Dogs on the Loose

Editor, The Mountain Press:

Reference the letter-to-the-editor printed in the September 12th The Mountain Press concerning the big brown dog intentionally being hit by the driver of a white four-door car.

How about the more pervasive problem in Sevier county; you know the problem of dogs running loose? The author of the letter described the dog as a family pet wearing a collar with a rabies tag. Family pet; running loose? If that isn’t a contradiction what is? Family pets are at home, in the house not out running around.

Does anyone consider the drivers who accidentally hit dogs or other animals? How traumatic it is for them? Imagine a mother, driving her young daughter to school and accidentally hits a dog, you know one of those family pets. How upsetting it is to the mother? How upsetting it is to the daughter? How upsetting for the family pet?

Owners of animals are similar in their actions as are those who like to smoke. Since they like it EVERYONE must like it too. Some even want to share their animals so much that they leave them outside so everyone can enjoy them, especially the barking at all hours day and night and let them run loose stepping on the flowers and leaving surprises in the neighboring yards (spreading the love so to speak).

Intentionally running over an animal of any species is wrong and should be punished but if that family pet had not been permitted to run loose the cruel and inhumane act never would have occurred. Who is more cruel the person who commits the act or the persons who knowingly create the situation that permits the act to occur?