Oliver Keens is strong and upright in standing up to this.Who has priority in public spaces – dogs or children? We are going to explore where I live on December 1st). There is no reason against prohibiting dogs from entering play areas and play areas. More than educating children about how to behave around dogs, many dog owners also need a dose of realism about how other loving pets perceive them.
It’s a blind spot of many owners who just can’t understand that everyone loves their dog and therefore tolerates antisocial and threatening behavior in children and adults alike. How many times have people run into them running dogs in public spaces, jumping at them and usually not under their owners, whose only opposite is “Oh, she’s friendly”.
Dogs can be beneficial to humans, but they are net negative for city and urban dwellers. Some injustice was righted.
Christopher Grey
Edinburgh
Oh, the “he doesn’t want you” line. How do I want to know? It appears that the attack is actually about to arise. I am afraid that we have gone into a dystopia that needs to be corrected. Everyone needs to be able to access walks, parks, woods and outdoor play. We know it’s good for us, so dogs should be in outdoor common spaces to keep us safe as we do. Why is this even happening? If you own a dog, learn how to control it, keep it on a lead and be considerate of others. If you are ashamed, you think only of your dignity, and not of the child’s play, shame on you.
Linda Alexander
Chirnside, Scottish Borders
I was one of the dog attack statistics in Devon this year when I was badly injured by a dog that jumped on me from behind while running out of control on the beach, breaking three ribs as I fell flat. It took six months to recover. We have a very bad situation here in Devon and Cornwall, where many owners have dogs running and jumping out of control. We need to restore dog licenses, and have more guard dogs and less dog worship. Well done to anyone who can embark on a campaign to reclaim our beaches, parks, streets, fields and parks.
Angela Farr
Kingsbridge, Devon
I like dogs, but as a small person who walks a lot, dogs can scare me. The current trend towards dog-friendly everything is funny. Now the high streets are looking for “No Dogs Allowed” signs. Nor does it lead me to start a dog stretcher.
Ruth Pritchard
Rhyl, Denbighshire
Can we agree that the underlying problem is a lack of green space for our communities? When we have enough public space, some may be for kids, some for dogs, and some may be shared. Rather than fighting each other, saying that only one can win if the other loses, shouldn’t we work together to get better spaces for everyone? That sounds like a good community for children, dogs and everyone alike.
Emma Wood
London
Children not innately fearful of dogs. Such evidence leads me to suspect an alternative reason why children spend time if they are near a dog. When I was walking my dog recently, the mother, trying to stop the boy from “doing it”, told him that if he didn’t “do it”, my dog would bite him. Parents often pass on their fear or simple hatred of dogs to their children, yanking them with “don’t go near my dear dog”.
Fortunately, I have witnessed many occasions in which, after friendly precautions between parent and owner, both children and dogs experience a kind of relief, after some light petting and the child’s love for animals is confirmed.
Hugh Coolican
Broughton Astley, Leicestershire
I have a strong allergy to dogs and cats and am increasingly feeling discriminated against. My ability to enjoy a pubic meal or quiet time is almost impossible in the fall. Other dog owners are to be consulted. The basic principle is always the same: someone’s freedom is terminated when the constellations affect another negatively; here it is necessary to agree on the rules. Unfortunately, it often seems that this principle does not apply to dog owners. Having dogs that can roam around in restaurants and bars and come and sit under my table is just too much.
Paulus Colombaioni
Varvicensis
What angers me the most about dogs on the loose is how I should behave when instructed by the owners. I try to pick up my terrified three-year-old grandson to be told “He doesn’t want to hurt a fly” and instructed “All you have to do is hold still/ have a walk/ keep your hands out of his way. . .
Susan Tinsley
Sheffield
This week I’ve cleaned dog poo out of my beautiful son’s wheels three times, cleaned dog poo out of my daughter’s school shoes twice, and watched dogs run loose with their owners nowhere in sight. Whether they are children, adults, or dogs, the love of some owners is scary in itself.
Phoebe Molumby
Wandsworth
Many years ago I was a councilor in the London borough of Southwark and, around 1999, I had a small budget for environmental improvements and decided to try to improve my local open space, Warwick Gardens in Peckham. Much to my dismay, none of the neighboring residents can agree to anything from dog opposition, space for dog walking, space for ball games, noise from ball players, and play equipment for children or peaceful places to sit and contemplate.
For a budget of less than £90,000 or so, twenty years ago, it cost people fenced in ditches for children, a grassy field where people could walk their dogs, and another fenced area for children to play without dogs; and a difficult court to play ball.
The purpose of the small little one has remained basically unchanged for 25 years, it has been used well and no one has complained. indeed, the community moved to support it.
By working with people and getting along, no one needs to be excluded and generally succeed.
Robert Cornall
Embleton, Northumbria