Sad Day

It's also important to contain an unsupervised dog because of many other risks

 
I so agree with that, tacran.  Around here, people want to leave their dogs outside, contained in electric fencing, and they look at me like I have six heads when I tell them that they risk having their pups taken by coyotes, or stolen.  Couldn't happen to them....they think there aren't any coyotes because they haven't seen one.  And, they think that because they live in McMansions that no thieves live in their neighborhoods.  I don't know about you, but if I were a thief, I'd be in McMansionville stealing thousand dollar Labradoodles, not in East Bumshoe stealing dime-a-dozen druglords' Pit Bulls.

I think all the points made above are valid ones - whether they're being made on behalf of the OP's feelings, the little boy's perspective, or the welfare of the dogs. As is the case with all comments written on a forum, no one knows for sure what the true intent of a comment is except the OP, so each of us responded based on our interpretation of the OP's words. [/quote\]
 
 believe that Tracy hit the nail on the head, everyone is showing a concern, sometimes just a little differently.  Nice that there are so many different opinions and points of view and that they are all given and accepted with respect.

(having trouble figuring out the whole "quote" thing...sorry

Anne, I agree about the problems with electric fencing.  As my husband always says when he hears people raving about it -- "Yes, it keeps your dog in your yard.  But it doesn't keep other dogs (or coyotes, etc.) out of it." 
 
As for the McMansion issue of false security, I've been amazed in the town I live in how I see more neglected dogs in the nicest neighborhoods.  By neglected, I mean locked in a pen outdoors (or in a garage) 24 hours a day, no walks, no attention, no family interaction.  It's like the dog is part of the pretty picture some people have to present -- fancy house, fancy cars, purebred dog.  But they're too busy working to pay for that lifestyle to take the time or interest in the poor dog.  Not everyone is like that - our neighborhood is a nice one, and there are lots of folks who spoil their dogs like we did.  But, it still floors me how often I spot dogs who have a sad life with people who can clearly afford to provide them with every comfort. 
 
Off topic, Terri - I have a framed piece of calligraphy work someone made with a version of your signature quote.  It says, "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.  Inside a dog, it's too dark to read."  It cracks me up.  I have a lot of framed things with dog quotes on them.  I could have a gallery of them!

I have a lot of framed things with dog quotes on them.

 
Me, too! []

I loved that quote and thought it was hysterical....I also really like Anne's Lakota quote, it is so very true!!!!
 
Where do you get the dog quotes?  I never see them.

Sometimes I see dog quotes in magazines, articles, etc.  Other times I see them on things in catalogs (on T-shirts and stuff).  I've also been given a few books over the years that have quotes in them - usually they're books of photos of dogs, with poems, quotes, pithy sayings.  I've also found websites that have nothing but quotations on them, and you can search by topic, like animals, success, family, travel, whatever you can think of.  I want to say it was something like quotesmith.com or something like that.  It was a good resource.  Also, for us old folks who did research before computers came into the world, I wore out the pages of my book Bartlett's Familiar Quotations.  You can look up things by topic, or by the author/speaker.  It's a great book.  I'll bet they have a website now.
 
Some of my framed things were bought at craft fairs, but I also make them myself.  I used to do some calligraphy, but you can easily print them with pretty fonts on the computer, use some fancy paper, and get a cheap frame, or just pin them on the refrigerator.  Instant artwork!
 
Sorry to detour the serious topic of this thread - just wanted to reply to Terri.