Cities are Making Laws Easier to Follow
I think that it would be fair to say that a majority of dog owners are very familiar with dog rules and regulations, in the specific city and county in which you live. Knowing the laws and following them however, can sometimes be a contradition in iteslf though. Consider for example your local leash law. Many of us will comply with the given rule and when on the street use a leash for our dog but when we get to an open field or park where the traffic flow is minimal, then we let the dog free to roam about as he/she wishes. Or what about when you are on a walk and your dog needs to poop? I am sure that 99% of the time you remember to have a bag or two, depending on the trip, but what happens when you are caught off guard? Do you go go home and then return to the scene of the crime to clean up your mess as the law states you should? My guess is no but that doesn’t make you a bad dog parent; it simply makes you human.
One city is attempting to make one rule that is often not followed easier to comply with. In the city of Springfield, Oregon “officials are making in promoting a program that would allow pet owners to buy a license for their pooch during a routine trip to the veterinarian’s office.” This idea came about after a 2003 survey was taken of dog owners where it was discovered that only 12% of the residents city wide complied as compared to only 17% of the county residents. Although the registration fee is small, the benefit to having this done far out weighs it. Not only will this allow you feel good about being a fully law abiding citize but you can also rest easy knowing that if your dog gets out and is picked up by the animal control people, he/she will be returned in no time.
