Responsible pet management

According to Junior's and Ginne's owners, they often leave the gate open late at night so that the dogs can dash out and roam around the neighbourhood unleashed, footloose and carefree.

Usually, the two girls will return, galloping after a good gallivanting at the park and along the quiet streets.

Once, someone did complain about the free-roaming dogs and the family was visited by the police and given a warning. But the footloose-ness ensued.

Of course, time and again, I cautioned the owners not to continue with letting the dogs run wild, because, there ARE people who are afraid of dogs; Ginne is not that friendly a dog to strangers; traffic can be dangerous even on neighbourly streets; there might be stray dogs around and dog fights will result; other dog owners walking their dogs might be displeased; the dogs will provoke the street cats... and the list of points going against the habit of letting the dogs run wild in a neighbourhood goes on.

By letting our dogs run wild, unleashed and unmonitored, what are we showing to our dog owners -- that we are poor animal disciplinarians and owners? An irresponsible lot?

What are we showing to the public, people we are working so hard to educate about responsible pet ownership and animal awareness? That our canine friends are a nuisance-causing bunch?

Every single act of irresponsibility counts and builds into a collective 'argument' for people to resist the notion of animal welfare and conservation, or completely reject it. We do not wish the work we've done so far to defeat the very cause that propels it. Very importantly, we'll strive and continue to educate.

Educate and educate.

Constructively.