I’m a going to rant about something that annoys the heck out of me. Something I am sure annoys the heck out of everyone at one time or another. I get frequently fed up with irresponsible dog owners. Of course I like dogs more than I like many people, so beware of my bias, grin.
General neglect and ignorance:
So many people forget that a dog is a living thing with a 10 to 15 year life span. Pooch will need water, food, medical care, and human attention. So often I see a bunch of dogs just tied outside. The weather is too hot, too cold, the water dish is empty or filthy, and the dog looks like a prison camp survivor. Puppy looked cute in a pet store fresh from a puppy mill. Thinking it is a stuffed animal home comes the dog. The dog becomes work or inconvenient, then is not cared for or ends up in the pound. With out interaction from family dogs act up like humans, many social creatures use acting up to get attention. The "bad dog" ends up at the pound to be destroyed.
Dog Waste:
This is a big pet peeve to a runner like me. Running down the sidewalk at 6am and splat, I did not see a dog bomb. I have to clean my shoe, it stinks, it is gross ect ect. I know it just happens, I grew up on a farm, but it is frequent. Also the dog waste gets washed into the rivers when it rains, making harmful bacteria multiply, and shutting down recreation, getting into irrigation, and killing fish (1). I am an aquarium hobbyist, I know what nitrites do to aquatic creatures.
Macho dogs:
I am in the “punish the deed not the breed” camp, but often the deed is people getting fighting dogs to be cool or look tough. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios and their mixes are responsible for 74% of attacks (2). Often these dogs are from poor stock ran by poorly trained people. Fighting breeds would have those traits replaced if people would select for strength and hardiness not to combine those positive traits with aggression. Poodles would become killer when treated in such a way.
The result is more government:
I would need to research to see how much is spent nationwide for local dogcatchers, and ASPCA, but it would interesting. The few yo-yos not caring for dogs is giving government and busybodies another reason to intrude, and you are guilty until you prove your innocence. A life long dog expert can be dragged through a ringer if an uppity official gets a hair up their backside. Animal rights cannot supercede human rights, but no sane person wants animals to suffer unnecessarily. They make computerized dogs now, get one of those if you are not truely committed to your dog owernership.
1-www.cityofboise.org/Departments/Parks/News/2006/page12687.aspx
2-http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html
The Original 
Well sorry if I sound insensitive, but I'd rather the dog be tied up in the yard, than out running in the street right in front of cars. 
