Tiny, yappy, annoying dogs

I'm an animal lover. I love cats. I love dogs. I even have a soft spot for squirrels. I had a girlfriend once that had a ferret, which I also came to love. But there's one thing I hate, and it's tiny dogs. Tiny, yappy, noisy, freaked out about everything, bark at the wind dogs.

I also don't care much for neighbors that let their tiny, yappy, bark at the wind dogs out at 5:00 in the morning. I understand that some people have to get up early to go to work. I also understand that dogs need to go outside and do their business. What I don't understand, is why people will let their tiny, yappy, bark at the wind dogs sit outside at 5:00 in the morning, and bark their tiny little heads off.

It truly seems sometimes that this particular dog barks just to hear his own "voice". And it barks and barks and barks. One morning it barked from 5 a.m. 'til 7 a.m. Of course, as soon as I was up and out of bed, it shuts up.

Now, I realize I can't blame just the dog. It's only doing what comes naturally to it. However, I CAN blame the owners of the tiny, yappy, bark at the wind dog, for letting it bark for two hours straight for no darn good reason. Do they not realize how rude it is to allow their dog to bark for that long so early in the morning? Would they like it if I decided to crank up my music at 5 a.m., filling the whole neighborhood (and yes, this tiny, yappy little dog fills the neighborhood with it's lovely little voice) with the glorious sounds of say, Black Sabbath?

I could close my windows. But I shouldn't have to sweat to death because my neighbors are inconsiderate. I could call the police, but I think they have better things to do than deal with a noisy dog. I could talk to my neighbors, but truly, if they can't figure out that their dog is too noisy at 5 a.m., my telling them isn't going to change much.

So here's my idea. A new law. Any dog under 20 pounds is not allowed to be outside for more than five minutes before the hour of 7 a.m. Any tiny dogs found outside before 7 a.m. for more than 5 minutes, the owners will be fined $200.

Seriously, if you own one of these tiny, yappy, bark at the wind dogs, think about the others around you before you unleash them on the world. If I, who lives two houses away can hear them so well that it seems as though they're in my house, then surely you can hear them also. Take control and make them quiet. If they can't be quiet outside, then take them back into the house. Have some consideration for your fellow man, who is trying to get some sleep. And be happy that I am an animal lover, or I just might sic my 30 pound cat on your tiny, yappy, bark at the wind dog.... and I'm pretty sure she could kick it's butt.

"til next time...