I would like to address the dogs in McKay Park.
I am highly allergic to dogs and cats. Every single time I go out to the park, library, a local outdoor eatery, I have to tell several people “Please do not let your dog sniff, lick, or jump on me.”
I have been met with rude remarks, like, “it’s just a dog” to “&*#% You!”
Friends and family have suggested I squirt the dog with something foul smelling. I don’t want to “squirt” a dog with anything when it is the owner’s responsibility to maintain the dog.
I love dogs!!! I just have to keep my distance, and would appreciate more understanding on the part of dog owners. Is this really too much to ask?
River Lilly
This article appears in Aug 14-20, 2008.
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I too, go to the same places, and while I occasionally am confronted by a wayward pooch, it sure is not every single time.
When I am in public with my dogs (the parks or forest only, certainly NEVER a restaurant) they are leashed and I keep them away from others. You must attract really rude people, if they 1) allow their dogs to jump on you and 2) Curse you
Maybe you smell like meat?
I agree with you that dog owners do need to maintain a level of control over their dogs. Dogs should not be allowed to jump on or lick people in a wayward fashion.
I would like to offer some (unasked for) advice about another way to handle the situation….Often people who fear an animal, or are allergic to an animal will stare at such an animal if one is around. Dogs can be drawn to such eye contact and may be more drawn to you as you stare at them and speak to their owners.
Perhaps you can try ignoring completely the dogs who are in your vicinity. Turning your body away, no eye contact and even maintaining a comfortable breathing rate can all be things that can help make you more “invisible” to a dog. Don’t speak to the owners, don’t speak to the dog, just ignore them completely.
good luck !!
The kind of reaction you seem to be getting, indicates that you probably come across as an ‘asshole with an attitude.’ Try holding up both hands in front of your chest, palms facing outward, and say, “I really love them, but I’m severely allergic to them.” Flash a big smile. That works better than, “I’m an elitist prig and I hate
%#$@&*^% dogs and cats because they make me break out into spastic convulsions of projectile vomiting punctuated with itching septic hives while being entertained by simoultaneously orchestrated sporadic uncontrolled jets of chunky diarrhea.”
Look up ‘charm’…
I have to sympathize with you, Lilly. I like to jog and walk, and have been confronted many times by dogs. Most of the time they are just being friendly, but when I am concentratig on my jogging along a rocky path, the last thing I need is a dog getting in around my feet. Unfortunately it seems that dog owners usually tend to treat their dogs like their own children and make excuses for bad behavior towards others instead of being responsible about disciplining them. With all the wonderful outdoor venues in our area, unwanted encounters with animals can ruin even the nicest event.
El Jimador, Strictly Organic, Pizza mondo to name a few outdoor dining places that have allowed dogs to be tied to the tables while patrons are eating. I too have been harrassed by unwanted attention from dogs. I don’t talk to the owners or stare at the dogs, they just want to investigate and sniff around as is thier nature. It is not an aversion to animals or an elitest attitude to not want to incur large hospital bills and physical suffering…wow is all i can say to the rants of some of these boneheads responding.
Thank you Kara! I am a dear friend of River Lilly, who also is a dyed in the wool, DOG LOVER, life for me is not complete without the company of at least one or more dogs. I have seen Lilly and other sometimes very elderly people approached by over friendly dogs! If the dog’s keepers had the same overly friendly attitude and respect for their companions they wouldn’t set the dogs up in a situation that could be less than a positive experience.
if i were allergic to dogs i would not choose to live in central oregon. i have lived both in the states and abroad and of all the places i have been, there are more dogs per person here than anywhere. you might want to try boston or new york next!
I’m simply shocked at how animals run wild in Bend. I just moved here from Santa Barbara, and bought a beautiful condo near McKay Park. My shock the first AM walking in the park when I saw feces.
If something isn’t done to make Bend more like where I came from, I’m going back to California. I was promised by Bend Realtors that Bend would be the next Aspen, that Bend was more California than California.
ROFLMAO!!
I’m simply shocked at how animals run wild in Bend. I just moved here from Santa Barbara, and bought a beautiful condo near McKay Park. My shock the first AM walking in the park when I saw feces.
If something isn’t done to make Bend more like where I came from, I’m going back to California. I was promised by Bend Realtors that Bend would be the next Aspen, that Bend was more California than California.
Are you serious? You see a little dog crap and automatically Bend is a shit hole (no pun intended). I say please go back to California, Samantha, we dont need any more of your kind here.
I am a dog owner and I keep my dog on a lead on walks because I do realize that not everyone wants a dog in their face.