‘Why brand my well-behaved dog a villain?’
An article written by a fed-up mother has ignited a lively debate on society’s treatment of our furry companions versus our precious children.
The author shared her frustrations, about her toddler son’s fear of exuberant canines lamenting the apparent disregard for his comfort, particularly from dog owners.
Readers have eagerly joined the discourse, passionately defending their pampered pooches or empathetically echoing Michelle’s sentiments, citing their own discomfort with bounding dogs.
Some contributors have argued parents who fail to control their children actually encroach on the boundaries of others more than dogs ever could.
One reader shares that dog owners take it personally when she is scared by their dog:
'Dog owners often display no empathy to my fear of their dog'
■ Michelle Morgan Davies (Metro, Fri) says she is fed up with unapologetic dog owners letting their pets off the lead to bound up to and terrify her young children. This country, she says, favours pooches over kids.
I totally agree. I have been bitten twice by dogs and it is terrifying when one comes bounding up to me.
Owners often display no empathy and even get angry at me – as if my being frightened by their dog is insulting them.
Jess, London
What do you think?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
Whose responsibility is it to leave the park, scared children or off-lead dog?
■ I am among a group of dog owners who let our well-behaved, child-friendly but exuberant pets off a lead in our park at the same time each day.
You get one hysterical parent with highly reactive children who decides to walk their delicate children at that very time. They grab their children to their legs, and ‘shush’ the dogs away each time one runs past, increasing their excitability.
The dog gets more excited, there’s more yelling, now the child is crying because Mum is yelling, the dog is looking shocked, like, ‘What did I do? I only ran past. I didn’t touch her, honest’.
Of course, the dog owner is going to be annoyed – their perfectly well-behaved dog has now been branded the villain.
Please, can parents be watchful, but not overactive and hysterical. You are more likely to create a sense of fear of dogs in your child by your reaction.
Rachel Anne Atkinson, via Metro.co.uk
■ I agree with Michelle. I often had identical experiences when looking after my daughter in her younger years.
I would take it a bit further and say most dog owners do not adhere to signs in parks or on street regarding leashes.
Christian, Forest Hill
■ I am a mother and a dog owner. My dog is a Romanian rescue and, due to being beaten as a pup, she still can be nervous.
However, she is good with children and in fact comes into a school with me once a week as a well-being dog, where she benefits sad children who find time with her comforting.
I think it’s very sad if children don’t like dogs or are afraid of them. My father used to say, ‘You can tell what a town is like by how they treat their dogs’ – if people are kind to their animals, it’s likely to follow they will be nice people.
Of course, I understand dangers and fears but isn’t our world better if we encourage trust and kindness over fear and suspicion? There is already too much fear and hate in our world.
Lisa Rose, via email
■ Michelle, you should carry your kids to protect them if you don’t want them to meet a dog.
Cassy, via Metro.co.uk
■ I sympathise with Michelle and although I profess no outright contempt for these pets, I have misgivings about their sudden mass proliferation. Even though, being almost 60, I am by no means a vulnerable infant!
I moved to Erith last year and there seem to be as many dogs as people here.
When I’m walking, I frequently have to step out into the road to avoid them and their owners. When I’m out on a run I am even more canine-averse, because the dog sees me sprinting in its direction and reacts by leaping and yapping at me.
Again, I have to swerve onto the road to evade this doggedly oversensitive reaction to my keep-fit routine.
I appreciate that dogs can be a solace and support to the old or lonely, and fun for a family.
But I am a lowly citizen compared to how dogs are treated, and it seems that the preferences of dogs take precedence over the comfort of humans.
William Barklam, Erith
■ I see more parents letting kids run free screaming and causing disruption than I do dog owners. It should be everyone’s job to look after their animals/children.
People should have dogs trained so they can call them back if they disturb others.
Unfortunately, even fully trained dogs can sometimes get quite excitable and may not always be able to follow orders.
So, if your child is scared of dogs, it is your responsibility either to try to conquer the fear or avoid the places with dogs.
Jennifer, via Metro.co.uk
■ I have been a dog owner for years and agree that dogs should be kept on a lead if and when it’s needed. I have two wonderful dogs, one very large and very friendly, but would not allow him to bound towards anyone as he is very intimidating and has no social boundaries.
He absolutely loves children and adults, but they don’t know that. He has been attacked five times while on the lead, all by dogs being allowed to run free. Just be responsible about your dog.
Lisa, via Metro.co.uk
Naturism is good for body positivity
Further to the naturist couple who went to a Somerset pub in the altogether (Metro, Fri). Nudism should be more accepted.
It is the most positive thing a person can do. It says: ‘This is who I am, I don’t need any finery to impress anyone and my self-awareness is all I need.’ Naturists don’t body shame.
John, Dartford
Phones aren’t just for filming your food
Did Paul Merton’s 60 Seconds (Metro, Wed) contain some intellectual snobbery about not owning a mobile phone when he said, ‘I don’t go around thinking I wish I could film my dinner’?
Well, I’m a QPR fan and was on my way to Stoke on a split rail ticket. On approaching Stafford, I looked at the rail app and saw that my connecting train was cancelled, meaning I would miss the first half an hour of the game. Using the phone meant I could make alternative arrangements and arrived in Stoke just in time. They can be a useful tool sometimes.
Paul Wilcox, Ottershaw
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