If you have a dog, you know how hard it can be sometimes when you are trying to take it for a nice little walk in the park. Several neighborhoods have set-up walking trails that can be enjoyable to walk on ONLY if people follow the simple rules.
FIRST - it is a walking trail = NOT a bike trail. The last thing you want to deal with is being run over by some idiot on a bike that is using the walking trail as a cut through ticket to his house. Kids will ride their bikes on walking trails just for the fun of being a blasted nuisance to all the walking people. These trails have signs that clearly state - NO BIKES - but both adults and kids just ignore the signs. In some cases, you will see the kids stealing the signs to take home as a trophy!
SECOND = if you have a dog with you, then it should be on a LEASH. This is a simple concept but you would not believe how many people ignore this rule or think that this rule does not apply to them. Even if you have a small dog - it should be on a leash. Even if your dog is friendly - it should be on a leash. I always walk my dog on a leash - so I can keep control over my dog. It is a nightmare for me when someone's loose dog comes rushing over to say "Hello" to my dog. The next thing I'm dealing with is a dog fight! My dog sees your dog as a threat to me = which makes my dog very aggressive. My dog keeps me safe when I walk through the park. I love dogs but I can't stand it when other pet owners ignore the leash laws and ruin my peaceful walk in the park.
THIRD = even thought it is a public walking trail - it would be NICE if the public behaved properly while walking on the track. Just the other day, I saw this guy who just stopped and decided to take a pee right out in the open - by the bushes along the trail. That was so disgusting - I was in shock and hurried to go the other way to get away from the horrible degenerate. Why does the public have to ruin nice things like free walking trails! The walking trails and parks are not your personal TIOLET!
These days it is hard to enjoy the simple things - like walking your dog - when the general public wants to run you over or gross you out. I do my best not to let the general public ruin my day but some times it is very hard not to stress out and loose your temper. I'm sure others have the same headaches.
My dog loves to be walked so I suck it up and deal with it. You have no control over others. All you can do is try to ignore them and focus on other things - like the flowers or the geese in the lake. Block out the crap - tune out the general public - focus on making your pet happy by spending time with him or her - walking outside in the sunshine!
Take care,
LK
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