WITW You're right, it was uncalled for, especially since I have made clear in my posts that I always keep my dogs leaded whenever there are children about, even if we are out on what is locally known to be an acceptable place to let dogs run free.
But apology accepted. It is an emotive subject, and all I have been trying to do is put across the view that sometimes dog owners are made to feel that they have no right to exercise their dogs in public places.
I completely agree with what scienceteacher and OrmIrian say. Even when you are being at your most responsible, and letting your dogs free only where you believe it is safe, children do sometimes pop up, and because of the way that some parents and children react to loose dogs, this means that the walk must be cut short and two dogs put back on their leads.
PuppyMonkey I have taught my dogs not to chase children. However, in the same way that it is difficult to stop a child from running away from a dog when they are scared, it is sometimes difficult to stop an excited dog, who has been playing with and chasing other dogs, chasing a running child who they think is part of the game. I acknowledge that a small percentage of the time, maybe my dogs wouldn't respond to recall in this situation, and as a result, they go on a lead whenever we see children.
As Haribosmummy says, it is all about compromise.
(And on the cat subject, OrmIrian, definitely hve a strong word . We clearly have the bravest cat in the world living locally, because very day when I poo-patrol our garden, I find little piles of cat poo too. Clearly this is the Chuck Norris of the cat world, willing to poo in the garden of two rotties.)