You see this criminal? Breaking the law right before your eyes. Do you see it? Because I sure didn’t. This is my first dog. I don’t know much about dogs other than what I’ve observed from friends and family that have them. And when we got this one, at 50+ pounds, it was clear she was a bull in a china shop and going to be a handful. So we made the decision to have her professionally trained, living with the trainer for a month. Boot camp you could say.
And she came back a different dog. It’s been a life changer. No longer the wrecking ball. She can come, sit, stay, and stop doing anything on command. She is so good, I can walk her off leash. And that’s where the trouble began.
I was playing fetch with her at a park when another dog walker approached. Mine barked and walked over investigate, stopping at a respectful distance. Still, I called for her to come back. The other dog owner walks past me and says, “Your dog needs to be on a leash”. I replied, “But she’s under control.”, pointing to her laying at my feet. But then they say something that shot right through my heart: “It’s the law”.
I was sad, confused, and angry all at once. I thought this couldn’t be right. Really? It’s the law? When I have her under complete voice control? And even an electronic device in my pocket linked to her collar, should the need arise to press that dastardly button? It can’t be!
When I got home I looked it up, and sure enough: in our county, a dog must be on the leash when not on private property. More sadness, confusion, and anger all at once. When I read the spirit of the law though, it seems to be based on dogs that free roam around the neighborhood. Thou shalt pay a fine for impoundment of wandering ones. Which certainly would not be the case for a man and his obedient frisbee chaser. Right? Right??
Well, I don’t know. I just don’t know. But it just wouldn’t leave my mind that technically, yea, it’s the law. I can’t argue with that. And I don’t want to deal with ornery leash-walkers over it.
So I changed my behavior. I take her to a distant park. One that is larger, harder to get to, and farther away. And I’ve discovered something… a handful of other folks doing the same thing. A secret society of off leashers. And we keep to ourselves. Leave each other alone.
Do I still break the law? Yea, I guess so. But if a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?
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