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Doggone it, let’s get dogs under control

Vicious attack by one dog on another last week typical of a growing concern
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Certain breeds of dogs are more unpredictable. (File photo)

Dog owners, get your act together.

There are far too many mishaps happening on a regular basis involving dogs that are not being properly controlled. One incident on Cook Street in Chemainus last week resulted in serious injuries to one dog from an attack by another.

The bottom line is people need to have dogs on a leash when walking in the community no matter what the location and also in an enclosed or secure area around home - especially when no one is there.

Your little angel may seem like a little angel to you, but dogs can be unpredictable when they feel the need to protect their owners or property. This is when people can get injured, other dogs bitten or worse.

It may seem lovely to let your dog run loose on a trail or wooded area, but it’s not for other people who have no idea what they might do. If they’re under your control, the situation can be controlled.

More and more people own dogs these days - and in some cases multiple dogs in the same household - partly for companionship and certainly for protection to guard against the increasing number of property thefts and suspicious characters running around.

But that doesn’t mean it’s open season to let them roam free and cause potential fear for the majority of the population going about their business. The size of the dog doesn’t matter. The little ones can just as easily be holy terrors in their own right as the larger breeds.

Many people walking past dogs calmly will tell others he or she is friendly so there’s no need to worry. But you just cannot let your guard down with dogs at all.

They’re man’s best friend and their bark is often bigger than their bite, but let’s not test them. The woman whose dog was almost killed last week and needed major medical attention is now traumatized from the experience.

The carelessness of dog owners is mind-boggling. Certain breeds are more prone to sudden acts of violence and we all know which ones they are, but you can’t take anything for granted.

Leash ‘em up so everyone stays safe and your own dog learns some discipline.



Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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