Editor, The Record:
My small dog and I were recently walking at Fraser River Heritage Park. We had stopped near the stage and the bell tower. My leashed dog was smelling the grass as usual.
Suddenly, a man on a bicycle came speeding around the corner. A young girl was on a bike behind the man and a large off-leash dog was running fast on the right side of the man. The next thing I knew I was on the ground with the big dog looking at me.
Saliva was coming out of the dog’s mouth. I had automatically grabbed my little dog and held him to my chest with both arms afraid that the big dog might attack him. I hurt my hip, shoulder, wrist and hand. There was another man nearby who witnessed the accident and yelled at the man on the bicycle about how he should have his dog on a leash. The young girl leashed the dog and they left.
I sat on the ground for a while, stunned. No one offered to help me get up. So I got up and limped away, almost in tears. The witness who was nearby, asked if I was OK. I was too traumatized to speak.
I am a 72-year-old woman who has in the past, enjoyed taking my little, leashed dog to the park. However, now I am afraid and am constantly looking behind me to see if there is danger.
If cyclists are to be allowed in the park, they should at least not be allowed to speed. Their dogs must be leashed. Disrespectful cyclists like this man are a danger to everyone, especially seniors. Bicycles should be required to have license plates so that dangerous cyclists can be identified quickly.
This danger to seniors’ safety was brought up at the September meeting of the Mission Seniors Advisory Committee. I was advised to contact the RCMP. I have tried to do this but was told that such a crime must be reported immediately.
To all seniors, please report any aggression towards you immediately, either by calling 911 or the Mission RCMP at 604-826-7161.
What else can be done to make a senior’s life safer in Mission, specifically in Mission’s parks?
Doreen Baker
Mission