Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Quila Took on the Law And She Won

Picture this.

A pedestrian overpass lets people cross from one side of the railway line—pass the ticket offices, indicator screens and ticket barriers of the railway station and over a busy major road—to the other side of the line. It is part of a route that Quila and I take when we go to collect our mail at the post office. Sometimes police officers are standing at the barriers to deter potential lawbreakers and/or apprehend them.

Tonight a policewoman was standing at the ticket barriers accompanied by a police dog, a labrador. Generally, if I spot a dog that is coming towards us I will try to move onto the road or across the road—anything to keep the dog out of Quila's line of sight. She tends to lunge and bark at other dogs, albeit mainly the smaller ones.

So, there we were about to enter the station premises to access the pedestrian overpass. I spot the labrador, momentarily hesitate, but decide to go ahead. These service dogs are well-trained; they will not be distracted by a little dog. Quila hasn't spotted the labrador, she's a small dog and on a tight leash - not a problem - I can handle her.

We walk pass the ticket offices and we start to pass the ticket barriers. Quila notices the labrador and starts to pull towards it. I pull her back to heel and she settles down before making a sound.

However the police dog has also noticed Quila and starts to lunge towards her, barking wildly. Quila ignores him. Her head is down. She is totally focused on keeping pace with me as I urge her on with a softly repeated “Good girl, good girl”. In my peripheral vision I see this poor policewoman leaning back against the leash, trying to restrain this labrador who is making a hell of noise and straining to come after Quila. On his hind legs he's almost as tall as she!

And as we pass I hear laughter from people behind me as Quila shows that labrador how a well-trained dog should behave!

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