I cannot stand Baxter Black, but in this instance I have to agree with him (my McNab Border Collie said I had to!)

It's a tough issue, esp. with dogs out in the country. Some are just family pets and run around with "their (human)kids" while others are let to run amok. Everyone needs to be as careful as I am sure Steve was when he had to take care of those dogs he mentioned. When we lived out on the Oregon Trail, my son had a friend who used to go tramping across his parent's property with his dog. Once in a while the dog would go astray, but always within sight and never harming any neighbour's livestock. There was one neighbour, though, who would not be happy until the dog was destroyed. A few years after we moved away, my mom called to tell us that neighbour took it upon himself to shoot it while it was on its own property and he killed the boy instead. Never even went to trial.

I've picked up and taken care of so many strays of the so-called vicious breeds, that I try to give them the benefit of the doubt, within reason. We've had stray pit bulls, Dobies, rotts, etc. and, while I kept them separate from my own until I knew how they would be, we've never had a problem. Of course, the Border Collie will not allow rescues now, he's a tyrant when it comes to other dogs, except his "cousin" my sister's dog.

Grab/Graham, did you mean cats running loose in urban areas? I agree with that, but not if you meant no one in a city should own a cat. If kept inside they can do quite well. In fact, I don't really agree with letting them loose regardless of where one lives. It's too dangerous. My cats have their very own *chicken coop* outside our bedroom window and they are very happy going out on their balcony, jumping down to roll in the dirt, etc.

This is an horrific case of a lot of mistakes and abuse by the authorities and the owners. I feel so sorry for the woman killed and for the dogs.

kat