Philsosophy for Week 42

Philosopher Phil's mood has turned chilly. This weekend eight hundred vehicles full of leaf peepers passed his front door. His message to them was four phrases long. Nobody drives that slowly Philip.
This week's message is bound to give you the heebiejeebies:

It's as bad as you think
and they are out to get you.

It was dead still out last night.
The loons are gone.
Across the lake a dog barked.
The nine thousand acres of Maplewood State Park barked back.
Out of fear for the enormous pack of dogs bearing down on her in the darkness
The Dog across the Lake barked back.
Again and again and again
Barking at an echo.
Even The Dog on my side of the Lake was scared.
Can dogs read?