I Don't Know...Because It's the Law?

Get Yourself One

Tonight Pooldad went to a hockey game with his bosses. [Told you they were cool!] Wallene had a birthday party to attend and since Pooldad had our one and only vehicle I walked Wallene over to the party since it was quite a few blocks away from our home.  We were all excited - she had her bag packed, present in hand and it was a beautiful night for a walk.

It was around the time of doggy walking so we took the pups.  On leashes.  Because? That is what responsible pet owners do.  Unfortunately I didn't realize my neighbors don't know the meaning of the term "responsible pet owner."

I always walk Scooby, as Spot is a tugger and has already pulled my shoulder out of joint once. I also only use my right hand to hold his leash because my left arm is pretty useless due the damage and the nature of my joint pain.  I knew on our route home I could leash Spot to Scooby and he would bear the brunt of her tugging. [Like he cares - he is 120 lbs to her 15. hee] 

As we came out of the woods that separate our two neighborhoods I spied an unleashed pet with no owner to be seen.

Sigh.

Knowing that our dogs love.love.love any and all animals, babies in strollers and basically any human that is upright I have learned to guide them away from these types of situations as I know not everyone wants to be greeted by a ginormous lapdog and his Nazi minion.  Still - I wasn't quite sure which direction the unleashed animal was going in and much to my dismay I chose wrong and he crossed our path.  

Right in front of Scooby.

Who instantly took off after him.

Which dragged me along behind....and... 

Directly onto the pavement and with me landing on my left shoulder, hip, elbow and knee.

[Can someone please explain the concept of how you can skin yourself through clothing?  I don't get it.]

The fall was so hard it knocked off my glasses and my baseball cap.

Now.  Imagine you were walking with your Mom and your dogs to a birthday and you were hyped up because there was going to be pizza!soda!scary movies!friends!make up!boy talk! and all the things that go along with a 13 year old's sleepover when suddenly you see your Mother in a heap on the ground, bleeding and crying while your dogs are in hot pursuit of an unleashed animal?

How much fun do you think THAT birthday party was going to be knowing your Mom has to walk back alone, in pain and wait for your Dad to come home and take care of her?

Yep.

Bless Wallene's heart - she managed to get the dogs back while I lied [laid? Diane help me out here - how about prone? - I was prone.  That works :)] in the street and she stood on their leashes while helping me up off the pavement.  She begged repeatedly to walk me back home but the whole point of taking her there was to assure she arrived safely - so that wasn't an option.

I know some laws are stupid - I agree, but this one has a purpose.  The leash law exists for a reason and this is a shining example of WHY.  I am not afraid of dogs and I don't consider myself entitled to the point that I will subject other people to my wishes because I don't like a particular law.  

And before anyone gives me the argument that I shouldn't be walking a dog that weighs more than I do - it is MY dog and I make a conscious effort to avoid the situation I just described.  If the animal had been properly attended to this would never had happened.  I know my pets and act accordingly.  

Wouldn't it be nice if others did?

I am sitting here at 6 am, in throbbing pain, waiting for my Doctor's office to open.  I just know I wouldn't be here, awake and in tears, if other people took the care for their pets the way the rest of us do.