Though the monsters who left rat poison at Loyola Beach deserve all the punishment that can be mustered (Metro, March 1 and 2), the leash is a measure dog owners ought to utilize–for the safety of their pets, and others.
In almost 18 years on patrol as a Chicago police officer, I have had occasion to write many tickets to dog owners for not picking up after their dogs and/or letting them run free. As a dog owner, my dog is always on leash. Why? There are several reasons.
First, he’ll always be leashed because it is the law. Those who disagree with any laws or city ordinances are welcome to challenge them by established legal means.
Next, there are other dogs that stiffen and growl as soon as they see him: Domineering types can quickly make life miserable for any friendly pooches.
Third, some loving dogs want no more than to run up to all they meet and share their affection. But parents have a right not to have their small children knocked down, and people who are afraid of dogs have a right to pass in peace, not fear. Some poor souls are allergic to animals, and even one lick from your friendly pooch can mean days of hives and antihistamines.
Last, not all dogs listen to their owners reliably. While training him years ago, I had my dog in what I thought was easy grabbing distance, an arm’s-length away. He broke from a down-stay, ran and was bumped by a car before I reached the curb. Though there was no damage to either, both dog and driver were badly shaken. That dog owners are in a park is not a relevant argument: Roads run through the city’s parks and are almost certainly within an excited dog’s dash for a squirrel or cat. If a chase or a scent carries a dog out of earshot from its owner, the dog may become panicked and disoriented.
Just as there are laws and other measures in society for those who cannot or will not control themselves, a leash means external control to an animal–you’re the boss, not the dog. There are retractable leashes and extra-long leashes, with 25 to 50 feet of cotton webbing. Surely it is enough, so that all may use the public ways without needless worry.
