Dad vs Dog
Ok, I've never been a dog person (they stink, they lick, they bark, they run into you, they're trouble, they fulfill unhealthy human needs for relational control, etc.). But since I became a dad, it seems that my annoyance with dogs grew into something deeper, stronger.
Before I became a dad, I once took a walk at the beach. There was a large unleashed dog who growled at me and my gf. The stupid owner just laughed (as to ease tension) and said "don't worry, he's not mean". Back then I was annoyed and I thought the man was a moron, but I wasn't pissed enough to insult him, or call the cops, or anything.
But today? I think about it and I feel worse than I did back then. And the thoughts of an unleashed dog growling at my 3 years old...
I think I now see those wrong-behaved or unleashed dogs as potential killers. It doesn't help that there was a young child in my community, a few months ago, who was disfigured by an unleashed pitbull at the beach. And the owner admitted to the journalist that the pitbull had a past of biting people, but he "never caused any serious injury before".
Potential threat aside, seeing my son getting scared each time we walk past a dog is also annoying. I cannot blame my kid, he's young and this is a predator 2-3 times bigger than him. I don't think I would feel comfortable around a domesticated grizzly.
I live in a nice neighborhood so most owners are responsible, but I don't know... I just think society would be better without dogs (although some would say the same about the alcohol that I enjoy drinking, to each its sin perhaps ?) .
Is there any parents (or anyone) who had a similar change in view at some point?