No Place For Dogs
How do you feel about dogs in a park. This is one small boy’s solution.
NO PLACE FOR DOGS
By
Terry Baldwin
Gareth could not believe his eyes. He had always taken Rupert this way. Now a fence barred their way. He looked around. He had passed a new notice board without seeing it. He dragged Rupert back to it.
“No Dogs Allowed,” he read out loud.
I can’t take you for a walk that way Rupert, old fellow,” he said patting the dog’s neck. Rupert was pulling at his lead. He sniffed at the fence. He tried to go one way and then the other. He looked up at Gareth with huge, puzzled eyes.
“WOOF. WOOF…. WOOF... WOOF.”
“It’s no good Rupert,” soothed Gareth. “We will have to go all the way back.” He dragged the unwilling Rupert after him as he trudged home.
All the time he became angrier and angrier.
When Gareth arrived home he slipped the choker-chain over Rupert’s head and slammed the door.
“You are back early,” his mother called from the kitchen. “And don’t slam the door. I’ve told you before.” She looked up from the table, where she was making his favourite cake. “My. My. What’s that face all about?” she continued, a slight smile at the corners of her mouth.
“They’ve put a fence across the path,” Gareth grumbled.
His mother could see that, as well as being angry, he was also upset. “What path sweetheart?” she asked, her voice showing her concern.
“The one through Coedcae,” came the gruff reply.
“Oh. That path,” she said raising an eyebrow in surprise. “That’s the path that goes to the park. Haven’t they put a gate as well?”
“Yes.” The single word came out as an explosion of sound. “But it doesn’t matter.
I can’t take Rupert through it.” Gareth told his mother about the notice and how angry he was at not being able to take his dog into the park.
“I know it may appear to be unfair,” his mother told him, “But some dogs carry diseases. When they go to the toilet these diseases are in their faeces.”
“But Rupert doesn’t go to the toilet in the park,” Gareth interrupted.
“A lot of dogs do though I’m afraid. It’s not very nice when children or adults fall or tread in it. And they could become very ill,” his mother told him.
Gareth couldn’t see how that had anything to do with Rupert. He never used the park for anything other than running after sticks or squirrels.
“Why can’t they just keep out those dogs carrying diseases?” he grumbled.
His mother smiled. “How could we tell?”
Gareth thought about that. He could see it would be difficult. “All dogs should go to a vet. Those who are cleared could have a tag or something on their collar,” he said.
“How many dogs have you seen in the park without collars?” his mother asked.
Gareth’s mouth set firmly. He knew lots of dogs wandered into the park on their own. And many of them did not wear a collar. At least the fence would stop them from entering the park as well as Rupert, he thought. Until they found a way through. “I understand why Mam,” Gareth said at last.
“But there ought to be places where dogs can go. It’s not fair.”
Gareth could think of nothing else. He knew it was unfair. He didn’t know what could be done about it. It was still on his mind when he went to sleep.
It was still dark when he woke up.
But he knew what he was going to do.
The following Wednesday Gareth’s mother opened the Free Press newspaper. A headline caught her attention.
“Local Youngster Writes In Defence of Dogs,” it said. She read the article, which was in the form of a letter. The letter was signed Gareth Llewelyn. “Did you send this letter to the paper?” she asked.
Gareth nodded.
“You are a clever boy,” she cried giving him a hug and a kiss. “You had better read what it says at the bottom.”
Gareth scanned the page. “It is a very good idea,” said the Mayor. “We shall certainly look for alternative places where dog lovers can take their pets for exercise.
In future, when we ban dogs from one area, we will do everything we can to find an alternative doggy run.
His mother gave him another big hug. “Although you won’t be able to take Rupert to the park you’ll soon have somewhere special to take him. It was a wonderful idea.”