From Where Do You Think Kids Get Their Phobias and Bigotry

We took Buddy to The Fitzroy Gardens at 9.30am. People walk their dogs off lead in The Fitzroy Gardens all the time, that is just Fitzroy people for you, ignoring stupid rules. There is no reason why dogs can't be allowed to run free, when they are supervised by their owners.

So where do kids get their phobias? No idea?

It was interesting, as we came up the home straight, up the far side of the gardens on our way home, a woman came walking down the path with her fifteen year old son. When she saw Buddy, off his lead, she said, “Oh no.” Big eyes. Then she shielded her son from Buddy with her arms out stretched in a protective manor, walking sideways and then backwards as she was prepared to defend her son to the last.

Not more than 20 metres up that same path, there was a woman who was with her three year old son and six year old daughter. Mum was kneeing on the ground with her young son next to her, taking photos of her daughter sitting on an adjacent park bench. Buddy, of course, made a bee-line for them. When mum saw him, her face broke into a huge grin.

“He might slobber on you,” I said.

“That's okay,” said mum. And in no time Buddy was wrapped in mum’s, the six year old’s and the three year old’s embracing arms all at once, in a big three way hug. Buddy looked from one to the other smiling as he seems to do with his big wide mouth.

“He’ll take all of that,” I said.

“He’s beautiful,” said mum.

Soon enough, I called Buddy and we continued walking.