Originally Posted by Fonk
I was waiting for an arrogant statement like that. That's the problem w/ so many of you who have posted here already - you think dogs are THINGS to be OWNED. Did it ever occur to you that a dog is a free spirit w/ a personality just like you and me? And perhaps he/she deserves more than to always be locked in house or kennel, tied up on a leash, locked in a car, etc. Perhaps affording them a little freedom beyond 3 or 4 feet is simply the humane thing to do? I'm amazed at the arrogance of people - thinking we have more right to enjoy this earth than any other animal, simply because we have an "advanced" (and I use that term loosely here) brain stem. There's more out there than just you and your bike...
In many cities (Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Mexico City), dogs are afforded this freedom. They roam around in packs foraging for food and garbage, unnuetered, and constantly creating more unwanted dogs. They are skinny, hungry, and sickly lookgin. These aren't dodgy 3rd world cities. These are cities and neigborhoods where well dress ladies walk the street in high designer clothes, and the dogs sit in alleys next to dumpsters nearby. A well fed and cared for dog, (while leash restricted), is in far better health than their "freedom loving" counterparts.
And most dog owners are generous with their dog's freedom. There's plenty of places for dogs to run free in the city. Dog runs, fenced in baseball fields, a trip out to the beach. Just don't be generous on a multi use path OR STREET!!. A few months ago on a steep dowhill grade two ladies were walking on the far right. I saw something scurry on the LEFT side of the street and realized their tiny dog was playing in the bushes, attached by a leash spanning the street.
And yes we (humans) are more advanced, is that even an issue? If we weren't on a higher cerebral level we'd be eating stray dogs, rather than volunteering at animal rescue places rehabilitating sick and unwanted pets and placing them in good homes.