I walked Mochi this morning in the field behind our house, just like I do every morning. When we get to the start of the trail, I check to make sure Mochi isn’t going to charge after other dogs or people and then I let her run. She’s a dog. She needs to run. This morning was no different than any other.
And yet, I could tell from a distance that the woman coming towards us on the trail was giving off a vibe. She didn’t have a dog with her and her stature seemed odd. Mochi sensed it right away and I didn’t call her back soon enough. Mochi approached her, she confirmed my suspicions and Mochi started barking at her. She cowered, and then told me: “THIS IS AN ON LEASH DOG AREA. THERE ARE SIGNS POSTED AT ALL OF THE ENTRANCES TO THE OPEN SPACE.”
Mochi was continuing to bark at her, causing her to panic more. I got her to come to me and put her on leash.
My response, “I’m sorry my dog scared you.”
I wasn’t about to tell her I take Mochi there every morning and every morning I let her off leash to run. That the sign showing that dogs must be leashed is in fact gone. Someone got rid of it months ago. And all of the regular dog walkers all let their Fido’s off leash.
A lot more people are finding refuge in the open spaces around our neighborhood. And with those open spaces come rules: dogs are permitted on leash.
I got back to the house in a little bit of a huff. I understand what she was saying but she didn’t have to be an asshole about it. After venting to Ben, he responded that I could have said, “I’m sorry that woman scared you, Mochi.”
Can we all just chill out a little bit?!?
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