My darling cat was brutally mauled by my neighbor's daughter's aggressive dog on my property. Despite repeated complaints about the dog's violent behavior and frequent trespassing of our property, my neighbor insisted that there was no real threat. She eventually installed a shock collar but intentionally set the frequency so low that it had little to no effect on the dog’s activities in concern of hurting it. 

I know that my cat is not the only small pet to have been mauled by an unruly dog. My grandmother’s cat, Bootsy, was killed on her property and eaten by her neighbor’s dog when I was little, and several of my friend’s small dogs have also been attacked and killed by other dogs on their streets while they were walking their dogs on leashes. All of these dogs were supposedly “trained” and did not need leashes. 

This is not only a concern for the safety of people’s pets; it is also a concern for the safety of the people. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, about 4.5 million people a year are bit by dogs, and 80,000 of these require immediate medical attention. Dogs are also the third deadliest animals in the world, killing around 30,000 people a year, according to Monge & Associates Injury and Accident Attorneys. My neighbor’s dog has acted aggressively to me and my sister and has posed a threat to the safety of other people. There are many small infants and children on my street, and I can only imagine what would have happened if the dog would instead have killed a newborn the size of a cat instead of my cat. It certainly has the potential to.

We ask that local governments enforce stricter leash laws that hold pet owners accountable. This includes fines for non-compliance and mandatory training for all dogs. These measures are necessary in cracking down on future tragedies and fostering a safer environment for everyone, human and animal. Owners saying that they can keep their dog “under control” in order to comply with current law is simply not enough. 

Please join me in urging local authorities to enact and enforce these regulations. We must be called to protect our dear pets, our loved ones, and our community from harm. Please sign the petition to demand mandatory leash laws for all dogs off or not confined to their own property.

Help me to remember Herbie, Bootsy, and all of the other poor people and pets killed by dogs.