I am writing this post to plead with all the very nice folks who like to walk their dogs off leash in Venice.

 

If your dog does not follow your voice commands 100% (no, not 99%) of the time you are doing two things consistently:  one that affects you and one that affects everyone else. I'll leave it up to you to choose which to care about, but these things are certain:

 

1) You are putting your precious poocher at risk of running into the street and suffering injury. I am sure you sincerely care about and even love love your pooch as much as I love mine, but imagine the consequences. Venice is super busy, especially in the summer, and drivers don't watch. Seriously, enough said here. 

 

2) You are infringing upon everyone else's right to walk peacefully through the neighborhood.  Remember, not everyone else's dogs or children are friendly. Just because you think your dog is the sweetest animal on the planet (and he or she just might be!), it doesn't make it right or pleasant for everyone else to have your pooch out of control circling leashed doggies. (This point is also covertly meant to protect your dog like point #1 since it might not be pretty if your pooch should happen upon an unfriendly other who is leashed!)  

 

I am a huge dog lover, and I have two rescue dogs that I love dearly. I can't tell you how much I would love to be able to have my doggies meet and greet every dog in the neighborhood, but that would actually not be good for the other dogs. I am begging you… Please use your leashes!  It really truly is for your pooches protection!