Dec 15, 2014 3 min read

I have not typically been an admirer of Pittsburgh City Council member Darlene Harris, but she has made news throughout the region in a positive way with her wide-ranging and encouraging proposal to regulate the care of domestic animals during times of extreme cold and heat, her legislation providing for hefty fines for individuals who leave their pets outside without adequate provisions. I hope that her initiative will be widely absorbed and considered by those throughout the region.

Having lived in Upper St. Clair for 13 years, the greatest surprise for me in my new community was the profligate nature of boards of commissioners and school boards which have inordinately used their power to overtax and overspend with no concern for preserving a vibrant middle class. A close second is my discovery that many otherwise responsible, considerate, seemingly model families have little regard for their dogs and their neighbors.

Regardless of the weather, I would never think of leaving a dog outside for an extended period of time to howl, chase and terrorize passersby and motorists, but many in my community do. Acting up is not the dog’s fault; in referencing an unruly dog involved in litigation, Judge Judy (Scheindlin) appropriately said, “That’s what dogs do.”

Some seem to believe that invisible fencing is a wonderful way to responsibly protect their dog. It is nothing of the kind. It provides a means for the dog to become a neighborhood nuisance.

In travels throughout my neighborhood, I regularly encounter dogs left outside or at open windows barking loud enough to disturb others at 6 a. m. and 6 p.m., any time throughout the day and evening. Sometimes the guardian takes the dog inside or away from the fray when a confrontation ensues, sometimes not. Some have obviously adopted the credo of, “This is my home, my castle. I can do whatever I wish on my property. If you do not like it, find another neighborhood in which to walk or drive.”

I cannot count the number of times dogs have come into traffic and across the street to aggressively pursue me, usually followed at some point by their guardian, many of whom do not even have the common courtesy to say, “I am sorry.” One dog which resides around the corner from my home has gotten away and pursued me many times. Apparently its guardian is not concerned about its safety.

Those who are unwilling to provide for the proper care of their dog, those who do not want to be bothered by having a domestic animal inside their home should think twice about whether they should inflict a dog on the neighborhood, recognizing that with the acquisition of a domestic animal come responsibilities to it and to one’s neighbors. We do not live on huge farms here, rather we live in close proximity to others. Common courtesy, consideration, and good manners should be the norm. Thank you, Councilwoman Harris, for bringing the issue to the fore.

Oren Spiegler

Upper St. Clair