ON Sunday afternoon, like many other people, we were enjoying the lovely afternoon walk in the sunshine. On entering Monkton Park, just by the pitch and putt, a woman came along walking her dogs. One of them looked very lively. None of the dogs were on a lead.
The dog in question jumped up at one person, to which the owner shouted for it not to jump up. 
As it approached me not only did it jump up, but put his jaws around my hand and marked it. 
I questioned the owner if it should not be on a lead and was told point blank, no it shouldn’t. 
I told the owner that her dog had bitten me and she proceeded to laugh and say “it’s only a puppy.” 
I couldn’t care less if it was a full-grown horse. The owner was not in control of her dog in a public place. 
I told her that her dog had bitten me and all she could say was it was not possible because it was only a puppy. 
Her husband just told me to grow up. 
In this day and age of responsible dog owners, what gives these two people the right to think it is perfectly acceptable for their dog to jump up and put an innocent member of the public’s hand in their mouth, because it’s only a puppy? 
Having been a postie for 28 years, believe me I know a dog bite when I feel it, and this was definitely a bite, puppy or not. 
I dread to think what would have happened if this puppy had jumped up at a child. 
As we are constantly told at work, all dogs have teeth and sooner or later they will bite. 
This one is already well on its way. 
I just hope the two inconsiderate dog owners read this.  I know it won’t change their attitude, because in their eyes the dog is only a puppy and it is learning to become a big dog.
CHRIS POUND
Chippenham