I am writing out of concern surrounding an incident I witnessed recently at the Esquimalt Lagoon. The incident involved a couple of large dogs which got into an fight on the beach.
There was a couple that was allowing their three American boxers to run around the beach. One of these dogs began behaving badly, even urinating on peoples clothing they had piled next to them on the sand.
What this dog did next was frightening to me, as well as the many other people, including small children, who were in the area.
The other dog involved was just standing there with his owner, secured on a leash, being quiet and not bothering anybody. The boxer ran up to this dog, started growling and lunged at him aggressively.
The dog which was behaving and minding its own business really had no choice but to defend itself. They chomped down on each others snouts for quite a few moments.
What happened next really baffled me. Once the dogs were separated, one of the owners of the misbehaving dog started yelling and cursing at the owners of the dog which their dog attacked, blaming them for what happened, when all along it was they who did not have control of their dog which allowed him to attack.
The City of Colwood has a bylaw saying a dog must be on a leash and kept under control in the Esquimalt Lagoon area at all times.
The owners were in violation of this bylaw, they were in the wrong from the start. Perhaps they don’t know of the bylaw’s existence, which is the main reason I am writing this letter.
Dog owners need to be aware that while at the lagoon they need to keep their dogs on a leash, if not to avoid incidents such as this one, then to protect the migratory bird sanctuary and the wildlife that calls it home.
I am a dog owner myself, and I never let him off his leash in public places.
Dog owners, please keep your dogs on a leash when out in public. There is no dog alive that will “never” bite.
Joe West
Colwood