Aaargh! Last night, we took all of our dogs for another walk, but took another route, through a big open field near our house. Well, we had almost crossed the field, and got to a few houses that meet a corner of the field. 3 or 4 kids and one adult were out in front of their homes, fixing and riding their bikes, and they had two dogs out with them. The dogs were young, a GSD mix pup and a Lab mix pup, and they were wrestling and having a great time! As soon as they saw our dogs, they were interested, and the little GSD mix ran over. The adult in the group started yelling the dogs name, but the dog didn't care, it was just a puppy who wanted to play. Paula has a very strong "mama instinct", and she lunged for the scruff of the puppy's neck, to control it. Luckily, she had her harness on this time, and, as soon as she lunged, I pulled her back. And the puppy's owner reached us right about then, and grabbed his dog.
This really frustrates me! Why do my dogs have to be penalized because of other people's irresposibility? I'm starting to feel the same way some of you do - that walking through the neighborhood isn't always safe - but I don't want to be a prisoner in my own yard! What do we say to irresponsible dog owners in our neighborhoods to get them to secure their dogs?
I know of a woman who was walking her (very freindly) Rottie one day - on leash - when a little yorkie came running out to the sidewalk, right up to the Rottie. Well, the Rottie was spooked, and grabbed the yorkie. Well, the yorkie died, and that rottie's owner has that on her conscience forever - though it wasn't her fault!
Sorry to keep going on, like I said, this is one of my biggest pet peeves - I don't want my dogs of other dogs to get hurt because of off-leash dogs!

[ July 27, 2001: Message edited by: 3-greys-and-a-mutt ]