A thought from Adam….

If you are a dog owner there is a few things that perhaps should be common sense, and maybe I see them as common sense, but as usual, the human species proves that is a rare commodity these days.

I took my dog, Bella, for a walk on the beach yesterday evening.  As I was walking, I was doing what I usually do when I was scanning the surrounding area constantly for other dogs because my little Bella, who is GREAT with people, but not good with animals thanks to an abusive past.  So, I am aware of her personality, as well as that, I also have this thing called common sense and respect, as well as a sense of responsibility as a dog owner.  One of the most simple things you can do as a pet owner is use a leash when you walk.  Simple right?

This seems like it needs no explanation.  Walking a dog = leash!

So, I am on the beach, almost home, when I see two dogs up by the dune-grass area with one man sitting under an umbrella.  I put Bella on my right side, closest to the water and the furthest away from the dogs so I can sort of block her vision on the two dogs.  As I keep walking parallel with the water, the two dogs noticed us and immediately sprung up, barking, and running towards us.  I reacted by pulling Bella so she faced away from them (towards the ocean) and had her between my legs.   I, stupidly so, assumed as soon as his dogs began running towards me he would get up and get them under control (since this dope didn’t have them on a leash) but he didn’t!  I had a few choice words for him as I asked him what he was (or wasn’t in this case) doing.  Finally, feet shy of Bella and I he made some sort of loud shout sound and the dogs stopped, luckily.

Now, given this story ends without any dogs being harmed, the point is not about that.  It is about the ignorance and stupidity of this man who sadly has two dogs of his own.   Two dogs, running full bore towards another, barking, is NEVER a good thing, especially when a dog like mine is what she is.  It is dangerous for both my dog as well as his two.  So let the lesson be learned, especially in Maine during the summer when there are so many people in the state, USE A LEASH!  Keep your dogs under control to avoid just such an event.  This could have ended so much worse, with injured dogs, and thousands in medical bills.  If you are going to have pets in your life, learn to be a responsible adult first because sadly, this man is a pitiful excuse for a dog owner, and it bothers me on a deep level thinking that this sort of thing probably occurs a lot with him, and I hope that there never is a day when his dogs get too close to the wrong dog and get hurt because of his negligence.   Be safe fellow pet owners, and call out the idiots like this man whenever you can in hopes they realize their stupidity and risk to the safety of their dogs.