Messages By: alteaon

 I have a question for those who allow thier dogs to run/walk unleashed in public places.  No matter how well trained a dog may be, it's still an animal with unpredictable tendencies. To keep your pet leashed allows for more control of the dog for both the dog's own sake as well as those around you.  

What gets me the most is when people will let thier dogs run/walk free and they keep the leash in thier hand, not attached to the dog. Do you really think that when that dog darts off you'll be able to get the leash on it?  

If you are in an area where you know that the dog is safe, such as a dog run, when it is known that the dogs are not leashed, then that's fine, since it's a situation everyone knows about.  

In our town, there are leash laws ( probably why people hold on to leashed that are not attached to the dog ) but they are not enforced.   My father and one of my dogs were attacked by a dog that was running behind a woman on a bike. Our dog was tied up in our yard. The other dog ran over into our property.... 

The woman seemed to think it was our fault that her dog wouldn't listen to her and come back to her. She also became upset when my father kicked at her dog to get it away from him and our own dog, since it was biting... 

This may be a bad example, but so many people have this whole "not MY dog" attitude. Animals are unpredictable, we can't understand them or thier communications totally. Isn't it better to be safe?  

I don't get why people feel the need to trivialize the fears of their loved ones. Where's the support in that? I am afraid of spiders,  huge/tall bridges and heights. If my husband or anyone else were to throw me on a bridge,  on a cliff, or throw spiders on me, I'd have to really re evaluate how I felt about those people and how they felt about me.  Our spouses, family members and friends are supposed to be there to support us and to help us if we need it, not sign us up for our own personal fear factor. 

The spouses of the guests who are afraid of people in costume and scary movies most likely have thier own fears. Part of me would love to see how tough they were when someone forced them into an uncomfortable situation, then called them a wimp or told them to get over it. 

Unless I missed something, I am somewhat surprised that Dr. Phil didn't say more about the unsupportive spouses.  

Pegtohl, 

I apologize for offending you.  Please realize that on an internet message board, including this one, opinions are the majority of what you're going to read/hear. As a guest on the show, you can't expect to be free from that. If you read posts from shows past, so many posts are about the guest. If I had something that your perceived as being positive, you would never have replied to anything I have to say. 

In my original post, I do not believe that I said anything about you personally, it just reminded me of all the people who feel that women should have children asap. I know now that it's just a cute game that you play with your son and your friend's daughter, I know that although you would be over joyed if they were to date you'll love them both no matter what they decide.  The show just struck a nerve in me. During the original airing time, so many people, most that I didn't know lectured me on my choices ( mostly negative ). So, I can easily see now why you became so fired up..similar to how I got so fired up when Abbydabby said something to the effec that since I've been with my husband for 8 yrs that we should be having kids because "that's what people do". 

As I do my best to see things from your perspective, I do sincerely apologize. You can take my apology for what ever you want, but realize that  have no hostile feelings towards you, but my hostility is more towards the subject. Looking back on what I wrote, for some of it I do not fault you at all for being upset with me. Please accept my apology.