Unfortunate Dog Park Day

The day started out well.  The clocks had turned back.  We were out of the house early.  We had plans for most of the day.  Given our ‘extra’ morning hour we decided to pack Baci up and head to Rogers Dog Park for the first time in four or five months.

The dogs ran.  The dogs wrestled.  After a while, as the dogs were getting tired and Baci wasn’t getting the wrestling love he enjoys at the park, Baci started barking at the other dogs to try to get them playing.  This usually means he’s getting tired, but we can distract him enough to get him to stop barking by kicking the ball or running around the field.  Eventually, after a few more ya yas have been lost in the mud, we’ll go home. 

Yesterday, when Baci started barking at a couple of dogs (about 20 seconds worth), an older ‘gentleman’ whacked him across the back with his ChuckIt stick as I arrived to distract him.  When I looked up at him he waved the stick in my face and said, “Control your Beast! And Get out!”.  This guy was standing with several people that we’d been talking to for the last 30 or 40 minutes.  Baci had played with their dogs and wasn’t being any rougher or more noisy than at any other moment.  When I commented that, “Dogs do occasionally bark and I’m in control.” He waved his stick in the direction of my nose once more and started staring me down.  When I looked at the other dog owners in the immediate area, they all backed away as if to say, we’re not getting into this.  It was disappointing. 

Anybody that hits somebody elses dog loses my respect.  I understand if my dog is locked in battle with you dog, but Baci wasn’t even near his dog.  To threaten a dog owner is beyond words.  I walked away from the man and rejoined a group on the other side of the field.  We stayed a few more minutes and as my collar started steaming even more, I decided we should leave before I say something rude.  It takes a lot to get me to this point. 

As we passed the gate the folks that refused to say anything before were suddenly very friendly.  They said goodbye to Baci and waved to us.