I live in a small housing development just outside of town. There are about 12 houses in our development. We are only one of a couple that fenced all or part of our yard to keep our dogs contained. It's really frightening to get out of your car after working late until dark and being rushed by a neighbor's dog. When they wander into our yard ours all go crazy at the window.

The other thing - I don't mind accidently stepping in my dog's poop because I know to expect that inside the fence - I have dogs! But it really chaps my butt to step in someone else's dogs poop in the unfenced part of our yard. We have a couple of dogs that wander the area and do their business in other people's yards.

I have two of mine that can be trusted off leash. Carly loves to run and even when she's chasing a rabbit when we call, she stops and comes right back. Muffin only wants to go where her daddy is so if I have her off leash it's only when she can find him close by. The others cannot be trusted at all.

Off the subject, but here's one for you. I came home one night and the neighbor's horse had gotten loose and came up by our front step and pooped in the yard. I was sooooo mad!