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Dear Editor;
I walk lots of dogs all over the area and have noticed more and more loose dogs and unattended dogs in the Dodgeville area. First and most important we do have a leash law which means your dog needs to be tied up in your yard or that if you feel confident they will not leave the yard you still need to be present outside in the yard with them. With that being said I have recently encountered several dogs in town that had no one around when they came up to me and the dog I was walking as I yell for some help owners do show up and say they are so sorry. I understand that no one does this on purpose and this is the reason for this letter there are many different kinds of dogs in this world we have the friendly, the shy, the timid, the bold, the young, the old, the dog that doesn't like other dogs, and the one that is terrified of other dogs. I have and walk several of these types of dogs and so in the past two months I have had the joy of meeting several of those very friendly dogs with no owner around them or the special owners that just walk inside their house and leave their dog outside as I am walking by.
Please please remember that just because your dog is friendly that dog walking by could be a dog that doesn't like other dogs (that does not make him a bad dog to own because the owner has them on a leash and is in control of their dog until) your friendly dog comes running up to be friendly what do you think will happen. What about that dog that is terrified of so many things in the world but have total trust in their loving owners to keep them safe what will happen when your friendly dog with no owner around comes up to this terrified dog. Just because yours is sweet/friendly does not mean all dogs are but we all love our dogs and want what is best for them please keep them leashed and make sure you can always see your dog in the yard.

Thank you
Patricia Finley
Dodgeville, WI