I am a dog owner and feel that all dogs should be on a leash and muzzled when taken in public areas.

I have a medium sized bitch which is very friendly and gets excited and happy when meeting people. However, most people do not appreciate its enthusiasm. Although I know very well that it would not bite, I avoid taking it in crowded areas unless it is muzzled or at least on a leash.

When I had a large, male, black Labrador things were no different. Although, being pure black, it did look menacing, it was friendly. But a dog is always a dog. My Labrador was many a time attacked by a smaller breed and I had to fend off the attacker as my dog was muzzled. In fact I muzzled my dog for various reasons. One in particular was that I was aware that some sick human placed poisoned bait for cats and dogs in the area.

Apparently, many dog owners do not know much about dogs' behaviour. A dog, however friendly, has the ancestral instinct of the wild dog and this trait could surface momentarily. A fixed gaze from a stranger, protecting its owner or a fit of jealousy could spark off this dormant trait. And no picture of a bitch suckling its pups next to a child would persuade me to approach it. It might decide to defend her pups or the child, for that matter, from the intruder.

Muzzling one's own dog is not a punishment but it is a sure protection for the dog from having to be put down due to some untimely accident.

Above all, a dog owner should be responsible for his own dog, towards the general public as well as for the environment. There are still many dog owners who insist on letting their dogs run freely and not cleaning up their mess.