Editor:
I am writing to encourage dog owners to keep their dog on a leash on local hiking trails.
I enjoy taking my dog hiking in the national forest (mainly May Valley Road.) She is a 50-pound Lab, former guide dog, and she listens to me when I call her. All the same, I keep her on a leash.
More and more frequently when we encounter another dog on the trail, the dog is not on a leash. Invariably, the owner yells from a distance, “Don’t worry, he’s friendly.” Then, the dog usually runs up and attacks (mounting or mauling) my dog. The owner acts surprised and makes a half-hearted effort to control their pet.
If you have a 125-pound Rottweiler, or if your dog answers to “Killer,” or if you can’t control your pet when it encounters another dog, please put your dog on a leash.
I understand that we all like spending time outside with our pets. I understand that some people want to give their dogs the opportunity to “run free.”
That being said, my goal is to get some exercise for myself and my dog. I have no interest in being an involuntary participant in a “canine social club.” Please show some respect for the safety of other people and their dogs: Put your dog on a leash.
Thor Peterson
Idyllwild