To the Editor:

What a great day it was for a parade and fun in the park in Canton. The Dairy Princess Parade was fun as always and there were lots of options of things to enjoy in the park as well. Family memories are certainly made at this and other events around the county every summer.

What troubles me the most is when I see families coming along the sidewalk with one or more dogs on leashes, perhaps a group or single person with no children but one or more dogs, and most troubling is when I see small puppies being carried and walked.

Let me clarify and begin with this: I am an avid animal lover, I do not hate dogs or any other animal. What I would like to say is this: in my opinion a dog does not belong in a crowd of people where sights, sounds and other animals are different. This is tantamount to animal cruelty because lets be honest here, you didn’t bring the dog so it could go down the bouncy house slide. There is no dog in this world that will ever lie at the foot of your bed one night and wish it had been to just one more parade.

Your children however will remember that you were stressed, unfocused on them, perhaps you even had to leave the event early because of the animal. Put yourself at your dog’s level and you will find that all they get to see is a sea of legs and other dogs, small children with food (near their faces I might add), and be hearing loud noises that they cannot find the source of because they are surrounded by strange people.

I saw pets being stepped on accidentally by owners, kids and complete strangers, I saw children being tripped by the leashes, I saw panting pets who were being pulled along when all they wanted to do was smell the smells down the street. No one knows exactly how a dog will react when in a stressful situation like this. They may be the most docile animal in the world but suddenly at a parade they are like Cujo (a killer rabid dog character in a Stephen King novel) - after being tugged along, stepped on and exposed to lots of sights and sounds.

So in kindness to your pet leave them at home, take your family and make some wonderful memories. There is enough to be stressed about in life, going to a parade and enjoying the festivities shouldn’t be one of those times.

I also believe that your children will thank you too because they would like to go down the bouncy house slide and have you watch them do it.

Sarah Matthews

Canton