Love and Protect

Two unleashed wanna be dogs with patch work fur on their hind ends and white shadows around their eyes and muzzles leave their owner’s side to interrupt our daily walk on the beach. Harley and I are in ‘walk mode’ and try our best to avoid the collusion.

Walk mode occurs when I am not in a sociable mood or when I feel the approaching dog is not a good match for Harley. Walk mode is quite obvious. Dog is leashed, backs straight, heads forward, a stride that says, “We are on a mission!”

Play mode is unmistakable as well. You scan the beach for dogs chasing sticks or balls, tails wagging, barking like there’s a party going on. I free Harley from his leash and we have instant friendships. We tend to favor the hardy, playful, non-anxious breeds; labs and retrievers are our favorite and the beach is littered with them.

These two weathered creatures and their careless owner apparently don’t know dog language and beach etiquette. The intruders are determined to connect with Harley, sniffing and poking him at all ends. Concerned that it wouldn’t take more than one boxer slap to cause a dismemberment, I am trying my best to hold Harley back, in a sit if I can manage it. The woman that belongs to the death wishes hurries behind them with a big proud smile on her face, “They are over 100 years old!”

“Well, MINE’S NOT!” I rudely blurt out while I’m practically hanging Harley on his leash. I continue walking, dragging Harley behind me, shaking my head.

“Well he’s pretty!” she calls after me.

I’m sure Harley would’ve been fine with them. I’m the one who wasn’t and if Harley was in my mood she would’ve needed a bag to clean up the beach. I wasn’t in a bad mood, necessarily. PMS may have had something to do with it, but really, I was blown away by the woman’s stupidity. She obviously loves those two pathetic dogs yet allows them to run up to a very muscular beast that she knows nothing about.

Idiots! There are so many idiots in this world and the majority have pets and or kids. Having worked in the children’s mental health field for a number of years, I find myself very impatient with the neglectful parents and pet owners. Or those parents and pet owners that find their charge so beautiful and adoring that they believe everyone has the same strong feelings for their loved one. It’s usually those children and pets that you can’t wait to get away from because they are so ill behaved and intrusive.

When did ‘love’ become confused with ‘the freedom to do whatever the hell you please?’ MY GAWD! If you truly love your pet or child, you will teach them they are not the center of everyone’s world. Through respect for others we teach them to respect themselves.

Okay. Maybe it is PMS, but protecting our children, and many pet owners see their animals as their children, is rule number one. And we protect them not only by keeping them close, but by teaching them manners and opening their eyes to the world.