Hello,
Recently, an event occurred during which your freedoms and mine overlapped... unpleasantly.
It is clear that as a(n):
-- on-leash dog walker
-- off-leash dog walker
-- snowmachiner
-- backcountry skier
you feel that your right to:
-- walk your dog unmolested by other (off-leash) dogs
-- allow your dogs to run free
-- enjoy Alaska's great snowy playground
-- have an unperturbed quiet backcountry experience
trumps my right to:
-- allow my dogs to run free on the trails.
-- walk my dog unmolested by other (off-leash) dogs.
-- have an unperturbed quiet backcountry experience.
-- enjoy Alaska's great snowy playground in my own way.
Obviously, I disagree. Furthermore, I was:
-- frustrated
-- frightened
-- offended
-- angered
when you:
-- scowled at me and snatched up your little dog as we ran past.
-- allowed your untethered dogs to run up to me and my family.
-- revved your engines and spewed a bunch of stinky exhaust into the air.
-- shot me dirty looks, shook your head and muttered something to your ski buddy who also gave me a dirty look.
Frankly, it pissed me off and clearly you:
-- know nothing about dog behavior and need to chill out
-- know nothing about dog behavior and need to be more considerate of other people
-- don't care about the environment and are fine with wrecking other people's backcountry enjoyment
-- are a judgmental pseudo-hippie who thinks the whole of nature should be restricted to suit your own wishes
What you don't seem to realize is that:
-- my dogs meant no harm to you or your family and actually ran right past you on their way to something more interesting.
-- my dog is sometimes dog-aggressive, so I'm doing the right thing by keeping him on-leash, but that doesn't protect him or your dogs if your own dogs are running loose.
-- one of the things I appreciate about the backcountry is the peace and quiet, the chance to commune with nature and escape the human element for a while.
-- getting out on my snowmachine is my own way to blow off steam with my buddies, and there's plenty of terrain out there for all of us.
Furthermore:
-- your own leashed dog lungeing at mine at they ran past is actually more likely to perpetuate dog aggression than just letting them loose to work it out with some space and freedom.
-- my kids are also at the level where your dog could easily harm or frighten them, or even just accidentally knock them over, and I have the right to walk with my kids in the mountains, too.
-- frequently, it seems your motorheaded attitude extends to aggressive driving and obnoxious parking behaviors, as well.
-- you guys kinda suck at picking up your dogs' shit in the parking lots and on the trails.
Overall, I just basically think your attitude is kind of rudely selfish. I wish there were more laws and regulations enacted (and enforced) to curb your inconsiderate behavior. In the meantime, maybe you could think a little bit more about other people and their rights and freedoms with a little less indignation about your own.
Signed,
The Righteous
