In the past couple of months, I’ve initiated a special weekend event with Wilson called the Homeless Dog Walk. I often see homeless people with well-behaved dogs heeling at their sides without a leash. For years, I’ve been envious of this feat. While I have been successful in training dogs to heel, I’ve never managed to do so without a tether.
I figured that after 14 years and 5,000 miles, Wilson can behave himself off leash for at least 10 minutes. (I bring along a leash in case he ignores me and wanders off.) The first few times, he was nervous— hesitant to leave the yard and turning back home as we ventured down the alley behind our house.
He now looks forward to this taste of freedom. He also maintains a fairly consistent heel. When he starts to wander a few feet away, I simply touch his back to get his attention. I don’t yell because he’s mostly deaf and I don’t want people to think I’m a dog abuser.
The Homeless Dog Walk meanders around the back streets of the neighborhood. This area is so quiet that street hockey teams could play all day with little vehicular interruption.
Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer, says “The walk should be like prayer.” And so it is with the Homeless Dog Walk. I savor each one, knowing it could be the last in the life Wilson and I have shared.
This past Sunday, we got to the end of the alley to find a neighbor trimming a bush inside his fenced yard. Wilson heard the snap of the hedge shears and drifted across the street toward the sound. I trotted after and herded him onto the sidewalk.
(Fun fact: this particular man has lived here about five years. Each time I see him, I smile and say hello. Each time he looks straight at me and turns away. Fortunately I don’t see him that often, but when I do, I continue to smile and say “Hey.” Perhaps he finds this torture. I enjoy torturing him with neighborly cheer.)
Mr. Neighbor said, “Looks like he could use a leash.”
I was pleased that after all these years, he finally acknowledged me. My friendliness had broken him down.
I smiled brightly and chuckled. “He’s 14 and I take him out a couple of times a week for a few minutes. It’s his little treat.”
Mr. Neighbor did not return my smile. “There’s a leash law. You need to put him on a leash.”
“He’s 14 and it’s just a short walk.”
“THE LEASH LAW APPLIES TO EVERYONE!” He turned a dark tomato red and sprouted black horns.
I put the leash on Wilson. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
And then he said in a tone conjured by 13-year old girls when speaking to their mothers, “It’s a good thing you’re so special.” The word special was said with such heat that I swear he blistered his tongue.
I was stunned. I wanted to—let’s just say the hair on top of my head burst into flames and a number of acts of physical violence flashed through my mind.
The sharp blades of his hedge shears glinted in the late afternoon sun. Staring me down with his raging eyes, he clapped them shut and pointed them at me.
I locked eyes with the insane.
Regular readers will know I’m capable of running, but my poor old dog is not. I don’t normally take my pepper spray or shotgun on these walks. And God forbid I’d have my cell phone.
What to do? What to do?
I dropped my eyes, turned away, and slowly led Wilson up the street—all the while keeping my ears alert for the click of a gate latch and the soundtrack from the Psycho shower scene.
I engaged in deep breathing exercises (good juju in, bad juju out) until my hands stopped shaking. A block away, I removed Wilson’s leash. I refused to allow this Napoleonic man to ruin our sweet walk.
Maybe Mr. Psycho is the Neighborhood Watch Captain or self-proclaimed Dictator of the Hood. Kudos to him for keeping the area safe from jaywalkers, sidewalk bicycle riders, and mid-century women taking their geriatric dogs on short walks without a leash.
I sleep better at night knowing he’s on the job.
It Happened at Purity 
Another lovely story for my afternoon decompression time. I even think I might know who you’re referencing…
Since you live in the hood, you probably do know. He’s quite a guy. I’m going to keep torturing him with kindness.
We can guess who HE voted for, eh? His belief system is: “My opinion is the ONLY opinion! Everybody else is WRONG!” Old men whose poor wrinkled faces turn red over every “wrong” are such bores. I’d ignore him.
I can have people rouged up.
I loved your dog story and am a dog lover and have two rescues who share our home. I’m having a problem with you referring to the man who confronted you as perhaps being a Neighborhood Watch Captain. We are working very hard in this community to make a success of our newly formed Neighborhood Watch program and we can see a difference in some areas all ready. Believe me, Neighborhood Watch Captain’s are not going to confront you about walking your dog without a leash. Neighborhood Watch is a program where neighbors help neighbors and report any suspicious activity the the PD, we are not a vigilantes group. It is also the group who will come to their neighbors home in case of an emergency. It is a group who believe by working together we can take back our town one block at a time. Neighborhood Watch is not out to make dogs/owners use leashes. If you have any questions you can call the Police Department and ask to speak to someone about the Neighborhood Watch program and they will either explain it to you or give you my phone number so I can do it. By the way, anyone interested in getting a Neighborhood Watch program going in your area please contact the PD.
Perhaps you don’t want to talk about how silly you sound?
Hi Kate,
First of all I would like to say I have heard so many wonderful things about you. Secondly I don’t know you but I love reading your blog. The reason I was asking around about you is I read something on your blog (and I realize now it was said in fun) but it bothered me. It was about the guy who gave you a bad time for walking your dog without a leash (by
the way I am a dog person through and through) you referred to him as perhaps being a Neighborhood Watch Captain. I work as the Neighborhood Watch coordinator along with many other people including our Police Chief. The reason I am contacting you is I really don’t people to think the way that man acted toward you and your beautiful dog is the way Neighborhood Watch people act. Our group is about getting to know our neighbors and lend a helping hand when needed as well as reporting suspicious activity in our neighborhood, such as illegal and hazardous grow rooms, meth being used at our children’s park and things along that line. We are working on a plan in case a disaster should happen in our community and we check on the elderly and disabled in our neighborhoods. August 6th we will be having our National Night Out/Neighborhood Watch get together at the Veterans building on the lawn section, I would love for you to attend if you would like. Our group is not a year old yet and we hope to get the entire community involved to make our City safe for young and old alike. Crime is a very small part of Neighborhood Watch (and I by no means consider walking an elderly dog without a leash a crime). Please accept my apology for being upset about your remark in your blog, I realize now it was done in fun and with humor. Neighborhood Watch could use more members if you are interested.
Judy Valadao
Thank you Judy.
By the way, you can walk your dog in our alley ANY TIME!! We love dogs.
Thank you.