Jackson Free Press

A little beagle with a blue collar on Arrowhead Drive in Fondren is going to die soon. I hate to be so blunt, but whoever owns that dog is irresponsible, and doesn't deserve that wonderful little creature. When I walk by his/her house on morning walks, chances are the little dog will be outside and decide to follow me. It then runs out in front of cars and starts chasing other loose dogs in the neighborhood. It's going to get killed.

This morning, the little dog left me in tears. It insisted on following me, and wouldn't go home. So I turned around to go back home, hoping he'd stop at his house. Nope. He kept following me that way. Then when we rounded the Council Circle curve, a woman opened her front door and let her little gray dog run into the yard unleashed. It immediately saw the beagle and charged us in the middle of the intersection as she stood in her doorway. Then a car came around the curve and would have hit them both, and perhaps me, as it slammed on its brakes. By then I was crying tears of frustration and yelled at her about all the dogs running loose in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, the beagle's owner was nowhere to be seen, already at work I presume, as their little dog's life was in danger.

I love dogs. I love animals. I love to go on peaceful walks. All of the irresponsible dog owners in Fondren (and the rest of the city, but Fondren has it bad) who are allowing their dogs to roam free are hurting my quality of life and my ability to go on walks without having to run their dogs out of the road, or perhaps scoop one off the pavement after it is killed. These people do not deserve the honor of owning pets. Neither do people who have animals who do not get them fixed so they contribute to the problem of wild animals in our city.

This morning was not an isolated incident. It happens all the time because some people are acting like rednecks with their dogs loose outside, thinking they are the center of the world because they don't want to walk their animals, or are too cold to leave their doorway when their dog runs out loose, or whatever the excuse can possibly be.

A dog has killed one of my cats in my front yard, and more recently a dog attacked my cat Eddie under my carport, nearly killing him and costing me hundreds of dollars. Just a few weeks ago, a friend's cat was killed by a neighbor's dog as it slept in its garage in its heated bed. Fortunately, he lived, but now I cannot let my cats go outside or even under my own carport due to neighbor's dogs that are running loose because their owners are too irresponsible or self-centered to understand the dangers and stress they are posting to neighbors, other animals and their own damn dogs. If you have a cat that goes outside in this city, changes are that a dog will kill it, and it may well be a neighbor's dog. Beware.

From this point forward, I am going to have zero tolerance for this problem, and call on others to do the same. If you see a dog outside and know who the owner is, alert them and ask them not to let it run loose again. Tell them you don't want to take care of their animals for them. If you see it out again, call a shelter or animal control. Of course, the idea that our city is going to do anything right these days, much less deal with animals in a humane way, is laughable. Thus, I also invite suggestions about how we can form a community effort to take care of loose dogs humanely and educate the owners that they are being irresponsible.

People, this is a serious problem in our city, and I implore everyone of you to take this seriously, as it affects our quality of life and is cruelty to animals (theirs and ours). A few people acting like hicks makes us all look bad. Pass this on, especially to people you know who allow their dogs to roam free. It needs to stop now, and I will do everything in my power to make it stop, including putting collar information and street addresses in my newspaper.

Previous Comments

ID

142000

Comment

Bump. Damn it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-12-04T10:51:46-06:00

ID

142001

Comment

A guy plead guilty yesterday in Madison county for poisoning the neighbor's dogs because the neighbor wouldn't keep her dogs off his property. Terrible story although I understand the anger of the defendant. I understand the love and sympathy for dogs or animals that animal-lovers have although I don't have nor want any animals myself. I can't stand owners who don't keep up with their animals or keep them on a least and on their own property, and I'm looking for ways short of death, injury, poisoning or cruelty to keep other people animals out of my yard, garage and house. My granchildren love animals - dogs and cats, etc. - and one of their parents thought she would change our views of not wanting or owning any by bringing the grandchildren by to visit along with their pets. We always said leave the children but take the pets. I've joked many times about my dog phantom. I named him that because he doesn't exist. However, all good stories need a dog in them. Dealing with humans is bad enough. Why complicate life further by adding animals? Any suggestions anybody on how to deal with neighbors and their animals?

Author

Walt

Date

2008-12-04T11:12:34-06:00

ID

142004

Comment

Maybe I should beat up or shoot the neighbor since the animals aren't responsible for their acts. Yeah, this is the ticket.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-12-04T11:27:35-06:00

ID

142005

Comment

There are some people in my neighborhood who should never get another dog. The kids are too rough on little puppies, and every time they get a puppy, it disappears after a few months. I'm convinced that they're abusing each puppy to the point of killing them because I've see how they have swung them in the air by their hind legs, throw things at them, etc.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-12-04T11:35:41-06:00

ID

142006

Comment

No, don't beat up or shoot anybody, but we do need to talk to them. I realized this morning that if I do not start communicating with these people about the inconvenience they are causing me, and the danger they are putting their animals in, that I'm going to continue to explode into tears like a crazy woman. So I'm going to choose the reasonable-but-firm path. Not to mention putting their stories on my blog. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-12-04T11:39:44-06:00

ID

142010

Comment

Donna, it's pretty rough in your area of Fondren. Every time I jog through with my dog, it's a nightmare! First, he's deaf... So, he over-analyzes every dog's body language which makes him a little hyper-sensitive to unrestrained and poorly trained dogs . Those unleashed dogs come pouncing towards him and the insanity ensues. There are at least three of them on my usual trek and they must take great joy in setting my dog and me off. It ruins what should be a relaxing run and turns it into a stressful and chaotic experience for both of us (especially him since I can't soothe him or verbally keep him in check like other dogs). Since these people aren't my direct neighbors, I simply yell expletives about the !@#$!@# dogs and even more about the dog's !@#$@!#$ owners (hoping they'll hear). I then have to run as fast as possible to the next dog waiting in a yard with no owner in site. What's even more !@#$-up? These people usually have big, fenced backyards! There's also a pack of about 6 dogs that roam the 'hood in the early morning (12am-6am). I still can't determine if they're homeless or some vagabond pack of dogs whose owners feel no need to restrain their dogs overnight. They have terrorized many of my 5:30am jogs. And, please, don't get me started about the idiots that walk their dogs on 30ft extend-a-leashes. What's the point of a leash if the dog is 30ft in front of you? A dog on a walk should be ON A LEASH! Not on some tether that let's your lazy ass sit and watch your dog terrorize everyone's walks/runs/rides. Oh snap... There I go. I got started and had to stop myself. Just thinking about it all unnerves me!

Author

kaust

Date

2008-12-04T12:01:38-06:00

ID

142011

Comment

After reading knol's, Donna's and LW's posts coupled with the going-ons in my own neighborhood of nearly 500 houses, I'm left with the conclusion of popping some caps in a few neighbor's behind. I haven't beat up or shot anybody in a long time, and frankly, I miss it. Don't worry y'all I'll use my grandsons' pump bb guns and hide in the woods so as to not be identified. I ain't stone crazy, you know.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-12-04T12:15:25-06:00

ID

142012

Comment

I feel you, Knol. I came home crying, it was so frustrating. No fewer than five times, I've watched a loose (not feral) dog in Fondren run in front of a car right in front of me. I'm fed up with people who would put their dogs in this danger, and violate my peace of mind this way. I will do anything in my power to change this and educate these backward-minded pet owners.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-12-04T12:54:32-06:00

ID

142013

Comment

I actually know who owns that dog and I've said something to her. When my partner and I walk our menagerie around the neighborhood and come back up Arrowhead, there he is. The thing is, like most people in Fondren, she has a fenced in back yard but lets her indoor pet outside in the front in the morning, at lunch and in the evening.

Author

Puck

Date

2008-12-04T13:21:18-06:00

ID

142014

Comment

And I guess I'm one of the idiots that Knol is talking about as we have our dogs on the "30 foot extend-a-leashes", though we reel them in when passing anyone or if a car comes by :) Even when you, Dwayne and Jenny are walking :)

Author

Puck

Date

2008-12-04T13:30:01-06:00

ID

142015

Comment

Ha! It's the people with extend-a-leashes that somehow manage to not notice their dog is across the street harassing others... They're the idiots. ;-) I nearly had one pull me off a bike because I ran over the leash on my bike. The dog was literally across the street in another yard and the owner was paying attention to another dog 30ft in the other direction. Puck and Donna, I also know the dog and it's one of the one's that causes my morning or evening cursefests.

Author

kaust

Date

2008-12-04T13:49:40-06:00

ID

142016

Comment

The thing is, like most people in Fondren, she has a fenced in back yard but lets her indoor pet outside in the front in the morning, at lunch and in the evening. I don't exist on a plane where that makes a damn lick of sense to me. She's breaking the leash law and needs to be reported.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-12-04T15:29:11-06:00

ID

142018

Comment

Unfortunately, they don't do much. They'd warn. They may fine but they'd be more apt to take the dog to the pound. I think we'll all agree the City Pound is nothing more than a death sentence. Speaking of critters, I have a kitty that needs a home. Found her at Metro yesterday. If anyone's interested, I can email details.

Author

kaust

Date

2008-12-04T15:34:05-06:00

ID

142019

Comment

I agree about the city pound; anything related to the city I don't trust right now. I think the key is some sort of concerned citizen's group and maybe a message board where people can report loose animals, where they live (if available) and have people willing to walk up and knock on their doors and nicely-but-firmly tell them that their neighbors do not appreciate their dogs roaming around off leash. I am simply not going go through what i did this morning without confronting these owners.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-12-04T15:38:37-06:00

ID

142020

Comment

Crap..... after typing all of this out I hit the wrong button and lost all that I typed, so here goes again... Fondren has strict rules about pets being a nuisance. And the neighborhood will go after you in a heart beat if you are reported. Forgive me, I don't know how to post links but... http://www.hoatown.com/ourfondren/module.php?page=link_view_page&pid=11326 lists how you can report it and who to report it to. I think Bill Wardlaw is in charge of code enforcement. Anyway, they are really good about following up on things and talking to (and dealing with) the violators - I've seen them in action.

Author

Puck

Date

2008-12-04T15:49:36-06:00

ID

142027

Comment

Truthfully, I'm not a big fan of the OurFondren group. Too much "I saw a black man in Fondren" for my taste. Although, some of them have assured me they're not doing that as much. Hopefully, that's true.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-12-04T18:10:08-06:00

ID

142030

Comment

No animals are suppose to run loose, dogs or cats. Some cat owners let their cats run loose, also. Several big well fed cats love my back yard and sleep on my deck. I agree with your frustration about loose animals. I have a fear of dogs I don't know and that compounds the problem for me. Our Fondren's 2 focuses are quality of life and code enforcement. This definitely goes to quality of life. If after the owner is asked to please keep the dog up and that doesn't work, seems reporting it to Our Fondren might help. I appreciate your comment, Donna, but I also appreciate what the organization has done to improve our neighborhood and make it safer. I realize the job is never done and sometimes people say things that don't suit you or me--we all do that--but I appreciate the focus on scrutiny in our neighborhoods. It is helpful to have information shot into my computer about strangers scouting out the neighborhood and/ot trying to solicit. It is an important part of taking back our neighborhoods from crime. Congrats on the walking.

Author

J.T.

Date

2008-12-04T20:21:15-06:00

ID

142031

Comment

Oops, I think I misspoke. I think the 2 focuses of Our Fondren are Quality of Life and Crime Prevention and Code Enforcement falls under Quality of Life. Anyway, reporting the loose animals to them might help. Worth a try.

Author

J.T.

Date

2008-12-04T20:35:06-06:00

ID

142036

Comment

I hear your frustration, Donna. I don't live in Fondren (but I aspire to one of these days!), but my dog Sally came to me from a former neighbor who used to just let her roam around our parking lot and up and down the street, no leash whatsoever. I used to cringe when I would see her roaming around because she was a little puppy at the time, and I just knew she was going to get run over. I am not afraid of dogs at all, but I can see how it would be unnerving when you are trying to walk your own dog or go for a run and strays are all around. I don't think cats should be left to roam around outside, either, for the same reasons -- something can and probably will happen to them eventually. Some friends of mine lost their cat not too long ago because they would just let him out to roam the neighborhood until he was ready to come back in -- he got run over. Now they have a new kitty who never goes outside and is happy as a clam. I don't get people not utlizing their back yards, either. I would give anything to have a nice fenced backyard for Sally to play in (and she could have a few playmates then too). I do hope things get better in your neighborhood. Whatever you do, please do not call the pound. If anything, see if one of the no-kill shelters in the area can take a stray if you find one. I support ARF of MS (www.arfms.com), and CARA is another no-kill shelter in town.

Author

andi

Date

2008-12-04T22:35:51-06:00

ID

142037

Comment

"strays are all around." - andi Andi, for me, the problem is that the dogs are not strays... They have pretty nice homes with fenced backyards. Their owners let them sit in the front yard and terrorize walkers and runners (especially walkers with leashed dogs) and cyclists. Jeez. How bad is it that we all know the same dog!? Maybe we need to hold a candlelight vigil for the dog's safety one night. ;-)

Author

kaust

Date

2008-12-05T10:13:18-06:00

ID

142038

Comment

The more I listen to y'all complain, the more I know I need bust a cap or knock the crap out of some neighbors about their dogs. Why don't y'all stop the futile complaining and join me in doing something unusual, or are y'all cowards scared to face charges for doing a good deed? "Some people do, some people don't, but some people do do."

Author

Walt

Date

2008-12-05T10:18:23-06:00

ID

142039

Comment

Stop the violent talk, Walt. I know you're kidding, but not everyone does. I'm at home working this a.m., and a dog from one of the neighbors on the other side of the street is loose and running all over the neighborhood barking. A little while ago, I watched him chase a truck. He's a beautiful dog, and he's in danger of getting run over. I think what happened is that the cleaning people came and left the gate open. I'd walk over there and say something, but the dog is looking pretty rambunctious right now, so I'm not sure it's safe. Clearly, getting all the neighbor's work numbers would be a good start.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-12-05T10:28:19-06:00

ID

142041

Comment

Knol, I really meant that in the technical sense of the word -- they do belong to someone, but they are "straying" from home, running loose. Sorry for the confusion! But I understood y'all to also mention that there are some actual strays/feral dogs running around too. I worry about the ones they mentioned that keep snacking on the flamingoes at the zoo. Those zoo animals are vulnerable, especially flamingoes and the like, but also the reason those dogs keep breaking in and killing is because they are starving and just trying to survive. They need to be picked up and placed in a shelter.

Author

andi

Date

2008-12-05T10:37:41-06:00

ID

142043

Comment

Alright Donna since you're trying to turn me into a pacifist, weakling or practicing Christian, I'll just stay in the house so that I won't see the dogs or neighbors misbehaving and therefore get tempted to do something unusual in order to speed up the process of the neighborc coming of age and taking better care of their dogs.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-12-05T10:53:10-06:00

ID

142044

Comment

J.T. this is is slightly off topic and may call for another thread but Im concerned about what Im hearing here. As a Black man, and frankly a sometimes menacing looking black man(depending on time of day:-) who is possibly moving into Fondren before months end. Im not looking forward to being profiled where I live and breathe, relax or entertain company. The chances are that I will now be running through fondren (with MY dog) on my morning run. Or walking to McDades or Eating at Roosters or Walkers. or walking with my beloved or kids(who are Black BTW lol) and this "strangers scouting the neighborhood" concept is relative. Especially for folks who equate Black w/ Crime. and it will speak to the long-term stigma that fondren gets. I dont want my move to be a mistake. And OurFondren doesnt want an angry Kaze showing up at thier meeting either Im sure!

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2008-12-05T10:57:54-06:00

ID

142045

Comment

And our Sheeba will not be running unattended.:-) Its simply a rude practice. Period. And there is NO excuse for it.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2008-12-05T11:04:21-06:00

ID

142046

Comment

Kaze, welcome to Fondren. As an Our Fondren Street Capt, I can tell you that on my one block street, I have 4 black familes who are my friends, some with children, some without. I have a neighbor who is Thai and Caucasian. I have 6 Caucasian familes who are my friends. The reason I live in Fondren and have for almost 20 years is because I am only alive when I am living in a place of diversity, culturally and age wise and every other wise. Sometimes on the Our Fondren website--which only Our Fondren members have access to--a person who is wandering in the neighborhood and acting like a vagrant and no one knows them or is soliciting and not consistent with the law, the neighbors alert other neighbors as a crime prevention tactic. They might describe the person in terms of their size, race, etc. I appreciate the work of Our Fondren. I feel safer with its involvement. I have personally seen it transform some areas in terms of houses that need to be given attention to code, and I have seen the network deter crime. Again, welcome to Fondren.

Author

J.T.

Date

2008-12-05T11:16:15-06:00

ID

142047

Comment

There's a mob of six or seven dogs running through Fondren nightly. The largest looks like a mastiff. Ironically, considering the discussion heretofor, the dogs are either all black or mostly black (this posse may have a bias against non-black dogs, I don't know). One limps and appears to have a broken leg. I'm not calling animal control. For one thing, they keep bankers' hours. For another, I wouldn't do that to any dog. As far as I can tell, CARA never has room for new dogs and I wouldn't know how to catch these guys anyway. They are a nuisance but I feel badly for them. Re: black people living in Fondren. There are plenty here and I recognize couples (husband and wives, female friends, a woman and her beautiful dog) who have the energy to take daily walks through the neighborhood without showing up on the Fondren crime/safety alerts. For the most part, neighbors keep an eye out for each other. We are asked not to encourage people who walk through the neighborhood asking to rake leaves for money or whatever (years ago I made the mistake of paying one of these people and he showed up a few days later knocking on my door at midnight and demanding more money). And then there was the infamous pain-in-the-ass Michael (who may have been killed in the last year). I've lived on my street for about twenty years. In that time I've had drug dealers and crack houses on the street and I make as much trouble for them as I can (I've found out the hard way that the city isn't going to help AT ALL) and so far I've outlasted all of them.

Author

Jennifer2

Date

2008-12-05T11:59:31-06:00

ID

142048

Comment

Jennifer, the mob of dogs you mentioned are the same ones that I see all the time and mentioned above. They're skiddish and I only see them on a very early (5-6am) jog... Something tells me they're also the reason my dogs go nuts in the middle of the night.

Author

kaust

Date

2008-12-05T12:03:56-06:00

ID

142049

Comment

They aren't mean dogs. They will run if approached. I had a cat killed this summer presumably by this group but my own dogs (who live peacefully with my cats) will give chase and kill a cat if the cat runs from them just as my cats will chase and kill birds and squirrels. The dogs don't appear to be starving so I don't know for sure that they are feral as opposed to being owned by various people and just forming a black-dog-only gang every night. (My red cats used to have their own club so it's possible). (And I don't mean gang in a pejorative sense).

Author

Jennifer2

Date

2008-12-05T12:12:09-06:00

ID

142050

Comment

Kaze, don't do it man. You will regret it. Allow me to recount my travails of living outside my race or race-neutrally. I live in Ridgeland and I and the wife are the only black persons on my street. There are nearly 600 houses in my neighborhood ranging from the 2 to about 8 figure, and I aver the neighborhood is only 10% black, if that. There is even a gate and a security person for safety. How many of us know this lifestyle? However, the neighborhood is only about 1.5 miles from where I grew up and close to the freeway, so I can argue I didn't move far from home and I made a practical decision, a personal thing to me as a black male. However, since we're the only blacks on my street, everytime something is taken, stolen or misplaced from a neighbor's house, the clubhouse, swimmimg pool, tennis courts, et al, and I hear about it, I write my whereabouts on a piece of paper and post it on my front door so everyone can come by and read it at their leisure. I can't count the number of people sneaking to my door and reading the note. I can hear some even comment upon leaving, to the effect of "apparently, it wasn't him this time." When I moved in, one of my next door neighbors who has now moved (not my fault) came to me and asked who was moving in. I said "eyes your next door neighbor." I'm not sure what she said as she walked surprisingly and disappointedly away, but it sounded a lot like the s-word. To compound this, several neighbors wouldn't speak to me for months; afraid, I assume, I wouldn't cut my yard, pick up my leaves and keep oil out my driveway. I won't mention the fear likely brought on by anticipation of front yard bar-b-ques, loud music, and friends dropping by wearing drooping britches and sanging songs using cuss words that bad-mouthed women. So far, none of them have tried to beat me up or run me off. I think this is a good time to say I made all of this up, and to add I have had wonderful neighbors. I'm probably the most popular person on the street. All of them stop and chat with me regularly. Several have been in my house. I have been in many of theirs. Everyone in the neighborhood but us seems to have dogs or cats. That's why I went and purchased Phantom.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-12-05T13:29:30-06:00

ID

142065

Comment

I think I'm going to go figure out if this software will let me limit the number of lies Walt can tell in a given timeframe. ;-)

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2008-12-05T17:15:02-06:00

ID

142067

Comment

I only lie about a 10-25% of the time. The rest is the truth, mostly. The truth often isn't very funny, or alrming; so, according to my college buddies, I can readily doctor the stories up to give them pop, pomp and circumstance. They eventually opted for not telling me anything else having people laughing at them without ever knowing the real truth. I apologize for this and that I haven't done yet.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-12-05T17:28:00-06:00

ID

142109

Comment

I say if you want someone to do the right thing try embarrasing them into doing it. I'm not sure if you can do this in Fondren, but if you can post flyers with pictures of of cute little critters about to become roadkill with a lady standing in her doorway watching it all go down. If that doesn't work, just these animal abusers out every chance you get.

Author

foreverlovelacy

Date

2008-12-08T13:47:13-06:00

ID

142118

Comment

I'm a new dog owner and I find this blog to be a bit harsh. I am sure there is frustration, however, I am very interested in knowing, why is this just a dog issue. I've seen cats roaming around in Fondren too. Is there no concern for cats because they are not dogs? What? I don't get it. Seems a bit unfair to me. If the cats were not out, how could the dogs get to them??? I'm confused. And, let me say AGAIN...I'm a new pet owner so this is a very informative blog and I'm thankful for it. However, it does seem to be leaning on the dog side in a very harsh way and I don't think anyone who posted ready to kill the owners stated they had dogs, but cats. Maybe there is a level of frustration with the fact that it's a dog period. I realize that there are wild dogs all over the city and causing many problems, but I don't want to have to run from dogs or cats. I also don't think that people should be judged so quickly in regards to how they keep their dogs. If you are so concerned that you're ready to cry, how about you stop at the neighbors house and tell her that she needs to put her dog on a leash when she lets him out instead of coming to the doorway and watching (or not watching). Then, if that doesn't work, then you can say that person my not be the best care giver. Then maybe your judgements may have a foundation. Until then it's just words of frustration and not a means to end a problem....

Author

Queen601

Date

2008-12-08T16:44:24-06:00

ID

142119

Comment

Cats don't normally pounce towards runners, cyclists, and walkers... They also rarely start fights with or challenge other leashed dogs being walked. Cats also don't randomly kill other people's cats as easily as a dog. They aren't prone to bite strangers walking through the neighborhood, etc. That's my beef. I, personally, don't believe cats should be roaming free either... But, let's be honest: if you're walking your dog down the street and see a cat sitting in a yard, are you seriously wondering if it may attack you or your pet? Probably not.

Author

kaust

Date

2008-12-08T16:53:27-06:00

ID

142122

Comment

I see your point. But what if I'm walking my dog and the cat is roaming freely and then my dog decides to attack the cat. who's fault is that? By the way, I am terribly afraid of cats so saying to me that cats are not as harmful as dogs or that they won't do anything...does nothing to make me feel more comfortable about cats roaming around my place and in my garbage. They are animals just like dogs. I don't see that they deserve to be given a break because they aren't at all times aggressive. If the point is that pets should be controlled...then let that be the point. So yes, I am seriously wondering while walking my dog if the cat will attack me! It has happened before and now I'm afraid that one of these days it may happen again. I understand your beef and please believe me I'm not saying that wild dogs don't need to be handled around the city - please understand i am totally in agreement. My beef (as you put it kaust) is that in an effort to correct issues/problems/miscommunications, uniformity is the key. Can't make a rule about pets and make it just for dogs! One RULE....TEND TO YOUR PET (dog, cat, bird, monkey...whatever)!

Author

Queen601

Date

2008-12-08T17:06:12-06:00

ID

142123

Comment

If your dog is on a leash, then it won't be able to attack the cat, a dog or a person. I walk nearly every day in Fondren, and I've yet to see a cat cause trouble. They usually sit on their stoops looking at me warily when I try to get them to come over to be petted. That said, if you don't want cats in your yard, then that's your choice. Make a stink about it, but realize that they do not pose the same risk as dogs to the vast majority of people. Thus, loose dogs are clearly the priority. If we insist on equality, nothing ever will get done. My three cats now can't go into my front yard due to the irresponsible dog owners in the neighborhood. So I've already done something about it. BTW, there's a beautiful black dog that's been loose on my street since Friday, and is sure to get hurt. I've seen him before, but not sure where he lives. We're going to have to get someone to rescue him. I took a picture of him this morning (he's really friendly) and will try to post it later today.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-12-08T17:18:48-06:00

ID

142124

Comment

BTW, this thread is not about wild dogs; it's about pets that people are letting run loose. Wild dogs are an issue, too, but a good start will be people starting to be responsible with their own animals, including getting them fixed.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-12-08T17:20:22-06:00

ID

142128

Comment

Queen I agree with you, it's not very responsible to let cats roam freely either - see my example of my friends whose cat got run over because they let him roam all day and come inside when he felt like it. But I do think the dog thing is a priority at the moment because they are the ones who can cause the most damage and whose owners can put them on a leash (I haven't seen many cats on leashes, although I hear it can be done! LOL!) There are leash laws for a reason. Another problem on the cat side of things is, if your cat is not fixed, and you're letting it roam outside, chances are there will be more and more feral cats eventually as a result. I doubt anyone who has posted here would send their un-fixed cat outside, but it happens. Queen, what kind of dog do you have? I love love love dogs. You will enjoy your pet so much, they really are our best friends.

Author

andi

Date

2008-12-08T19:37:35-06:00

ID

142132

Comment

I also don't believe in cats roaming freely. About five million cats a year die in car accidents. My cat has always been an indoor cat, and the few times he's been out, he was on a leash. My mom's dog stays indoors as well.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-12-09T08:17:39-06:00

ID

142202

Comment

If we insist on equality, nothing ever will get done.<<<<

Author

Queen601

Date

2008-12-10T14:54:28-06:00

ID

142209

Comment

We have lots of dogs that roam the neighborhood where I live in Clinton. Bo the Black lab that chases cars, Oreo the the Shih-Tzu and Taco the Chihuahua that lay in the middle of the street sunning themselves and Cujo the Mutt that just wanders from house to house. Nobody seems to mind we all just pet them and tell them to go home.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2008-12-10T15:41:22-06:00

ID

142212

Comment

Wow, imagine that....communication! Who wouldda thunk it.

Author

Queen601

Date

2008-12-10T16:05:41-06:00

ID

142215

Comment

Queen, I live in Fondren (down the street from Donna as a matter of fact :) and please don't think that. There are about 3 annoying repeat offenders, the beagle Donna mentioned, a black fluffy dog and a hound dog mix - not sure what she is. Generally it isn't so bad but its just that they follow you everywhere or if you are walking they want to play with or mingle with your pet. Fondren is a big neighborhood and these are just a few instances. I'm sure if you go into any neighborhood, you'll find the same thing happening. It just happens on our street and the street behind us seem to be hot bed for stray or loose dogs :/

Author

Puck

Date

2008-12-10T16:20:38-06:00

ID

142217

Comment

Two years ago, I watched my neighbor's dog get hit by a car. He writhed on the pavement for a moment, made one last jerking movement and then died. I cry every time I think about it.

Author

Jennifer2

Date

2008-12-10T16:23:45-06:00

ID

142218

Comment

My dog Hercules the Min. Schnauzer, the Bane of Squirrel,Squirrels tremble at the mere whisper of his name, Defender of the Realm, Lord of the Couch, lives in the house and has a half acre backyard to play in and never goes outside in the front yard unless I am with him for his own protection, he thinks he is a 150lb Rottweiler and lets his bark get him into more trouble than his bite can take care of..LOL

Author

BubbaT

Date

2008-12-10T16:24:17-06:00

ID

142219

Comment

There are about 3 annoying repeat offenders, the beagle Donna mentioned, a black fluffy dog and a hound dog mix - not sure what she is. No doubt, those are sweet dogs. But that's a big part of the problem. They're not trained well and run out in front of cars when they follow people walking. Also, it's a problem when people let their dogs run out in the yard loose, as they stand in the doorway, and they run in front of cars. I've seen that happen twice in 10 days. I probably saved their lives, but the stress of this is making my morning walks not so great. Don't take me out of context, Queen, on the equality point. The truth is that loose dogs pose a greater risk than loose cats, and if you say to go after all animals equally if you're going to enforce leash laws on dogs, you're prolonging the risk to both the animals and people. Both dogs and cats are at risk outside–remember, I said mine do not go out any longer–but it's dogs posing a lot of the risk, and they should be the priority with enforcement and peer pressure.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-12-10T16:28:04-06:00

ID

142220

Comment

I will disagree with Puck on one point: I haven't seen it so bad in other neighborhoods here. I seldom saw a loose pet dog in Belhaven, but I see one nearly every day in Fondren, if not more than one. It's weird that it's such a progressive neighborhood, overall, with such regressive ideas about caring for animals mixed in.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-12-10T16:30:05-06:00