Selfish athletes need a reality check.
Yesterday evening I was driving home from the pool when I saw three dogs running wild in the middle of the road. Ahead of them was a runner, seemingly oblivious to the dogs around her. They obviously weren’t hers — who would let her dogs run off leash down the middle of a fairly busy road? It was just about dusk and the tailend of rush hour, not the best combination for lost pups.
I pulled over as the runner was approaching and asked, “Are they yours?”
“Wha? Huh?” as she yanked out her earbuds, not missing a stride, “No” and she continued plodding along with her 9-minute miles. One of the dogs followed her. She didn’t acknowledge him or try in the slightest way to get him to turn around and go back to me so I could round them up.
The other two dogs continued their game of tag in the middle of the road so I played traffic cop and slowed down the cars. One of the cars stopped, and a lady and her husband got out to help me. They were able to get the two playing tag, and I ran off down the road to get the runner dog. He was still running just behind the girl, she was still ignoring him. I took him by the nape of his neck (all the dogs were collarless) and guided him back toward the other two. Eventually I could let go and he ran happily alongside me, his wet tongue flopping out the side of his mouth.
When we got back to the other two the dogs’ owners were there. They expressed their gratitude and loaded them up in a pick-up truck, their daughter sat in the back with the dogs, clearly relieved that her dogs were ok.
The runner kept running. She couldn’t take a 10-second break to talk to me? She couldn’t turn around and run with the dog back to me once it was following her? Just tell me about where they came from. The callousness made me so angry. How could a run - any run - be important enough to jeopardize the lives of 3 dogs? Would she have even felt the slightest bit of remorse if on her way back she saw one had been hit by a car?
Sports are not the be-all and end-all. If you don’t have even compassion to stop mid-workout to help someone or something in need you really need to evaluate your priorities. It’s great to be in-shape, but what’s it worth if you have poor character?
Note: I know some people do not “like” dogs or are afraid of them. Until Jordan’s mom got Primo, I was the same way. But, even as a kid when I was terrified of dogs, I still found a way to help lost animals without having to go near them…usually it helps to just slow down the cars and then someone who is used to dogs will get out and help. Annd if you are questioning if I practice what I preach…twice I’ve gone out for a 45 minute run and come back over an hour and a half later after having helped to hunt down a lost dog. Once in high school when I was still scared of them, and once last summer. I know this runs in my family and is a reason why we always played foster home to cats while my brothers and I were growing up.
If this little loose canon ever escaped I hope someone would stop and help him.
