Dog Owner's Responsibility

My dogs are priceless to me as well and I have compassion for the dog owner whose dog was shot last week and put the notice in the paper.

I do not know who shot her dog, who her neighbors are and if they tried to resolve this issue through communication beforehand, nor do I condone what they did, but she could have prevented this traumatic and expensive occurrence by keeping her dog home. Dogs have great exercise needs and strong instincts to wander and search.

It is the owner's responsibility through time and commitment to see that these exercise needs are met, then the dog needs to either be trained to stay within your property  boundaries or kept in a pen or both. It is not your neighbor's responsibility to shoo your dog home. 

Whether you live in town or in the country it is every dog owner's responsibility to keep their dog at home. Even the nicest dogs disturb wildlife when they gently wander or actively pursue game — they disturb birds off of their nests, rabbits out of their dens, turtles trying to lay eggs, deer feeding in fields or woods, and at times livestock just by their mere presence.

A person walking a dog on a leash has been studied and proven many times to disturb more wildlife than a person walking alone. A loose dog disturbs more.

Unfortunately, as in this case, mostly the dog pays the ultimate price instead of the dog owner.

Not heartless but drawing a line.

Jan Rose

Moyie Springs