Article Contributed on: 9/11/2008 3:01:10 PM
It's morning. The sun ascends in the east as you step out your door. The shadows in the streets shrink slowly and birds sing the morning gossip to one another. Dew from rain the night before evaporates in the warming air. You breathe deeply. Your muscles loosen with each stride along the sidewalk--until a woman holding three empty leashes walks by.
A cacophony of barking causes you to freak out and swallow your gum. You spin around to see Cerberus, the three-headed dog of Greek myth, rushing toward you. No. Wait. Those are three separate mutts snapping at your lower extremities. It's too late to run. These feral beasts are on you before you can shriek.
Too often, I've faced vicious or obnoxious dogs when I walk the streets. As these four-legged fiends snarl and yap, their owners usually say something like, "Oh he
won't hurt you." Then they giggle at their pet's "playful" behavior. I wonder if they'd still chuckle while their pooch made a drumstick of my leg. Thank God my brain capacity is just shy of a Chihuahuas. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to deal with these monsters by holding my ground.
Most dogs will make friends with just about anyone if their owners aren't around. Stray and refugee pooches often choose me as their temporary caretaker when they loose their way. Wagging their tail, they follow me around until I find their master or the Animal Control truck. I see those same dogs charge unwary walkers, who show a little too much fear. But canines can't be blamed for their bad behavior most of the time.
Dogs are generally good...people. Masters make their mutts into monsters through neglect, bad training, or a simple lack of common courtesy. It's never a comfortable situation when someone's Great Dane jumps on you and sniffs your equipment. A pup maybe friendly, but no one likes a wet nose between their legs--especially when it's attached to a set of fanged jaws. Having your skin raked by claws ain't so grand either. If you care enough, you can prevent your dog from attacking or annoying people by following the guidelines below:
1. Only get a dog if you have time to train it.
2. Keep your canine securely fenced when you can't watch it.
3. Keep it on a leash while walking.
4. Understand that your yapping ankle-biter or colossal canine may not be cute to
other people.
5. Discipline your innocent little beast when it lunges at pedestrians.
6. Bring a bag to clean your pup's presents up.
7. Stop your dog from making a cheap date of innocent bystanders' legs.
We walking wanderers Thank You.