I thought this might be an interesting if not super-pleasant topic for discussion. As a dog owner, what concerns you the most? What are you the most afraid of? Are you afraid of BSL? Do you worry that one day your dog is going to get ahold of that neighbor dog that's always loose? Or maybe your dog is an escape artist, and you always worry about that?
I'll go first. The concern that is always the closest to the surface with me is dog theft. I am not comfortable letting my dog go outside for more than a few minutes, and I either go out with her, or watch out the window. I can't imagine being secure enough with a 4-foot chain link fence to leave my dog outside much of the day, as many people around here do. We used to have privacy fence, which made me a great deal more comfortable, however, when you rent, you can't always take those things with you. The goal is to one day be settled enough in a place to invest in a super-fence.
My second most prevalent concern is BSL. (Breed-specific legislation.) We've already lived in one city that had it, bordered by several cities that also had it. Its a very crappy thing to have to leave your home to keep your dog, but that's what I would do if cornered again. Even living a state with a BSL prohibition, I know that the situation can change rapidly. It makes me wish there was someplace safe in the world from these asinine laws, but I know there is not.
I'll go first. The concern that is always the closest to the surface with me is dog theft. I am not comfortable letting my dog go outside for more than a few minutes, and I either go out with her, or watch out the window. I can't imagine being secure enough with a 4-foot chain link fence to leave my dog outside much of the day, as many people around here do. We used to have privacy fence, which made me a great deal more comfortable, however, when you rent, you can't always take those things with you. The goal is to one day be settled enough in a place to invest in a super-fence.
My second most prevalent concern is BSL. (Breed-specific legislation.) We've already lived in one city that had it, bordered by several cities that also had it. Its a very crappy thing to have to leave your home to keep your dog, but that's what I would do if cornered again. Even living a state with a BSL prohibition, I know that the situation can change rapidly. It makes me wish there was someplace safe in the world from these asinine laws, but I know there is not.