Remember Mr. Rogers singing "it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood"? One recent Sunday it started out that way but did not remain so. The flowering trees were gorgeous. The grass was greening up and the neighbors were out on the sidewalk visiting. A lady walking her dog on a leash came was passing by. Out of nowhere, bounding down the street, was a neighbor's dog who has shown aggression towards other dogs before. This dog was out loose in her yard and when she spotted this strolling dog three houses away and went after it. A dog fight ensued, the lady was knocked down, the attacking dog got a chewed up leg and another neighbor got upset with the dog walker for bringing her dog down the street. Nearly everything about this scenario was wrong except for the dog walker. She was in the right. She had her dog on a leash, she was on city property and had every right to walk her dog down our street. There were many witnesses to this scene. Everyone agreed that the aggressive dog should not have been out loose in the front yard, as she had gone after other dogs before. And everyone agreed that the lady should not have been scolded for walking her dog down our street. You see, the reason for the scolding was because the innocent dog was a pit bull. Our neighbor told her that we have kids on the street and this was no place for her to walk her dog. But gee, it was the local dog who is usually perceived as family friendly and an overall good canine citizen that was the culprit in this case - a golden retriever. What I wish to convey here is the necessity to leash your dog at all times outside of your fenced yard. I see people walking their dogs daily with unattached leash in hand and dog at large. Please be responsible. Be aware that another animal (squirrel, dog, cat, etc.) can send your dog off into trouble, no matter how well you think you know your dog and feel you can call it back. Your dog can run across the street in a heartbeat and get hit. Once when walking our dog another came out after ours. It is scary. It is also against the law. Be prepared to face a lawsuit and medical expenses. If you want your dog off leash, take it to the dog park but, of course, not if it is aggressive.

I received an email that I must share:

"My name is Christie and I volunteer with Animal Education and Rescue in Libertyville. We have a working relationship with a shelter in Marion, Indiana. They are closing at the end of June, 2008. Any animal there on that day will be euthanized. Two other volunteers and myself went to take pictures of their dogs. There are many different breeds. They will get euthanized the day the shelter doors close. There are no ands, ifs, ors, buts or maybes... it is going to happen! Wouldn't it be amazing if those doors closed and there was not one single soul left behind to die? We are their only hope in finding homes and not living out the rest of their days on death row. This is no small feat, don't get me wrong, and yet it is not an impossibility. We told them we would try to help place as many as we could in rescue groups. We are reaching out to all of the area rescues asking if anyone can help. I chose to reach out to the bully breed rescues as I own a pit mix and am fostering a pit bull and I LOVE them both dearly. I have included a link to the pictures that Cindy Falstad took that day. If you can help please let me know by e-mail or phone 847-371-1147 or 847-404-8143. Transport will be provided." http://picsbycindy.com/marion_grant_dogs.htm

There you have it. Coincidentally, she mentions pit bulls which ties into the above. They get such a bad rap. Pets make you smile (and sometimes they make you cry).