Something has been troubling me. Etiquette has been slowly going out the window for years. People cut you off in traffic, no one holds doors anymore. Society disappoints me. But pet owners seemed to be different. We were the rare breed (forgive the pun) that were still kind and generous. Someone else's dog gets muddy pawprints on your pants? A smile and "oh, no problem" was the usual response. A dog snaps at your dog? The owner immediately apologizes and you graciously accept. Your dog poops? Almost before it hits the ground, you are there, poop bag in hand, to clean up his mess.

Unfortunately, this is not what I've witnessed lately. At Broad Ripple Dog Park, two dogs started fighting. One owner apologized. The other owner yelled at the first owner and threatened to kill him and his dog. Other parkgoers tell me this is not an isolated incident with this man. I felt bad for the dog because after that, no owner would let their dogs go near her. At the Pet Expo this weekend, an owner brought a dog that snarled and snapped at several dogs. The man walked with an aggressive posture and made it clear you better stay out of his way. He seemed PROUD that his dog was starting fights with other dogs. In numerous dog parks and out on walks, I have witnessed owners who fail to clean up after their dogs poop. Some actively look around to make sure no one is watching them, then they scurry away.

I would love to say I write this post with all the answers...or even ONE answer. I don't. I write this as a plea. If you are not following proper petiquette, please start. Make the world a better place, one poop bag at a time. If you witness these things, if it is safe to do so, speak up and remind the person to do the right thing. Educate owners that they have certain responsibilities to the community at large when they own a dog. I invite you to comment below with any thoughts you have to solve these problems...or of course, if you want to vent.