#Middlebury #Dog
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I don’t own a dog, but I have a minor problem with one. My neighbor has a Staffordshire terrier named Hazel. Almost every day, Hazel is let out into the neighbor’s backyard, and she quickly escapes by jumping over the short gate at the side of the house. Then she walks into my yard to visit me as I work in the garden.
Hazel is very nice, so I don’t feel threatened at all. I’ll give her a few pats and then lead her back over to her house. But I worry about her running around the neighborhood, off-leash and unsupervised. How should I approach my neighbor about her roaming? – Greg in Albany, New York
DEAR GREG: You’re right to be concerned. Hazel could be hit by a car; she could be attacked by another dog; or she could frighten other residents who might injure her. If police or animal control officers see her, she will likely be picked up and taken to the local pound.
The next time Hazel comes over to visit, head next door and knock on your neighbor’s door. Talk to them calmly about raising the height of the gate so that she can’t leap over it.
You’re a good neighbor to bring Hazel back each time, but ultimately it is the responsibility of her owner to make sure she stays in her yard. Remind your neighbor that having a dog off a leash can result in steep fines from the city or county.
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