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Leash laws
By Denise Fautheree, Letter to the Editor
So you think your dog is safe? If it's not on a leash, my dog could probably kill your dog.
My husband and I walk our dog (who is always on a leash-body harness) but the 3 times that my dog almost ate your dog was because your dog was not on a leash.
I live in Sunset Point and was walking my dog (who is part pit bull and part hound) about 6 mos. ago and a young boy was out in his yard with his new puppy. The puppy was not on a leash and came running over to my dog who proceeded to grab the puppy by its neck. I tackled my dog and got her to let go (after some struggle) and the puppy was not harmed. The boy just stood there and watched the whole thing and when the puppy ran off, I told him to check him to see if he was ok. I didn't see any blood and I went home - I never saw that puppy again.
So, it's now the end of the year, 2012. I decided on this particular Sunday that I would go out and walk my dog. (My husband broke his foot and was unable to go with me.) I'm almost done with my walk and I turn the corner right by my home and there was a guy there with his little boy. I said hi and that the weather was nice, etc. and all of sudden from under the stroller- out comes a chihuahua running toward my dog at full speed and of course, my eyes got real big, i got down and tackled my dog but my dog grabbed that dog by the neck and wouldn't let go. The guy came over quickly and we were punching my dog, pulling her ears, everything to get her to let go. She finally did but then the guy's hand ended up inside my dogs mouth. So I had to try and help get his hand loose. In the meantime, I'm yelling at the boy to go knock on my front door so my husband could come out and help us. (He's on crutches - he couldn't do much.) And I'm screaming and crying (but nothing is really coming out because I had laryngitis) and we finally get my dog into the house but in the meantime his dog is frantic and running around like crazy and we couldn't even catch him to get him to safety cause he was so fast. It was all very terrifying and it took me about an hour to calm down.
After that, I swore I would write about these 3 incidents because none of these dogs were on a leash. And if they run toward my dog, the pit part of my dog wants to eat them. I also swore to my husband that I would never be walking my dog again in our neighborhood (or probably anywhere). And all 3 times, it was when I was walking my dog (who is well controlled by me because of the harness and leash).
Come on people. Use a damn leash. It's pretty sad when I know I will never be walking my dog again because people won't get control of their animals. One of these days, it may happen that my dog will kill your dog and it certainly won't be our fault. It will be yours - because your dog is not on a leash. Thanks.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
re8347 wrote on Mar 27, 2013 9:57 AM:
" Leash Laws are not the only answer. I was walking my two Tibetian Spanials in my neighborhood. I walded by a house that had the front windows open and their dog literaly got through their window screen and started to attack my dogs. Fortunately it was a smaller dog and I was able to fend it off without my dogs being harmed. In another case, as I was walking by a neighbors house, their two large dogs broke their front window trying to get to my two dogs. I went by several days later and they had installed double pane glass to contain their dogs. It all depends on the dog and situation. Leash laws may help but are not the only answer. I take mine to the dog park in Lewisville so they can interact with other small dogs. "
jeliii wrote on Mar 27, 2013 12:27 PM:
" As much as I'd like to agree w/ you, and Iove all dogs, I don't. I view your dog as a loaded gun in your belt. You have it secure, but you are still responsible if it goes off. There may be a place for a dog like yours, but not in public. A dog w/ that tendency is equivalent to a loaded weapon. It can go off, anytime, anywhere. You are responsible for the damage done. "
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By Denise Fautheree, Letter to the Editor
Published: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 1:29 PM CST
My dog was killed by a dog that was allowed to run free. My husband was bitten by the same dog in his attempt to rescue our little dog. We have learned that the owner of the offender is a repeat offender of the Flower Mound leash laws and has bailed their 2 Lab/shepherd mix dogs out of the pound on several occasions... what does it take to make people be responsible pet owners? PLEASE KEEP YOUR PETS CONTAINED OR ON A LEASH. "