Letter: So tired

Published 4:30 pm Monday, August 14, 2023

My husband and I love living in Seaside. We walk in the dunes and on the beach most days, and try to give a wide berth to loose dogs because, having been bitten by one, I am uneasy around dogs.

Within three days, off-leash dogs ran at us without any provocation. First, we were sitting on a log, on the beach, when a loose dog came running at us from behind. He came within about 3 feet of us despite our yelling at him. When the owner came along, she assured us he “loves people” and wasn’t a threat to us.

Today, in the dunes, a barking dog came running at us from around a corner on the dune path. I screamed, yelled at him to go away and a moment later a man came into view and immediately began berating us for being upset about his dog.

He told us that it’s an off-leash area, so it was OK. He became very aggressive — similar to his dog, come to think of it. In a final stroke of anger, he yelled that he lives in Seaside and “it’s my beach.”

I am so tired of this. There is dog poop on the trails in the dunes. I’m used to that. But I am truly sick of being frightened out of my wits by loose dogs running up to me. Please, please, at least dog owners of Seaside, have a little consideration for others.

REBECCA NEWELL

Seaside