Editor, The News:
Re: Debate over off-leash park heating up (The News, May 28).
Every dog has its good days and its bad days.
The reality is that dog behavior is a challenge for some dog owners.
As most parents will tell you, there are no guarantees that all of the discipline and love we exhaustingly gift day after day to our children will guarantee a model citizen in the future.
Good for you if you were one of the fortunate people to adopt a dog that has an obedient design and makes dog ownership look like there is literally no effort involved.
Some of us are less fortunate. We have courageously adopted dogs that are rejected, abandoned and often abused by humans. These dogs come with a multitude of challenges, stemming from separation anxiety, antisocial dispositions, paralyzing fear of humans, barking, biting, chewing, territorial issues, and depression.
To remain vigilant, loving and loyal to these poor creatures when they are suffering is difficult; they test your ability to love them through their ugliest moments.
Some dog owners feel as though they are entitled to shame and judge both the dog and the dog owner who struggle with a less than perfect situation. But let’s look at the character of the individual who decides to take on society’s less than perfect pets.
It takes a courageous, big-hearted, compassionate person to take on the responsibility of these kinds of dogs.
I have witnessed and heard the stories of many dogs in the past seven years of pet ownership.
Every dog has a story.
If we all take the time to listen and show support and compassion and encourage those people who have this tremendous challenge in their life, and recognize, first, that these people are genuine and doing their very best for their pets.
It is always appreciated when a fellow dog owner shows support and compassion for you when your dog is being less than a model citizen.
P. Justus
Maple Ridge