Obey The Leash Law

To the Editor,

There is a leash law in Connecticut requiring dog owners to keep their dogs on a leash when outside their property. That law sounds as simple as “don’t drive through a red light.” So, how come there are residents of our town who blatantly disregard the leash law, violating our rights, not least of which is our right and our children’s right to safely enjoy our yards, streets and neighborhoods. On behalf of my family and on behalf of all other concerned parents, children and citizens of this town, I ask those of you who “walk” your dogs without a leash or let your dogs “run free” to do the right thing, the lawful thing and put your dogs on a leash!

My husband and I are dog lovers and have had a number of dogs over the years. As a dog lover, I understand how some of you reading this think, “not my dog, my dog would never hurt anyone.” However, we must realize that a dog is still an animal and is always capable of harming a child or adult, irrespective of upbringing; no matter how good our intentions, accidents do happen and will continue to happen at an alarming rate until and unless our leash law is observed. Millions of people are injured every year by dogs whose owners think their dog is harmless. Remember, keeping your dog on a leash is the law and the law does not care how allegedly “harmless” your dog is any more than the police care how good a driver you are in going through that red light.

When I was seven months pregnant last year, a neighbor was “walking” her “harmless” dogs, sans leash, when my husband and I were on our own property. The dogs charged at us at full speed as my husband yelled, in vain, at the owner to call the dogs off. To our horror, one of the dogs pounced on my stomach. Luckily, my unborn child and I were unharmed physically, but the emotional scars remain. My blood runs cold to think if a small child had been in my place, unable to defend herself.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, approximately five million people are bitten by dogs every year and most of these dogs are animals their owners swear are “harmless.” The CDC considers dog bites a serious health problem for children and adds that many “normal” behaviors of children like running and squealing look like actions of prey to a dog.

As a result of people continuing to “walk” their dogs without leashes on my street, all of whom do not live on this street, I feel like a prisoner in my own home, limited as to when and where I can walk my baby daughter in her stroller. Even when I venture onto my street, a cul de sac, I fear that someone and their dog will be coming down the street, trapping me and my baby. I was shocked to learn that someone else in town has not walked on her street in over 15 years because of a neighbor’s dog. Her children grew up never being able to play in their yard or ride their bikes on their street. I refuse to tolerate this situation because others choose to break the law.

For 2000 and beyond, please obey our leash law and respect the rights of your neighbors and the safety of our children. Continuing to “walk” your dogs unleashed is a disaster waiting to happen. Also remember to have your dog registered with the town in June and have your dog receive a rabies shot.

Angela Trombly

Briarwood Lane, Newtown                 January 5, 2000