I understand dogs are very popular in our society atm but not everyone is comfortable with dogs.I have been very afraid of then since I was a child.My beef is with dog owners who feel it is their dogs right to run free unleashed over my right to walk outside.It is a constant complaint of mine to my HOA because I have been jumped on by loose dogs several times and caused me trauma.I am a small person and dogs tend to go after the weak and small.Reading about dog attacks and owners not leashing has me carrying my concealed weapon just to take out trash and go to mailbox or get in car.I have more of a fear of getting attacked by a dog than getting mugged.
I'm fine with dogs but loud ones hurt my ears. I "met" a loud barker in my building lobby the other day and, not knowing anything about the dog except that its elderly owner thought wimpy mild grumbling was the way to cure them ("now, now, no barking...", like permissive parents who let their toddlers roughhouse around furniture in a waiting room and then say "YOU could get hurt if you tip that lamp over, sweetie..." I'm all, what about me?? I bruise too...") . Well, anyway, the rule of my building complex is that dog owners are supposed to stand aside, and not willy nilly jump upon the elevators with other people unless invited to do so. I was anxious not to have my ears assaulted again, so pressed the "door close" to try and get away from them.
Well, it didn't work, as she made a dash for it. Ms. No Barky-Barky then spent the entire time in the mutual elevator ride, complaining passive-aggressively to the dog about meanie-mean witches who just let elevator doors slam on people's arms without a care in the world. Me, thinking: "Um, isn't the default *supposed* to be that you let me ride alone?"
As I plan on living here long term, I kept my mouth shut, but you can be sure if I'm ever in a situation with the selfsame dog-owner, I'm pointedly staring at Yappy as I say with exquisite politeness, "No, please, YOU go ahead. I'll take the next one."
Topic: I really think it depends upon the pet owner. I have friends who've put me in charge of taking care of pets who needed to be medicated, and it was a nightmare. I was lucky to get a pill per day down the throat of one's cat, and was lucky I didn't run out of rooms as any room in which I dosed her, she then started avoiding me as if I'd lit her tail on fire. Conversely, I have another friend who said "If my cat was taking medicine and we couldn't get [our skilled friend who works at an animal care center, and who is familiar with administering meds] to pet sit, I'd board the cat or stay home."
