My past two blog posts have centered on personal reflections of mine, but this third time around, I wanted to write about something a little more lighthearted. As I spent the past week deciding on what to write, something caught my attention while walking along the promenade.
Standing right in front of me were a group of dogs. These weren’t just any ordinary dogs. No, no, no. These were big dogs. Dogs with massive paws, rows of sharp teeth, and some of the thickest coats of fur I’ve ever seen. To make matters worse, none of them had a leash. My body trembled in fear as I stood watching them, praying they wouldn’t run toward me and make me their next chew toy.
As some may or may not know, I am deathly afraid of dogs. Okay… maybe not deathly, but I’m still somewhat scared of them. Much to my dismay, I’ve had to face my fear of dogs head-on here in Cape Town, where I’ve seen more dogs than I can count.
For me, the most surprising observation has been the vast number of dogs that walk around the city without a leash. They calmly stroll alongside their owners as if attached to them by an invisible string. Some owners even cradle their dogs in their arms as if they were newborn babies.
Having seen what seems like a million dogs each day, I realize just how much dogs really mean to Cape Town residents and how deeply woven and ingrained they are in the local culture. They have become such a familiar part of everyday life in Cape Town, so much so that their owners feel comfortable letting them play and walk freely without any restraints.
While I still haven’t fully conquered my fear of dogs, I’ve definitely made some progress. That being said, I’m still keeping my distance from dogs when they walk by, especially from the unleashed ones.