It is an adage in the world of journalism that, while “Man Bites Dog” is an interesting story, “Dog Bites Man” most certainly is not. Nonetheless, in the interest of public health, I feel obligated to report that I was bitten by an off-leash dog last week.
I was on a short jog through the Bowers Springs conservation area (jointly shared between Harvard and Bolton) when the dog in question began running at me. Despite the owners being present and trying to rein in their dog by voice, it nonetheless jumped up on me, bit through my shirt, and gouged out a wound in my side. I will be fine, but I am also young, large, and otherwise healthy. A similar attack on a child or an elder would likely have had much worse consequences.
Over the past few years, I have noticed our town conservation lands playing host to more and more dogs, and under increasingly poor control. I have friends and family members who will no longer use our conservation land due to fear of uncontrolled dogs, and it is obvious that that fear is warranted. I certainly would not feel comfortable taking my two-year-old niece through the conservation land after this incident. And, unfortunately, this isn’t a one-off thing: I encounter aggressive dogs in the conservation land multiple times a week. Even the best-controlled and most lovely dogs can be overstimulated, and that in turn can be quite dangerous.
I love Harvard’s conservation lands, and want everyone to be able to use them. Dog owners: Is the extra joy of having your dog off-leash worth making our public lands less safe and less accessible? Policy-makers: Is there a way we can ensure that everyone is able to safely enjoy our town conservation land?
Mac Perkins-High
Bolton Road
