To the editor:

Recently I was walking my 30-pound golden doodle, Penny, on the nature trail. As we walked past Snell-Crawford Park, I noticed a young woman in the middle of the volleyball court struggling with a full grown pitbull. She lost control of the dog and it was on us faster than I could react, chasing my dog in circles around me until our leash finally wrapped around me and down I went. I would like to thank the woman who called 911 and stayed until the ambulance arrived. I would also like to thank the great EMT crew that picked me up and got me to the hospital, where I was received and treated by the Unity Point ER crew quickly and professionally.

The young woman who lost control of her dog apologized, telling me it wasn’t her dog and she was walking it for a friend. She said she would wait until the ambulance and police arrived, but got into her car and bolted as soon as no one was watching, so I won’t be thanking her.

I walk or ride that path most every day and this is the first real problem I have had. I would like to ask that others using the trails be sure you are able to control your animal. If you do ask another to walk your dog, be absolutely certain that the individual you trust with your dog is able to control the dog he or she is responsible for. Fortunately I was not seriously injured, and neither was my dog. At 78, falls are dangerous and I don’t bounce anymore.

Robert Allen

Fort Dodge