Dog’s owners are showing appalling disrespect for their pet

Who does this poor dog belong to? We live on Manalapan Avenue in Freehold Borough, in the neighborhood of Phyllis Road and Frances Drive behind Jersey Freeze. You live here, too. Although we have never met, we know a lot about you.

You are a person or people without a lot of free time, certainly not even a minimal amount for your own pet, a beautiful male German shepherd mix you probably love dearly. I’m sure it would devastate you or at least your child/children if this dog were to suffer. Yet, since we moved here more than four years ago, your dog has continually had free roam of his surroundings. Your lack of responsibility just completely astounds me.

As dog owners ourselves, we are fully aware that at some point in its life a dog will manage to get loose — a tie-out may break, a collar may snap, a gate or door may be open.

Whatever the case may be, simply by not taking precautions once you are aware your dog is getting loose, you are purposely putting others in danger, not to mention your gross disregard for the leash law.

The leash law is in effect to protect your pet, other animals, and other people, which would include motorists and children. I have personally been witness to surprised motorists on Manalapan Avenue as your dog darts back and forth across the street in front of them. These poor people and your poor dog have had many, many close calls. I have also witnessed petrified children as your dog charges past. Do you care?

We don’t know who you are because we’ve never seen anyone walking a German shepherd around here. You can’t even spare the time for the most basic (and enjoyable) tasks involved with having a pet. This unfortunate animal is either cooped up or tied out all day and night without much, if any, attention and thus is bored out of his mind.

Do you know what it costs to retrieve your dog from the pound? I believe it’s almost $100. Do you know what it costs to sew your dog back together? A lot more. Do you know what it would cost your dog? At the very least, tremendous pain, mostly from his broken heart, and at the most ... well, his life.

If you don’t want this dog, and I can’t imagine you do, please find him a home where he will be given the love and affection he so desperately needs and, above all, deserves. Or better yet, please reform yourself. Get to know your dog again. You may be surprised how much he still loves you.

What prompted me to write this letter was that I just saw your dog (again). He was headed toward Route 33 and Route 9. Did he make it across, I wonder? Because, as we both know, with guardians like you, a dog’s days are numbered.

Marie Griffin

Freehold