It may be another year or two before I get a dog again, and a move to another neighborhood. Last night convinced me to take my walks in the daylight only. I live on a small enclosed block which is removed from the main road. The houses are close together and together with house lights, there would be plenty of light if all the streetlamps worked. A man who lives on the other side of the block is still walking his 3 dogs without leashes. I came upon them unexpectedly in my walk, and in the sole streetlight saw all 3 dogs notice me at the same time I saw their silhouettes — wandering and milling around in the street with their owner. Two streetlights are out on that side of the block. I had my flashlight out, and called hello to the owner, and stopped walking.

He stepped forward and suddenly all 3 dogs were swirling around me exactly like sharks; one of them was so tall it came up to my shoulder. I heard myself asking if they were friendly — while the 3 sniffed, nudged and brushed around my coat again and again. Their faces left wetness on my hair and coat. He said, “Oh, they love everybody they meet, they’re friendly. I train them,” and more I can’t really remember. I could tell by the snout that rubbed against my shoulder that at least one was a Great Dane.

I remember saying, oh my. And not being able to move forward. I asked what they were, and he said one was a Great Dane, one a … what did he say, Irish wolfhound, or lab? and one was a Doberman. The shark-swirling went on a little longer. I said oh my again.

Then I asked him to move them away from me, because I was a “little nervous.” He whistled to them and they immediately left off their investigation of me and I started walking off.

I don’t think I’ll walk at night any longer, and no dog until I live somewhere else. I can’t forget the pit bull attack on my late dog Buddy (this was in a different area entirely), when it grabbed him by the neck and tossed him this way and that, trying to break his neck. My dog survived that with some injuries but we were lucky a car stopped to help. That too involved a man walking his dog without a leash. Dog interactions are complex and aren’t to be relied upon.

How do you handle something like this? I don’t want to run into him and his loose dogs again, ever. Make a complaint about it? Leave a note at his house? It was unreal.