Do you abide by the leash law?

[SuperLab123]

Leash Law??? for my dogs and i (around our neighborhood) thats an unheard of crazy law that no one follows? sure we'll put the leashes on when we get to a main road (if were taking a long walk downtown or something) but for the daily walks around the neighborhood we would never use a leash! i dont know if its just because we live in a small town or what i just wanted to get a consensus on who follows the leash law or not.. thanks !feel free to state your opinion about it here too!

[Moose]

Normally, yes. Whenever we go into town or whatever, we always put a leash on the dogs. But if we are out in the backyard, no...it is fenced, so go figure. If we are just going for a walk around the neighborhood where there are not many cars or too many people, I'll always start with them on leashes and if they are acting well-behaved I'll take their leashes off but keep them in my hands just in case something happens. Usually, if I plan on taking a walk off-leash, I'll try to just go with one of the dogs at a time. The two of them can be quite a handful.

[Cincy'sMom]

Most of the time yes. Occasionaly we will let the dog walk out front with us (one at a time) or will not leash them to and from the car here, at my mom's or Ralph's mom's. We also let them off leash occasionaly at the school by our house if their is no one else there (it is fenced on three side and the school forms the 4th.) We watch to make sure no one is coming and as soon as we see someone, we call the dog to us and leash them until we are alone again.

[micki76]

Ours are always leashed for their safety.

[Aspen and Misty]

Exept when in the back yard (wooden fence, 7 or 8 feet high) or going from the front door to the vehicle, then we hold there collars.

We ALWAYS use the leash. I would never indanger my dog's like that. We live on a road where not many people walk with no cars, but there is always that one time. I would never, ever, let my dog's off leash anywhere there are people, cars or animals. I don't think that letting your dog off leash is respecting otehr owners. For instance. If you have your dog off leash and I have mine on leash. But my dog is NOT good with other dog's and your dog comes running up to him, who's fault is it that my dog kills your dog? YOURS, because you didn't have a leash on him. I don't think people who have there dog off leash have reson to complain when there dog is attacked. Yes, maybe these dog's shouldn't be out in public, but they, like every other dog have to get exersise. With Chewy [RB] (who was not good with dog's or people) whenever we would aproach someone who was walking, I would cross the street, or if that was not possible yell ahead to them to tell them he didn't like people or other dog's. BUT, if your dog was off leash and came running up to him, yes, most likly, he would have attacked your dog, BUT, I do NOT think it would be his fault. YOU should controlle your dog, I should be able to walk my dog down the street and not have to worry about people who have there dog's off leash.

This also makes me VERY angry because Julian (bunny) was almost eaten by a dog and it's owner who let there dog off leash and there dog came running up into MY YARD up to the fence of the play pen and cirlced it. MY DAD had to stop that dog because the lady wasn't close enough. If not he could have knocked down the fence (little puppy play pen) and hurt me or Julian.

Also, how do you think so many dog's get lost in the woods? Because people think they are in the middle of no-where so they let there dog's off leash and the dog goes chaseing a deer, or squirlle or something. Then you loose your dog and never see him again. Even with my Mom's Sheltie Teddy, who has never chased a squirle and who listens beautifully, I always use a leash, even at my Gram's who lives in the middle of no-where where there are NO cars and no people. I STILL use a leash, why, because I protect my dog's.

I feel very strongly about this. I think that we, as pet owners, need to make the world safe for other people's dogs and our own. How would you like it if someone who let there dog off leash passed by you and there dog ran over to you and got in your dog's face? Or attacked your dog? In my opnion letting your dog off leash is down right irresponsible. Laws are made to be followed!

Ash

Side Note: I am NOT calling your guys irresponsible or bad owners. We all have our views. I know that everyone here loves there dog's VERY much. I hope this doesn't come off as mean, it's just my strong opnion.

[Chris J]

I live on a very long court "no traffic" so I don't have a leash on Holly but when we leave our court I put one on her.

[micki76]

Ash, I couldn't agree more. I get very angry when I see people out with their dogs off leash. I guess I feel even more strongly since I have an aggressive dog. Chester could entice the nicest, most obedient dog to attack him with the way he acts sometimes, especially in his own neighborhood.

We usually don't go for walks cause there's a lot of dogs that run loose in our town. I just don't feel it's safe enough for my little ones. We just play in the yard most of the time, or in the house. We have a nice, long hallway that's perfect for fetch.

[Lissa]

I have a large unfenced area next to me with no road so if the nieghbor dog is out, she gets to go off leash. The other dog knows what the 'bountries' are and Layla doesn't leave her side. Otherwise she always has her leash on because she is rather unpredictable with cars, other people and dogs. She's a car/bike/runner/roller blade chaser. Oh and when we are at the lake she is off leash being in the water and all. Only places where she knows the boundries

[popcornbird]

I agree with you Ashley, 100%. You have no idea how much it bothers me when people walk around the neighborhood with unleashed dogs. We live in a quiet neighborhood, and during the day, there are not too many people outside as they are all at work until evening. Several times I have gone out for a walk and ended up running home because a certain unleashed dog with his owners took off after me. I think its very disrespectful to others to let your dogs walk without a leash in neighborhoods where other people also live and walk. Not only is it putting your own dog in harms way, but its also disrespectful to others, who may get frightened if a dog suddenly starts to chase them or their smaller pets. I think dogs should ALWAYS be leashed when out in public, unless they are at a dog park, or other place where dogs are allowed off-leash and can be off-leash safely and respectfully. I also hate when we go to parks where there are signs everywhere saying all dogs *must* be on leash at all times, yet you see several dogs unleashed, running around and chasing others, and having their owners chasing after them and yelling. For heavens sake leash them so you won't have to go through that, or go to one of the MANY area's dog parks!

[Aspen and Misty]

Glad others agree with me!

BTW: What about people who are deathly afreid of dogs? isn't it un-fare for them to not be able to walk in there own neighborhood? Or go biking out in the woods because of people and there dogs. I dunno, but I personally feel this is one law that NEEDS to be obeyed, at ALL times, no exeptions.

Ash

[Moose]

I fully agree with what all of you are saying, so I'm not trying to fight what you're saying. But I do believe that there are responsible, respectful dog owners and those who are not. I believe that the responsible owners know when it is appropriate to leash your dog and when it isn't necessary. I like to think that I am a responsible owner. I let the dogs off their leashes under the following circumstances: A] We are at a dog park, in the backyard, or other fenced area...or B] No cars or people are around and the dogs are being well-behaved.

However, if I have the dogs off their leashes and I see someone coming [with or without a dog], I grab the dogs' collars and either leash them or keep a steady hold on their collars until everything is "clear" once again.

But each person will have a different opinion and different thought on this...so hey, far be it for me to say what is right and wrong.

[Kfamr]

YES, ALWAYS.


I really do not like when people have their dogs off leashes.
I don't care how well trained an animal is, it still is an animal and will/can do anything at anytime. Simba is one of the greatest, most trained dogs I know.. I wouldn't trust him without a leash though.


The only time they are off leash is when they are in their own backyard or places, like the dog park, where they are allowed to be.

[ramanth]

I'm not sure about Williamston and Okemos, but Lansing/East Lansing has leash laws. I hardly ever walk her in Lansing, but there is this unofficial Dog Park near MSU and everyone lets their dogs run offleash. It's only fenced in on three sides but it's 30 + acres so the dogs have plenty of room to run.

At my apartment complex, dogs have to be leashed and so I keep Kia leashed till we get to the woods and then I let her run loose.

Same with the wooded park in Okemos. We've been practicing 'come' and her recall is getting better and better. So if we ever come across someone else walking in the woods (which is rare), she comes when I call.

Kia is always leashed when we walk along a street or road.

[amoore]

I always have have a leash on mine outside but only for their safety.

[PJ's Mom]

Originally posted by micki76
Ours are always leashed for their safety.

Ours too...unless you count that one time I let them off the leash to run around the field. That was a mistake! It's amazing how deaf dogs can be when they want to.