 90-pound canine injured her seriously enough that she was off work for months. She is not the first person in Squamish to be badly injured by a charging dog. I know of another woman who was severely injured while riding her bike – trying to avoid a charging dog.
Owners may think they know the intentions of their pets, but most of us do not, and we shouldn’t have to try and guess. It makes me angry when I hear from dog apologists that children should be “trained” not to flee when being charged by a dog – as if terrified children are the problem. If your dog charges at people under any circumstances, you are an irresponsible owner.
A close friend has just informed me that she has been bitten by a dog. She is now on three kinds of antibiotics and has been feeling too poorly to go out. I’m furious. I know that many owners allow their dogs to habitually practise their base inclinations of aggression and dominance. For instance, they let their pets jump up on people – and are then surprised when they bite someone.
I was mauled by a dog when I was a child and can remember trying to crawl away – screaming – as I was being bitten again and again.
“Just let dogs be dogs” I have heard. Sorry, no. Dogs come from wolves. They need leadership from a calm and confident alpha. And Squamish needs a change in dog culture – where more owners recognize their responsibility to be in control.
Eduard Fischer
Squamish
