Dear Irresponsible Greyhound Owners / Director of Local Rescue Group

I am the owner of two small-medium sized dogs, both very well socialized who love to play with dogs of all sizes. Recently, I have had encounters with a number of greyhound owners using the Cogswell park in the evenings, when other non-Greyhounds are present. This evening was the final straw. My two dogs were playing very well with 4-5 other dogs (of all varieties). Around the same time (7:30 pm), several greyhound owners arrived. While I recognize that this breed can’t be trusted with small animals. Rather than waiting outside the park or walking until a reasonable amount of time had past, in respect for their animal and the other animals using the park, these owners have recently begun entering the park whilst keeping their agitated dogs on leash and muzzled while other dogs have the freedom to run and play. If the greyhounds in question cannot be trusted off leash with dogs of all varieties, they should return at a time when they are the first to enter the park and practice the same etiquette that I give my fellow dog owners: “Is it okay to come in?”.

A quick internet search of “dog park etiquette” suggests that bringing an on-leash dog to an off-leash park whilst other dogs are present is unfair and unkind to the leashed dog. Additionally, this deprives the dog of the opportunity to gain the needed social skills to interact with dogs of all sizes. This also confuses the other dogs who are playing – all of whom would welcome the greyhounds to their game of chase or tussle. This weekend as my young dog approached one of the greyhounds, the owner pushed my dog away and proceeded to jerk his dogs collar – despite the fact that his dog had done nothing wrong and had only shown polite curiousity. I said – “Do not discipline my dog, he merely offered a friendly, submissive greeting and you scolded him for it and then scolded your dog, who clearly needs positive experiences!” Furthermore – if the dog is muzzled, why is it not permitted to smell another dog in a friendly manner? If the dog is muzzled, why is it straining at the end of its leash?

I recognize that your organization cautions new owners to practice the utmost caution around small animals. This should not include bringing them to a park for 45 minutes to stand on leash, depriving them of socialization while they whine eagerly to play with the other dogs. I can’t help but feel that I am being muscled out of the park, as this evening when I left with another couple and their St. Bernard, after about 45 minutes an owner said in a hushed tone “finally”.

I have shared the Cogswell park with dogs of all breeds and temperaments – including greyhounds. I have also seen greyhounds once driven by their instinct to chase be properly socialized (with caution) among smaller animals. Socialization is NOT holding your dog while it strains muzzled at the end of its leash for 45 minutes. I feel this is inhumane and I suspect that the other owners at the park this evening did as well. Socialization is NOT creating divides between the elite greyhound owners and other non-greyhound owners.

I urge you to adopt only to homes whose owners are aware of how to properly navigate these situations to provide dogs with enriching, positive experiences. I commend you on finding homes for dogs that may otherwise be euthanized – but the greyhound owners using the Cogswell street park need a serious lesson in proper socialization and general pet ownership etiquette. What happened to positive reinforcement? Is this part of your mandate?

In closing, I ask you – would you want to watch your friends play for 45 minutes while you strain on a rope to join them? If you had the intelligence of a dog, would you possibly be able to fathom the reason as to why you are on leash? Greyhounds do not understand why they are being kept on leash whilst other dogs play directly around them. For that reason, this is cruel and unkind. —Give peace a chance

This article appears in Jul 17-23, 2014.