Have consideration for others

Dodger likes…

Dodger likes going for walks, riding her tricycle and laughs with a huge smile on her face when she sees that I am having trouble running next to her trying to keep up (she doesn’t understand about using brakes), swimming with her Mum, and buying herself toys and clothes. All of the above is part of her routine throughout the week, which helps break down days and is very vital to her mental well being.

Dodger Phobia

Unfortunately, Dodger has 2 huge fears. She is scared of dogs and pigeons. It is that bad that she is constantly scanning everywhere looking out for them. Dodger is a flight risk, and because she has no road sense, you have to be on your toes, she will literally run out into the road without looking, anything she can do to get away from these animals, she will do it.

These phobias may seem irrational to some, but they are very real and hugely effect Dodger’s and our day to day life a great deal. There were safe places we could go with the assurance that we could avoid situations that brought us into contact with dogs and pigeons. These included shops, libraries, restaurants, public transport, garden centers, children’s play area, tourist attractions.

This has massively become more and more difficult within the last 5 years or so, owners insisting taking their dogs everywhere they go. There are very few spaces left that they are not allowed to. Some of these owners even go to the extreme of lying about why they want their dog to go with them.

Cut Short

We went on holiday once in Cornwall, the holiday had to be cut short because one of Dodger’s treats was to visit and go on a steam train which she loves. We drove 30 miles to a steam train attraction , but when we arrived, the whole platform was occupied by people with their dogs, small and very large ones. Of course, we could not go in at all and had to end up driving away, which Dodger did not take well at all. Dodger’s meltdown got so bad that we had to cut short the holiday by 4 days.

I wrote a letter to the attraction, with my absolute disgust that this had happened, and the following aftermath. All I go back was a letter saying that people like to bring their dogs on holiday, and of course out and about with them.

So a owner of dog is given priority to go anywhere they want with a PET over a person(s) who either have a fear/phobia/disability or just do not want to share their space with a animal.

Their is no amount support or reassurance which can lower Dodger’s distress and anxiety in situations, so the impact this has on our lives is huge. The amount of times Dodger has cried, had meltdowns, broke free to run away from and on some occasions put her life in danger due to owners lack of consideration for others is a constant thing we deal with.

Have respect for others

It makes me so angry when people either do not keep their dogs on a short leash, but they actually do not leash them at all. Listen owners, just because you think that your dog is friendly, doesn’t make it true. They are friendly to you because you are their owners, we are strangers. And even if they are the best behaved, doesn’t mean everyone wants to be around your pet. Don’t put your ridiculous entitlement to do what you want onto others, because that is all it is, you feel a entitlement to put your wants and obsessions with a bloody pet over everyone else.

The anger I feel is also at these bloody people who feel it necessary or nice to feed pigeons. Bloody stop it! They are vermin. They cause a lot of damage, shit everywhere and are huge nuisances to everyone else even if they have not got a phobia, most people do not like them or want them around. Your need to bring loaves of bread and other feed and empty it on the floor in a public space is nothing less than entitlement whatever the reason. After this, you leave the area back to your day, leaving these flying rats in your wake.

I am not a pet hater, pet’s have their place in our society, but pets do not have the right to go everywhere and be a nuisance to others. I am a person that hates people who seem to think they have a entitlement to do what they want.

Have respect for others and property.

Good luck

Matthew