Just to make you think....read this

I pulled this from another board, and I do not know its origin, or would have given appropriate credit. Reading it made me sit up and think long and hard about my desire to have my dogs off leash with me.
Trust- A Deadly Disease
Author unknown

There is a deadly disease stalking your dog, a hideous, stealthy thing just
waiting its chance to steal your beloved friend. It is not a new disease, or
one for which there are inoculations. The disease is called "Trust".

You knew before you ever took your puppy home that it could not be trusted.
The breeder who provided you with this precious animal warned you, drummed
it into your head. Puppies steal off counters, destroy anything expensive,
chase cats, take forever to house train, and must never be allowed off
lead!!

When the big day finally arrived, heeding the sage advice of the breeder,
you escorted your puppy to his new home, properly collared and tagged, the
lead held tightly in your hand.

At home the house was "puppy-proofed". Everything of value was stored in
the spare bedroom, garbage stowed on top of the refrigerator, cats
separated, and a gate placed across the living room to keep at least one
part of the house puddle free. All windows and doors had been properly
secured, and signs placed in all strategic points reminding all to "Close
the door!"

Soon it becomes second nature to make sure the door closes nine tenths of
a second after it was opened and that it is really latched. "Don't let the
dog out" is your second most verbalized expression. (The first is "No!") You
worry and fuss constantly, terrified that your darling will get out and
disaster will surely follow. Your friends comment about who you love most,
your family or the dog. You know that to relax your vigil for a moment might
lose him to you forever.

And so the weeks and months pass, with your puppy becoming more civilized
every day, and the seeds of trust are planted. It seems that each new day
brings less destruction, less breakage. Almost before you know it, your
gangly, slurpy puppy has turned into an elegant, dignified friend.

Now that he is a more reliable, sedate companion, you take him more places.
No longer does he chew the steering wheel when left in the car. And darned
if that cake wasn't still on the counter this morning. And, oh yes, wasn't
that the cat he was sleeping with so cozily on your pillow last night?

At this point you are beginning to become infected, the disease is
spreading its roots deep into your mind.

And then one of your friends suggest obedience classes, and, after a time
you even let him run loose from the car into the house when you get home.
Why not, he always runs straight to the door, dancing a frenzy of joy and
waits to be let in. And, remember he comes every time he is called. You know
he is the exception that disproves the rule. (And sometimes late at night,
you even let him slip out the front door to go potty and then right back
in.)

Years pass- it is hard to remember why you ever worried so much when he was
a puppy. He would never think of running out the door left open while you
bring in the packages from the car. It would be beneath his dignity to jump
out the window of the car while you run into the convenience store. And when
you take him for those wonderful long walks at dawn, it only takes one
whistle to send him racing back to you in a burst of speed when the walk
comes too close to the highway. (He still gets in the garbage, but nobody is
perfect!)

This is the time the disease has waited for so patiently. Sometimes it only
has to wait a year or two, but often it takes much longer.

He spies the neighbour dog across the street, and suddenly forgets
everything he ever knew about not slipping out doors, jumping out windows or
coming when called due to traffic. Perhaps it was only a paper fluttering in
the breeze, or even just the sheer joy of running...

Stopped in an instant. Stilled forever- Your heart is broken at the sight
of his still beautiful body.

The disease is trust. The final outcome, hit by a car.

Every morning my dog bounced around off lead exploring. Every morning for
seven years he came back when he was called. He was perfectly obedient,
perfectly trustworthy. He died fourteen hours after being hit by a car.
Please do not risk your friend and your heart. Save the trust for things
that do not matter.

Please read this every year on your puppy's birthday, lest we forget.

How true Logan, it is very thought provoking.
I don't know about other Schnauzers, but our dogs would run off in a heartbeat if given the slightest opportunity to explore. We put them in harnesses and on leashes every minute they are out of our home. When they are outside they are on a pretty large cement patio with a gate and then we have a chain link fence around our yard. So we have a double gate to keep them in. I couldn't bear the thought of them getting loose and what would happen to them.

Logan,
Thanks for the warning. I have a terrible fit if my dogs are loose at any time! My family seems to think differently. I hope this will make them think. I'm going to post it on another board that I am on. I think they will appreciate it, too. Thanks, Logan.

Yup. This is so true. We almost lost Iris 2 years ago when she got hit by a car. She was the dog that ALWAYS came when you call her, every time. We "trusted" her so much that my Dad brought her out with him to mow the lawn - down by the road. And for those few short seconds, when she went into the road -the reason why she was in the road we'll never know, a car came along and hit her. She had to have surgery, but she was a young healthy dog so she recovered. She still limps sometimes when she's tired, and she goes up stairs funny. But boy was that scary!!!!

Thanks for posting this Logan. I'm sure it opens a lot of people's eyes. I have to constantly remind myself what could happen to Reece if I take his leash off. Its so tempting because he's excellent off leash and always listens to me. I know it just takes one time and he could be gone forever though. He loves to run around but I just let him off leash in closed in areas.

A question asked frequency of me in a group of neighborhood dog owners meeting evenings in the park near my house. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LET YOUR DOG RUN LOOSE? The constant pressure from non compliance of their off-leash practice in a posted on-leash area caused me to not meet with them anymore. Never mind their constant watching for police. I didn't want my dog running into the street bordering all sides of the small area. One charge out the door with another dog had been enough for me. I had been lucky once.

I am going to put a copy of this in plastic and post it to the "on-leash" sign. Maybe someone will think again and reconsider the risks.

Thanks for passing this on Logan.

Thanks Logan. I NEVER let Cody or Star off lead unless we drive 2 miles out onto the sand flats at the beach at low tide so they can swim. Even the most "well behaved" and obedient of pups can have that one irresistable moment when they just have to "go!" Nothing is worth the potential for injury or worse. My elderly neighbor lost her beloved little mini poodle recently when she let him out one eveing for his last potty. He didn't run.....just stepped off the curb, a few yards into the road, and was killed by a car turning the corner. What was really sad, was the pup was 13 yrs. and in perfect health and full of vigor. What a tragedy. Her daughter just got her a new poodle pup yesterday. I am going to print your post and give it to her to further impress upon her the need to NEVER let the new puppy run free!

Thank you very, very much for posting this.

Very sad words of wisdom.
After having two cats killed by cars i won't even live on or near busy streets.
Bug is never allowed off leash unless there is a very sturdy fence. what would happen if there wasn't a fence is something i can't bare to think about.
i miss those two cats very much.....oh wheres the kleenex.....