Two bitches ?

 This weekend as I queued at a snack bar a woman with a dog stood right behind me. Her dog  constantly barked really loud with a raspy harsh edge to it. It was unbearable. Feeling constantly on edge this month I returned to my shouting " shut up " when a dog in public does this near me. The anger and or fight or flight just explodes out of me in the moment. Next came the awkward atmosphere in the queue. You know the one when someone in public shows a true emotion. You're not supposed to do that.

Its strange how everyone just tolerated this unacceptable sound. To me it is as socially unacceptable  for a dog to bark as loud as that in close proximity to people as it is to be blowing cigarette smoke in someones face. It is however a taboo to scold someones elses dog. I think it might be worse than shouting at a child. I base that on the reactions that ive seen dog owners display.

So I walk away to a picnic bench as far away as I could get from the dog as I get. A woman then arrives with a dog and sits opposite me with a dog. Hmmm. I mention to her that im glad her dog isnt barking. She replies that " Oh that was my dog barking " with a cold tone in her voice. I was stunned by her malice. She purposely came to sit by me after she had seen me shout out in annoyance.

Sometimes you can feel a situation encircling you as though its hunting you. I walked away again and went on my bike ride. All the time I could hear that damned dog yapping on the other side of the river, and it wasnt stopping.