[Dailydrool] Dog parks

[Pamela McQuade]

I took Dexter to a dog park once, when he still had one eye and fairly 
good vision in it. He ran over to a woman who was sitting on a bench in 
the park and wanted nothing to do with any of the dogs. At one point, 
when he was away from the bench, a pit bull mix started humping him--his 
goofy owner had disappeared, so I ended up rescuing Dex, and thankfully 
I didn't get bitten. I took Dex away and we never went back. I have 
never taken our fearful Horton there, because I fear what would happen 
to him.

I believe that Dexter knew he was disabled and could easily become the 
focus of an attack. Since he lost his sight, he is always nervous around 
new dogs, though he manages nicely one on one with familiar and 
smaller dogs.

I would nix the dog park, to be on the safe side. There is really no 
reason why you have to go to one. Plenty of us have perfectly happy dogs 
who never set foot in one.

I tested out another dog park with my old pack and found the folks who 
were there even more out of control with their dogs. I'd be happy to go 
to one that had sane humans and gentle dogs, but I have yet to find such 
a place.
Pam, protector of the Dashing Bassets