100 Word Challenge: Manners

My two rescue dogs (yes, it’s important that I include the “rescue” designation), have become my writing muses. While on our walks, all sorts of interesting things happen which give me ideas for this writing prompt.

Take Monday morning – we’re on the our last leg of our walk, in the home stretch. I saw another dog walker with his two canine companions a little ahead of us.

Asta and Hershey must have been sled dogs in a previous life because it’s more a matter of them walking me, than the other way around. Anyway… I saw the dogs and from past experience, I knew letting the quartet intermingle would not end well. I crossed the street so we are on opposite sides.

Then I caught up with the other group. I had my dogs on static leashes, the other dogs were on retractable ones, meaning they were free to run full tilt towards me and mine. I cinched up on my leashes and put myself between my Girls and the other dogs.

“My dogs aren’t good with other dogs,” I called across the street. “They aren’t aggressive, they just get scared.”

Hershey, my 10-year-old, anxiety-ridden Lab, was winding her leash around my legs by now. Asia was pulling on her leash so hard she was up on her hind legs.

“So are mine,” dumbass walker responded, as he released the tether on his other retractable leash allowing one of his dogs to pull out the entire 20 feet of cord as it rushed at me.

I was still between him and my dogs, quickly backing away and talking calmly to my dogs while trying to extract my legs from the leash tangle.

“Can they just meet?” He said.

What part of “not good with other dogs,” don’t you understand? What part of me backing away from you don’t you get?

“Nope!” I kept my simple answer to a single, small, easy-to-understand word.

Since he crossed the street to allow his dogs to butt-sniff mine, I maneuvered Asta and Hershey to the other side of the road and kept walking backwards as I widened the distance between us. He acted insulted.

Pet pet peeve No. 8657546: I know my dogs better than you, if I tell you I don’t want them to interact with your dogs, I mean it. Step. Back.

As much as I love dogs, animals of all kinds, if I feel threatened, or if I feel my dogs are in danger, I will not hesitate to punt your dog across the road. I will kick it in the head then I’ll come after you.

Don’t question my decisions regarding my pets. Not your circus, not your monkeys.

“No one is as deaf as the man who will not listen.” ~ Jewish proverb

This week’s word is:

Manners

Using “manners” for inspiration, write 100 Words – no more, no less. You can either use the word – or any form of the word – as one of your 100, or it can be implied. Include a link in your post back here , and add your story to the Mister Linky list. If you don’t have a blog, you can leave your submission in the comment section, or as a Facebook status post. Remember to keep spreading the love with supportive comments for your fellow wordsters.