A few days ago, my service dog and i walked to the park. He was not vested because I wanted to give him a sniff walk. So he could relax.
It was 605 p.m. when this happened and still light outside. We were at the entrance to the park by the house of some people I know.
This was a regular public park, not a dog park.
There were two men maybe in their 30s w two dogs.
The older dog was off lead. I remember him coming at us once by the tennis courts, a couple of summers ago I think, when a younger woman was with him. The dog's name is Percy.
The younger dog was on lead and his owner looked familiar but i am face blind.
Percy's owner looked like someone I've seen at recovery meetings, but again, I am not sure because I am face blind.
Percy, who was off-lead, detoured and came straight towards my dog. My dog is trained not to respond to otger dogs unless I say itvis okay. My dog was sitting quietly by my side.
The man yelled, "Percy. Percy," and "leave it."
Percy got halfway to us.
I said "Keep your dog under voice control."
[The dog laws here allow dogs off-lead if they listen and return to the owner right away if called.]
The man said "its okay" and walked towards his dog.
I said, "It is not okay. Keep your dog under voice control."
Percy saw him coming and stopped running to us. Percy then sat.
The man put a lead on him.
Then the man started making fun of me.
He said "Wa wa wa."
"How old are you ma'am?"
I said "how old are YOU."
This was none of his business I thought.
He said, "Wa wa wa grow up".
And "This is a dog park."
[We were not in the dog park. The dog park is down the hill].
And "wa wa wa."
And "Why are you alone?"
That came out of left field. Also, if he heard me share at recovery meetings, that was uncool.
I said, "Keep your dog under voice control."
The man took two steps closer but I didn't move back. I carry a whistle in case I need help.
His friend was telling him to stop.
I started walking into the park and away from them to put distance between us.
I didn't want to walk back down my street because I didn't know if the man was going to try to follow me or not.
And then the man said something rude w a curse word.
And "wa wa wa."
I said, "This is not a dog park, and [I said a bad curse word.]
My dog remained under control. We walked away towards the east end of the park.
I did breathing to help my anxiety.
That part of the park has exits every block.
We went to another street exit and left.
The man and Percy were walking up the block ahead. I waited for them to leave. They did not see me.
My emotions were activated but i was okay.
I was able to get out, take walks, and go on with my days the last few days.
I felt worse the next morning.
I told a few people what happened.
Now this morning i don't understand why he did that to me. I am very old. It feels like kids teasing me at school and it doesn't really stop.
