On a short leash. Or a leash period!

So, I'm training for The Other Half, a half marathon in Moab in October, and I'm out for a 4 mile run/walk on Sunday morning. I notice a dog run in front of me into the street and sit down to scratch something. Next thing I know a car honks it's horn. The dog moves, frightened and the car proceeds to move down the road passing the dog by a mere feet. The dog runs back toward the sidewalk and I call to it. It is too scared to come to me and heads back down the block, probably home.



Two things anger me about this. First that the driver of the car probably assumed it was my dog and was going to teach me a lesson by scaring it in front of me. "Stupid woman for letting her dog run loose. Let's scare them. That will teach her." That's what I envision them saying in the car. Either that or they are just totally uncaring people.



Second, who in their right mind just lets their dog out to run free in the city. Just open the door and let them roam? Answer: A lot of people. Later on that same outing I noticed another dog in it's yard. I started to cross the street and the dog came barking at me, followed me into the street. I yelled to it to go home about five times before it did.



My neighbor has a habit of letting her dogs out, They head to my yard, sometimes even the back yard to do their dootie. I don't like picking up dog poop, especially since I don't have a dog!



I think it is totally irresponsible to let your dog out without a leash or at least keeping an eye on it. Dogs don't have common sense, they don't know to stay out of the street because there is a moving ton of metal that might hurt them. They don't know that there are innocent people out who might be afraid of them. Their instinct is to run l, bark protect and chase. All things that could get them hurt if not monitored by their human. Put up a fence or put them on a leash if you are too lazy to be outside with them.



I have 2 cats. They have always been indoor cats, mostly because I am afraid about what might happen to them if they roamed the city. We don't have a dog. They are a lot of work and require a lot of attention more than we could handle with 2 young boys. Will we ever have one? Probably, but you can me sure that we won't let them out to roam the city!



Watch out~