Pepper-spraying dog was an over-reaction

To the woman who pepper-sprayed my dog while passing below my house last evening:

While I can understand fully that my dog was approximately three feet from my property line when you walked below my house last night, and he was on a county road, it is beyond me why you felt it so necessary to brutalize the dog and hence my family and home.

I watched you turn around and fully spray the animal directly into his face and eyes before he even barked at you. No barking or growling, or even any menacing type of behavior. He was just feet from the property line and more interested in your large dog than you.

We called down to let you know he was friendly. There was not a bit of aggression as he and his older and more crippled companion ran down the hillside (my property) to greet you.

As he came barreling back up the path after you turned around and pepper-sprayed his face, he was blinded, burning and terrified. My 78-year-old mother-in-law struggled to cover his face with cool wet towels, she received burns up and down both arms. She called the emergency room later that night because the burns were so bad and she was frightened.

My 11-year-old son cried himself to sleep, not understanding why anyone could treat an animal so poorly and because his hands were burning and stinging from also trying to comfort his suffering dog.

The dog was shivering, lathering at the mouth, and his eyes were swollen shut for the good portion of an hour. The vet was called, and we were told it was quite poisonous and could make him very, very sick.

As the pepper gas wafted up the hill side and into my house, we all coughed and stung for a while as we worked hard to clean up the poor animal.

Once again, my apologies for my dog trying to protect my property. I know that if he was in fact even one inch off of it, I am in the wrong for not containing him. However, was there really a need to be so brutal? He was not even barking or growling at you. Did you have any idea what the dangers were of that spray when directed into my dogs eyes? Did you consider the effect it might have on the dog, or anyone else when you pulled the trigger?

Lots of the people who live up this road live here because we love the peace and quiet and enjoy living with the deer, turkeys, elk, moose and even bears that live up here, too. Most all of us have dogs. I have been without one once — that was the year a bear ended up in my house.

It is not uncommon that one of my neighbors have over the years owned dogs, cats and even horses that have strayed from their property. We have all looked out for each other and their animals. We don't Mace them here. We just call each other up for help or to complain if there has been problems. I am guessing you must be either new to the neighborhood, or parking your car on the road and enjoying the peace up here also.

All I ask is that next time you feel the need to assert yourself over an animal, perhaps you might consider your real personal danger before you brutalize it and anyone that cares for it. I urge you understand the difference between a curious, friendly dog and a menacing snarling one.

You have a nice big dog yourself — surely you can tell when he or she is about to attack. Welcome to the neighborhood.

Leslie Blair and her family live in Whitefish.