In this season of goodwill and mutual support, I was disappointed to read a letter condemning owners for walking their dogs off-leash. I don’t have a dog, but I find great joy in meeting un-leashed dogs that are getting vigorous exercise and having fun with their owners. For many years I’ve hiked, biked and skied Anchorage and Chugach trails and never once felt threatened by an un-leashed dog. Apparently the writer’s issue is that she has had to slow her bike when approaching an off-leash dog. She believes that her desire to bike as fast as she wants trumps another person’s enjoyment of their pets getting healthy and playful unrestrained exercise. I wonder how she feels about people walking the trails with young children? I don’t bike so fast that slowing for a dog — or a child — is an inconvenience.
Apparently there’s a statute mandating leashes. Always a puzzle to me; I assume that’s so law enforcement has a hook in the case of a dangerous or truly disruptive dog. Certainly, owners should train their animals not to chase wildlife and keep them under voice control. That’s just good sense and common courtesy.
These are difficult times and joy is in short supply. I say let’s just learn to get along, practice a little patience, and let the dogs and their owners enjoy the limited freedom we all still have.
— Terry Johnson
Anchorage
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