I WOULD like to endorse Molly Robert’s letter of April 6, 2016, in the Stroud News & Journal.

I am a runner and this has been a big part of my life for 23 years.

I would like at this point to pay a big tribute and say a huge thank you to the large majority of dog owners I encounter who either have their dogs on leads or have their dogs so well trained that they bring them under control when I am out running allowing me to pass unmolested.

I always thank the dog owners when they do this.

However, on a few occasions dog owners have not behaved so well such as on Saturday, April 9, 2016, at about 4.30pm.

I was running across Rodborough Common when a large brown dog chased after me, barking as it did so.

I was absolutely terrified.

I adopted a defensive position and screamed at the owner to call his dog back.

The owner called the dog back and then let it run at me barking as it did so and at the same time the owner was telling me the dog ‘wouldn’t hurt me’.

This recalling and letting the dog chase me, barking as it did so was repeated about three times.

On asking the man to bring his dog under control, he replied: “He is under control. He is with me.”

Whilst it is true I was not hurt in the sense that I was not bitten, I endured between half-a-minute and a minute of sheer terror which I think is an act of violence in itself.

I would like dog owners in instances such as this to think how frightening their barking, bounding dogs can be.

As a result, I am going to investigate buying a sonic dog repeller.

A big thank you once again to the dog owners who act responsibly.

Rose Niland Smith

Stroud