Imagine being a young child trying to enjoy a day in the park. One dog owner decides to let their pet roam free without a leash, knowing children are present. This animal runs toward you, so instinctively you run away.

“They just want to play,” the owner says. 

But you don’t. 

Dogs are terrifying animals that should be kept on a leash, and the statistics agree. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, and one in five of those people will require medical attention. 

Despite this frightening statistic, dogs remain a popular household pet. For some, they can help reduce stress and anxiety, but for others, they are the source of it. When will we normalize not liking dogs? Not everyone who sees your “cute” dog will want to pet it, so keep it on a leash. 

When I was younger, my siblings and I visited my neighbors often. They already had two dogs, but had just recently gotten a new, bigger one. 

One sunny day we were playing in their backyard, when their newest dog came out of the house. It ran toward us, but my sister wasn’t fast enough. I was terrified and too busy running away to look back. By the time my neighbors brought the dog back inside, my sister had chipped her tooth and her lip was bleeding. 

Personally, this and a combination of other bad experiences have caused me to dislike dogs. My healthy fear of dogs has kept me safe from being bitten, but I have seen people go to the hospital just because a dog wanted to “play.” 

When taking your dog out, remember not everyone will be a fan, so keep it on a leash and remain mindful of others.