Getting to know your neighbours

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It truly was a beautiful day in the neighbourhood!

My dog (who happens to be a therapy dog) and I were walking in our neighbourhood. A school, A.A. Wright, where our children, along with many others, attended, is very close to our home. The children, including our next door neighbour’s child, were out playing for recess. They were drawn to the dog.

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We stopped on our side of the fence and were chatting about dogs and cats and their family’s animals. The children were abruptly summoned by the monitor and told they were not to be talking with us. I even informed the monitor (from a distance, as she did not even come over to see who I was) that I was a neighbour. It mattered not.

I left with a tear in my eye. What lesson did those children learn? One of fear I believe and that has saddened me.

If we do not teach our children to safely interact with people and animals and be able to recognize true friendliness from something threatening then, as they grow up … who will be their neighbour?

Thanks for listening,

Barb Perkin

Wallaceburg