Editor: What began as a lovely Mother’s Day weekend for me unfortunately ended in another awful encounter with an aggressive off-leash dog and its irresponsible owners.
I expect any pet to behave as all animals do at any given time – engage in unpredictable behaviour – often an instinctive response to protect/defend its young, its family. But what I do not expect when I am on a public trail, is to encounter people who blatantly permit their pet to become increasingly aggressive and dangerously out of control.
What can I say; there would have been no confrontation, no fear, no unpleasantness at all had their dog been tethered. But what I believe to be the worst part of this horrible encounter was the fact that the dog owners’ two young children were present.
The message their parents’ actions gave them (and us) was loud and clear: that it’s acceptable to dismiss the law; that it’s acceptable to intimidate, frighten people and disregard their rights to engage safely in activities in public places; that it’s acceptable to purposefully endanger the safety of wildlife which frequent the very same trails.
Again, a reminder. It has been documented ...
Perhaps placing additional signage in more locations will reinforce better messages to the community at large and to visitors to the Bow Valley by educating and encouraging safe practices using common sense.
We hiked Heart Creek this weekend and what a pleasure it was to be a part of countless tourists, climbers, athletes and families out and about with their pets, all enjoying their activities (this could not have been possible if the dog owners weren’t conscientious of others on the trail). From a person who was attacked by an off-leash dog two years ago, I send my gratitude to those vigilant pet owners – out of approximately 60 dogs on Heart Creek trail, all were on leash, except for one.
Our dedicated conservation officers work very hard to preserve our parks and wildlife. With collective efforts and commitment, we can help. It is possible for us to share the trails in our beautiful valley in a safe and mindful manner.
Kathy Gaudet,
Canmore
