Jenn Martinelli Blogging in Boston

I'm going to say something controversial and shocking now. I know, you're all very surprised. Like this blog isn't just basically a place for me to complain and call people assholes.

Anyway, I have a huge problem with the following: people tying their dogs up to a random lightpost/parking meter, etc. outside while they go into some building to do whatever. I always have a problem with this, but it's much worse in the winter. Last night we were walking to Borders and we went past an Irish Setter curled up tightly on the freezing cold sidewalk (it was in the 20's) on Charles Street, I'm sure very cold and upset.

This goes along with my problem with people thinking it's fine to let their dogs go off-leash in the city. I don't know how you can care so little about your dog, and/or be so stupid as to think your dog actually understands everything going on around them, that you think this kind of behavior is OK.

Would you tie your child to a post and walk away? Probably not. Why is it OK to do it with your dog? The correct answer is it's not. First and foremost, I know you think you're doing the dog some great service because it gets to go with you on whatever errand you're running, but you don't know what's going through your dog's head while you're at the dry-cleaners or Starbucks or the grocery store or wherever you decided to go. It could actually be a very stressful event for them.

Also, how do you know what your dog will do if another dog comes by? And, what if someone decides to steal your dog? Would you like that? Probably not. Then why are you doing something so stupid and thoughtless? Better yet, what if someone decides to kick your dog or throw things at your dog or let your dog loose just to see what happens? What kind of a selfish jerk leaves their defenseless pet at the mercy of strangers while they browse around Dean and DeLuca's? Apparently just the kind of selfish jerks that abound on Beacon Hill.

Maybe next time I'll just steal your dog. It will all turn out well for him/her. S/he will get to sleep on the bed under the covers, have a treat every time I leave the apartment, and basically rule the roost. And S/he'll never be abandoned in the cold again.

Seriously, you are a total ass-hat if you do this.