Republic, Missouri. Population 8,000. Seven miles southwest of Springfield. My adopted hometown for the time being. Nice little place.
Only one thing though — I have never seen so many dogs roaming free on public streets. In fact I don’t think I’ve seen one dog on a leash the entire time I’ve been here in Republic.
At first it didn’t bother me, but when I watched the neighbor’s dog come traipsing onto my family’s lawn a couple months ago, look right at me, squat, drop a massive deuce then run away. To which I had three options: (1) take the poo, put it in a sack, light it on fire and throw it on the neighbor’s porch; (2) take the poo and just throw it in their yard; or (3) politely ask the neighbors to keep their dog out of our yard.
Unfortunately at the time I didn’t choose any of those. Number 1 sounded fun, number 2 would have been mildly amusing and number 3 would have got something done but it would have been boring.
So now let’s talk about the neighbors across the way. These guys have a dog too. Looks like it’s been rescued — it’s the canine equivalent to the Vietnam vet you see holding a sign and panning for money off the exit ramp. Seriously. This thing looks like it’s been through the wringer a few times (it only has three legs). Great gesture by the neighbors to take him in, but not so great what liberties the dog has taken with his newfound family.
This guy will sit out in the yard adjacent to ours, walk around, sit for awhile and just start barking. Arf arf arf woooooooooooooooooooo arf arf arf woooooooo. Yes, dogs will be dogs, but after hearing it early in the morning and late at night, you kinda want to do something about it. Dude just sits there and yelps, and then it creates a chain reaction in the neighborhood of dogs barking at each other like the barking chain in 101 Dalmatians. Poor guy even sits out there in the rain and cold.
I love animals and all, and yes like I said dogs will be dogs, but aren’t there any laws in Republic to hold owners responsible for their furry friends? I haven’t found anything, which is kinda weird. Every other town I have lived in has a leash law, or a noise ordinance law that extends to pets. I haven’t been able to find any such thing for Republic.
Maybe there is no law because city leaders want their residents to prove themselves responsible. But if people can’t be good owners to their pets and keep them quiet and off others’ property, there is only one solution.
I live in Republic too. I am appalled at the people who walk their dogs and let them poo in the yards of others or just poo right on the sidewalks. I have stepped in it a couple times just walking to my mailbox. I have even gone so far as to write out the words, PU AFTER YOUR DOG, on the sidewalk in the summertime. It doesn’t work. I wish there was an ordinance for dogwalkers as well.
We just got a dog yesterday and we’ve been training the little guy on where to do his business. After just one day, he’s learning pretty good.
Training them little things ain’t rocket science but here in Republic you’d think it is.