As a dog owner, I have become accustomed to altering my dog walking route in order to avoid off-leash dogs. Off-leash dogs may be very friendly, but were they to approach my leashed dogs, I’m not so sure that they would be met with equally friendly dogs. In the interests of safety, then, I adapt.

Of late, however, my dogs and I have been met by an unsupervised, unleashed dog whose property is presumably secured by an electric fence. Protecting its own property, this dog makes a mad dash toward the edge of its property, barking and lurching as if on the attack. My dogs get frenzied in response. I hate to think what would happen if this dog broke the electric barrier, but I’m sure that injuries, or worse, would result. My route is difficult to alter in response to this situation, as the alternative is to walk on an extremely busy road risking injury from a car.

Owning dogs is a huge responsibility. No matter how sweet, friendly, or trained any dog may be, they are animals after all. They do not have reason or coping skills. Given the right circumstances, any dog will respond as all animals do when terror is triggered: they will run, or they will fight. Safety for everyone has to be key, so please consider always leashing your dog when in a public area for the safe enjoyment of all.

Similarly, any fence can be breached, electric or otherwise. Just ask a personal injury lawyer. That’s why it’s important to supervise our dogs even when they are in a fenced area. Safety has to be paramount. We need to be mindful not only of our dogs but also of others who share the street. We are, after all, neighbors. Thank you.

Christine Simpson

Branford