Dogs, Cats, and Other People by Matthew Margolis

Cancer is the No. 1 killer of dogs. Cars are a close second.

Anyone who spent any amount of time searching for news on the Internet last week probably came across the story of the Deegan Expressway dogs. One, the mama dog, had been hit by a car. The other, her son, was fiercely guarding his injured mother from all manner of vehicles, big-rigs, police officers and animal control units. It was quite a scene.

But the lingering question after all the drama died down: How did two dogs — not strays — end up loose on the Deegan Expressway?

I recently spoke with a woman who said her dog is trained but nevertheless runs out in the street at least twice a week.

How does he get out, I asked.

She explained, "I open the door slowly, then put my foot out to block the dog."

And what does the dog do, I prodded.

"He jumps over my foot."

What a fun game for the dog! Until, that is, he ends up like mama dog out on the Deegan Expressway.

Just the other day I found out that an acquaintance of mine had adopted a shelter dog and brought him home, at which point the dog got loose and ran off. He found him on the highway two days later. He had been hit by a car.

Unless you live on a ranch in Wyoming, a loose dog is a dog in danger — in danger of being stolen, getting into a dogfight, being hit by a car or causing an accident. Drivers will instinctively swerve to avoid hitting a dog in the road and end up colliding with another car or skidding up onto a sidewalk and hitting a human.

It happens all the time.

Crafty canines sneak out the front door, leap out of car doors and windows, escape from the garage or through a gate in the yard — and run straight into the street.

Why does this happen?

Three reasons: lack of understanding, lack of preparation, lack of training.

Many people think their dog will simply sit in the front yard and not leave.

Wrong. Even highly trained dogs can be tempted by instinct — the drive for food, a sense of danger or even the thrill of a good cat chase.

"Stay" is a good start, but it's not a magic spell. Some dog owners mistakenly believe that if they issue the "stay" command, their dog would sooner starve to death than leave that spot. One group training class at the local pet store, and they're convinced their pooch is Rin Tin Tin.

Another dangerous misconception — more like denial — is that people don't want to believe their dog would run away from them, no matter how many times it's happened.

This Memorial Day weekend, with all its barbeques, picnics, parties and traffic, do some extra preparation to keep your dog secure and out of the road. Here are a few solid tips to get you through the holiday weekend and beyond:

— Install screendoors to give you an extra barrier to keep the dog inside.

— Keep your dog on a leash when you answer the door, or at all times as long as people will be going in and out.

— Doggy seatbelts, harnesses and crates will keep your dog secure in the car until you have him on a leash and ready to join you outside the car. As always, heads and paws should be inside the car at all times, not hanging out the window.

— Give him a refresher course on "Sit/Stay" using praise as the reward, but be realistic about his level of obedience.

— Secure all gates and garage doors, and if you're having people over, post a note at points of entry or exit asking that people be sure to close the gate or door behind them so the dog doesn't get loose.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Woof!

Dog trainer Matthew "Uncle Matty" Margolis is co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and host of the PBS series "WOOF! It's a Dog's Life!" Read all of Uncle Matty's columns at the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com. Send your questions to dearuncle.gazette@unclematty.com or by mail to Uncle Matty at P.O. Box 3300, Diamond Springs, CA 95619.

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