Use some common sense with your dog

Ken Johnston

Why is it we need rules?
Sometimes it seems so ridiculous to have them. After all how many people follow them all to a letter? Not very many.
Rules are needed to keep some semblance of order in society. Whether it is a sporting event, a simple board game or every day things like tying our dogs up.
As spring is just around the corner dogs will begin to run; in search of a mate. They can not help it and do not know any better.
Monday on my way to work I watched a dog work its way down the alley, ripping and tearing garbage bag after bag open.
Then when I arrived at work I heard a horrific story of two dogs at large attacking a smaller dog that was tied up.
The owner of the little dog ended up with a big vet bill and the villains got away scott free.

Rainy River has rules against dogs running loose. Most people follow them, but the few that do not are putting not only other dogs but cats and people at risk as well.
Atikokan is currently working on bylaws to have cats tied up. I mentioned it to some locals here and they said, “There is no way I am gonna tie my cat up with all the dogs roaming the streets here. That would put the cat in danger.”
One of these days it is not going to be the little dog next door that gets savagely hurt, it is going to be a little kid.
While the Town has no one to enforce the bylaws, it only takes common sense and a few minutes of one’s time to put the dog on a tie out. Or better yet, take the dog for a leashed walk.
Think about it this way... what if it was your dog or your kid being attacked and hurt.
–Until then, Ken