A three-day weekend generates human stupidity

Maybe it's the relatively warm Seattle weather or the three-day Memorial Day weekend. Or maybe human stupidity runs year-round.

People in town don't seem to understand that the leash law applies to them and their canines. Within a span of five minutes around 12:15 pm, we saw two instances in which people hurriedly leashed up their dogs as they walked along the path in Mount Baker Park. Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) 9.25.084(a), Offenses Related to Animal Control says that it is unlawful for an owner to "permit any animal, except cats and pigeons, "to be at large or trespass upon the property of another." SMC 9.25.020(E) defines "at large" as "a dog or other animal inside the city of Seattle, off the premises of the owner, and not under control of a leash of eight feet in length or shorter."

Did you catch the conjunction in the definition of "at large"? It's not enough to maintain your animal under your control if the dog is unleashed.

But the brunt of our disdain will be heaped upon the thoughtless and stupid owner who left two tiny dogs -- a long-haired Chihuahua mix and a miniature Doberman -- "tied" to a sign pole on South McClellan Street between 36th Avenue South and South Mount Baker Boulevard. My own leashed dog and I passed your two pooches as we went for our stroll. The flimsy leash that you used to tether both dogs broke loose, and the Chihuahua mix scampered off in the direction. Although you emerged in a couple of minutes, the time seemed like an eternity. I didn't know if your dog would venture in the path of traffic -- cars, sport utility vehicles, the #14 Metro bus -- on McClellan. You said that you were "watching" and were "in the store"... a place locals call the Mioposto Restaurant.''

Selfish, careless lady, what the hell were you thinking?

I don't care if you were dining on roasted beet salad or picking up a Fungo Straginole pizza to take home. You had no business taking your dogs along on the field trip. Situated in a restaurant, you had no control of your dogs -- and less so than the others who tether their dogs to the bike rack next to the restaurant. Don't think your indiscretion is a big deal? SMC 9.25.081(f) characterizes animal cruelty as to "tether or confine any animal in such a manner or in such a place as to cause injury or pain or not amounting to first degree animal cruelty defined in RCW (Revised Code of Washington) 16.52.205."

They're playing your song, lady.