Response to Hallie: Leashes

I'm wondering how we would fix the problem of putting pets on leashes against their will. What problems do you think would arise from banning leashes for pets as well as children?

I think it is not always the owner that decides to put the pet on the leash it is our society. It’s the law that says all dogs must be on a leash when outside, if they are not confined by a fence of course. I would love to walk my dog without a leash but if my dog were to bite another dog or human I would get in huge trouble with the law. If a cop were to spot me I could be fined for not having my dog on a leash. We do not have a large yard so we do not have it fenced in, our dog has to stay chained when outside. I do not think any animal or person should be chained against their will but sometimes it is what has to be. Take inmates for example, if they were not in hand cuffs others would be in a lot of danger. So, maybe if some dogs were not leashed when outside they too would put us in a lot of danger given that some dogs are very aggressive and temperamental, I think for that reason, we have the leash law.

As far as child leashes go, I think it is mostly to keep the child safe, as Hallie said, but it could be looked at another way. I have not personally known anyone that keeps their child on a leash but the child might actually enjoy having the leash. In a way it gives them more freedom. On the leash the child can walk semi-away from the parent, whereas, if not on the leash they would have to hold the parent’s hand, be in a cart, or be held by the parent. The leash gives them the freedom to walk with a sense of independence while keeping the child safe and nearby. So I guess it depends on how you look at leashes and every situation is different.

Why do we look at child leashes negatively? It is better than seeing a parent who lets their child run way ahead of them while talking to another adult, to me that is abuse. Children need boundaries to keep them safe, at all ages. What do you think?