By CAREY SHARP

Mower County Humane Society

Spring fever is here.

The grass is green, and the mud puddles are disappearing, a wonderful thing if you’re a dog owner. It’s terrific to be able to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and warmer temperatures.

After the hard winter, it’s only natural to want to let your pets outside for some much-needed exercise. Unfortunately, for some pet owners, this means letting the pet outside, without any sort of restraint or supervision. I have personally noticed a large increase in the number of cats and dogs running loose. I often run into many of them as I walk my own dogs who are always on leash.

One of my parent’s dogs was recently attacked enjoying a walk while on leash. Luckily, she was not injured and was saved by one of their other dogs. The aggressor ended up spending some time in the city pound until his owner was located and the appropriate fines were paid. This happens frequently to pets that are allowed to roam and it can be expensive.

Keeping your pet restrained in some way is safer not only for your own pet, but for neighboring pets as well. A dog frolicking loose in his own front yard is very capable of accosting a dog walking by on leash. If either dog feels threatened, a confrontation is hard to avoid. Please remember this if young children are allowed to walk the family dog or supervise an unrestrained dog.

It’s also a courtesy to keep your dog restrained in some way on your property. No one truly enjoys cleaning up feces. It’s even more offensive when another person’s dog makes the mess. Don’t let your dogs loose to “mess” in someone else’s yard and if it happens, be responsible and take care of it. If your dog is tied out front, near a public sidewalk, make sure to clean the area daily. Kids don’t want to walk to school with dog poop on their shoes.

The leash law applies to both dogs and cats. The number of cats that are allowed to run loose is shocking! Cats are content to stay inside, with a litterbox. Don’t let them outside to use your neighbors’ gardens or sandboxes as a bathroom. If you want to take your cat outside for a short period of time, put him on a leash and don’t leave him unattended. A declawed cat should never be allowed to run loose.

On Saturday, April 30, the Austin Veterinary Clinic will hold a reduced cost vaccination clinic from 9 to 11 a.m. Heartworm testing will be available as will a variety of flea and tick and heartworm preventatives. Please call AVC at 433-1261 for details, or look for the ad in the Mower County Shopper. Dogs need to be leashed and cats must be in carriers.

Our thanks to the Rough Riders 4-H Club for their roller-skating fundraiser to benefit our shelter. It was held April 2 at the Rohler Rink in Brownsdale and raised $388. Thanks to the Rohler Rink also for their participation.

Finally, we are grateful for the memorials received in memory of Richard Ilk, “Toby” Tomlinson, “Truman” McCarty, Thelma Nybo, George Sippel, “Mooie” Nelson, and Richard Cummings.