I never thought I would be writing a letter on dogs off leash, but an incident on Dec. 4 changed my mind.
I’m asking dog owners to seriously consider keeping their dogs on leash on public walkways. My husband and I were walking our friend’s dog (on leash) on the Gorge Walkway near the bottom of Austin Street around 5 p.m. when a golden retriever-type dog and it’s owners passed us.
As they passed us a lady with a baby carriage and German sheppard-type dog and the two dogs started to play. We kept walking and the dogs kept playing.
Unfortunately for me they came up behind us and both of them ran into the back of my leg knocking me to the ground. I twisted my ankle and my knee and was unable to walk home.
The dogs’ playful frolicking resulted in a spiral fracture of my ankle bone. I am now in a cast for up to six weeks or more.
Aside from pain and discomfort; I cannot enjoy my daily walks along the Gorge; I’ve had to cancel activities that were long in planning; I’ve had bow out of events I usually attend; I’m unable to enjoy many of the Christmas festivities as I can’t walk for any length of time on the cast; my sleep is compromised by the discomfort of the fracture – just to name a few of the inconveniences caused by dogs off-leash.
If those dogs had been on leash, I would be enjoying all the fun of the Christmas festivities. So, dog owners, I ask you to please keep your dogs on leash on the Gorge Walkway.
Nora Lewin
Saanich