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Keeping our beautiful community a safe place to live

To a newcomer, Lake Cowichan seems like a friendly, warm community. It certainly is a beautiful spot.

To a newcomer, Lake Cowichan seems like a friendly, warm community. It certainly is a beautiful spot.

Volunteers are busy helping to get the town into shape for Christmas. Christmas Craft fairs are making the rounds of the different communities. Many events are planned that will make Lake Cowichan’s Christmas season a memorable one.

So, when events like the recent one happen, where a couple’s dog was shot by a bystander, allegedly trying to come to the aid of another citizen in trouble, it causes a rift in the community.

So far, there have been no charges laid by the local authorities.

What has happened is an unending exchange of ripostes on Facebook which reflect clearly that there are two sides to the story, and which make it difficult to come to any conclusions  until further investigations have been carried out, if at all.

No one will deny that it is unfortunate that the event ever happened. And between the two sides, none of the Facebook responders can see either party’s wrong-doing in the whole affair.

 

There are some facts that can’t be ignored, first and foremost that the dogs were allowed to roam outside of their owner’s property. Owners do have to take responsibility for their pet’s actions, that’s one of the reasons that we have to have dog licences.

Dogs can be man’s best friend, and to many pet-owners they are, but they are also pack animals, and they will follow the lead of an “alpha” dog in their midst.

 

Two dogs, not on a leash, and four dogs on the loose could have resulted in just a great sniffing opportunity for all at hand, but unfortunately in this case it equalled what appeared to be an attack.

And someone who witnessed the scene decided to take deliberate action. In some eyes, he was a hero, while to others, he might have overreacted.

Both parties in the drama need to take a lesson from the outcome of the event so that it doesn’t occur again, and so that the town of Lake Cowichan can continue to be a safe place for all residents to live.