Solotripper:

Man, are we on the same page! Unforgiven is one of my favorite movies. Lot's like the Louis L'Amour novels -- the good guys are clear and in time they come out on top.

Used to have a Great Dane and they are great pets. Dane and I were walking down the street one day, my dog on a leash and under absolute control -- partly discipline and partly choke chain. A dog came boiling out of a house, smashed through the screen door, and my Dane simply knocked the other dog to the ground and stood there. Guys comes out of the house furious that my dog knocked his dog down. My dog, in the meantime, is simply standing next to me.

Many years ago I was running along the edge of a golf course in Reston, Virginia. Two standard poodles came over a berm, hot for my bod. I faced them, yelled as loud as I could, and made them back off. Lady came over the berm and yelled at me for intimidating her dogs.

You are right. Persons who own dogs need to keep them under control.

Guess I've been a crusty SOB lots longer than I have been a crusty old SOB.

Tim

P. S. Thanks to all who have posted here and given me an opportunity to vent my spleen!