Re: Bear destroyed after dog mauling incident (April 24, 2023)

Irresponsible dog owners responsible for deaths of bear and their own dog…..might have been a more accurate headline for this story about the bear killed after an off lead dog encounter.

I don’t believe in dogs in the parks but a strong lead is a bare minimum on all trails.

I don’t know what to say about these people. Their bad, so sad. Hope they too are getting the full extent of the law, up to $25,000 in fines for disturbing wildlife. I don’t know what the off-leash fine is but hope it’s high.

This isn’t a walk in your off lead park, people. Off lead dog in a national park is synonymous with bear magnet, will not protect you or be safe, ergo injury or death for you/dog/wildlife. But then you know all that and you did it any way.

The bear, so agitated by being attacked, was defending itself. Of course it’s not going to react to bear spray while in full-on defense mode.

I’d like to see a return to the no dog policy in parks, campgrounds, trails, recreation areas and backcountry but the canine lobby barks so loudly the administrators are afraid of their bite.

In the meantime…

The bear is dead. The dog is dead. Was it worth  breaking the law?

M.J. Irving

Cochrane, AB

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