Dog Bite
Dear Editor: I know of at least one dangerous dog in Sitka; there may be more. Last Thursday, my husband and I were traveling through Sitka on our way home and decided to take a walk on the Starrigavan trail while the ferry was in port. We encountered a German shepherd that was off-leash and not under control of its owner. It bit me and then tried to attack my husband. The owner was finally able to call the dog back and she apologized. Luckily it is winter and I was wearing heavier clothing but I still have a large bruise and my leg was sore for several days. If this had happened to a child, it would have been a very serious injury.
I have been around dogs my entire life; I have been involved in obedience training, showing and running sled dogs up on the Yukon River. I have been bitten before but this was the worst one. I don’t know what your leash laws are in Sitka but it is a serious issue for any dog owner. I have had unleashed dogs run at me while walking, running, biking and skiing. You may “know” that your dog won’t bite or jump up as it is coming towards me, but I don’t know that. And those seconds of wariness and fear are very real until you call your dog back and/or I can see that the dog is showing signs of friendliness.
Anyone who chooses to own a dog, must take the responsibility to keep that animal under control at all times while in a public space.
Chris Medalen, Petersburg
State Budget
Dear Editor: I am usually loathe to ask others to do much especially regarding anything political, but these are indeed trying times, especially concerning the state budget or lack thereof. I sent the following email to our Assembly and Sen. Stedman; if you are of a mind I think the more voices regarding this issue the better.
Dear Mayor Paxton and Assembly members: I attended JKT’s meeting on the budget on Feb. 22 at Sitka High School. More than 115 people showed up, all concerned with not only the education budget, but the overall devastating proposed state budget. I would like you to consider two things as soon as possible, please.
1. As an Assembly, unanimously vote to send a letter to the governor that his state budget is unacceptable as written.
2. Request Sen. Stedman come to Sitka, as soon as possible, to explain his sense of the state budget and what he plans to do about it. It would be very helpful for his constituents to hold such a meeting in Sitka. Thank you.
Jeff Budd, Sitka
