Stay away from dogs

Re: “Boorish owner,” Letter, June 16.

I take exception to Maureen Ranson’s letter. Because of her apparent ignorance of canine behaviour, which surely contributes to her fear of all dogs, she overreacted when faced with what her own telling made sound like nothing more than a couple of dogs running up to her excitedly and trying to greet her.

This happened in a park where it is legal for dogs to run around off leash. This is analogous to walking through a playground and having a couple of children run up to you, screaming with delight, just wanting to say hello. A person who doesn’t like children screaming and running around them will avoid playgrounds and public parks when they are filled with families.

A person who is afraid of getting hit in the head with a baseball will avoid walking past baseball diamonds. And so on. The dog owner suggesting that a person with an irrational fear of dogs might want to avoid parks where dogs run off leash is hardly being “rude.”

Let’s keep in mind that the dog in question never touched Ranson or even attempted to touch her, yet she rails along in her letter about the dog “doing harm” to her, “molesting” her, and somehow putting her post-operative recovery at risk. Based on her own letter, these are completely unfounded accusations that make her seem like she’s simply trying to turn her own fears and dislikes into a slight against dog owners, dogs, or even off-leash areas in general.

Rob Found, Edmonton