Dear Editor,
Yesterday, while jogging in the National Park, I noticed a gentleman on bicycle with his pit-bull running alongside, the dog was on a leash. However, when this gentleman entered the park he stopped his bicycle, reached down and unhooked the dog. He then resumed riding with his animal roaming freely about 15 feet behind him. I watched this with great surprise, fear and nervousness. As he passed me I asked him about his silly action and his response was, “nah he [the dog] good”.
Editor, I am not sure what “good” means but I do know what is a potentially dangerous situation. Dog owners need to realise that their animals react differently to strangers. Over the years we have had reports of some vicious pit-bull attacks in our country.
I am calling on the management of the National Park to implement leash laws to protect the citizens. The park is filled with both adults and children on a daily basis and we simply must not allow silly, reckless dog owners to threaten our safety.
I am also calling on our government officials and members of the legal fraternity – who frequent the park to exercise – to use their office to ensure we are kept safe, not only in the National Park but also in other public spaces. There should be very harsh penalties on silly, negligent and reckless owners of vicious animals.
Please, let us not do the Guyanese thing of waiting until the horses have bolted to then close the stable door. A stitch in time saves nine.
Yours faithfully,
Mikoowanyah Yosef-Yisrael
