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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Dog Problems Often Start With The Owner

Scene One: Two huge dogs, unrestrained by leashes, take daily walks in the parking lot around Albi Stadium. Dogless people walk there, too. One morning, the dogs jumped on two of the dogless walkers. They yelled “Hey, get down.” The dog’s owner seemed miffed. She called her dogs off saying, “Come on, kids, we’ll walk near friendly people.”

Scene Two: The family’s dog barked in the early morning hours. Neighbors reported it to animal-control officials. The family told the neighbors that from now on if they heard the dog barking, they should simply go to the fence, say the dog’s name and tell him to be quiet.

Throughout the month of June, the U.S. Postal Service has been educating people about the dangers and costs of dog bites. Last year, 4.7 million people were bit by dogs, and insurance companies paid out $1 billion in claims. But dog bites are a smaller piece of a larger problem: dog-owner responsibility.

If owners took more care choosing, training and vigilantly watching their dogs, much money, hassle and tragedy could be avoided. And dogs can be the source of tragedy; almost a dozen people die each year from dog bites and many are children.

Unfortunately, some dog owners think the rest of the world should adapt to their dogs. They flash you dirty looks if you remind them that dogs must be on leashes. They seem offended if you complain about barking or frisky dogs who jump on you when not welcome. They buy dogs without doing their homework on the genetics and temperament of the animals. Corgis, for instance, were bred as herders. That’s why they like to nip at people’s heels. A good skill for keeping sheep in line, but an irritating skill on the walking path.

“I love dogs and I am an avid walker, but I also hate to be accosted by a dog when I’m walking,” says Larry Shook, a Spokane author who often writes about dogs. “If you want to own a dog, you need to educate yourself. If you’re not prepared to take it on, you shouldn’t own a dog.”

Dog-owner responsibility also means investing in dog-training courses, obeying leash laws, neutering the animal, because unneutered dogs are more likely to bite.

Dogs can add much to families and neighborhoods. They love and protect humans. Older people who own dogs suffer less depression than dogless folks. Dogs truly can be “man’s best friend.” But whether a dog is a welcome ally or a dangerous liability rests solely with the best friend’s owner.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Rebecca Nappi/For the editorial board