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There are some things around here that are puzzling to me. For example, I needed to call our sister newspaper in Lagrange the other day. Even though Lagrange is in the 706 area code, same as we are, I have to dial a 1 to get a long distance line. Yet when I called Zebulon the same day, even though it is in a completely different area code – 770 – it was a local call, with no need to dial 1 before the number. To me, it should be just the opposite. If two locations are within the same area code, it should be a local call. And if the locations are in two different area codes, then it should be long distance.

The different ways we treat dogs and humans in Upson County is another area that puzzles me. For example, if you are human, you are free to walk around as much as you want, and as long as you’re not breaking the law, no one is going to bother you.

But if you’re a dog and get out of your enclosure or are off your leash, and are out wandering around the streets, you could get picked up by Animal Control and put into a cage. Then, if no one comes to claim you within a certain time period, you are put to death.

But then, if you are human, and you’re walking around one day and see someone you dislike for some reason and decide to attack them and hit them and cause them physical harm, you’ll be arrested and carted off to jail, and charged with a crime. Even if someone comes and bails you out, you will still have to go to court, and if you are convicted of the crime, you could be facing a long time in jail, away from your home and your family, as well as fines and other punishment.

However, if you are a dog, and you’re out of your enclosure or off your leash and are out wandering around one day and see someone you dislike for some reason and decide to attack them and bite them and cause them physical harm, you may or may not be picked up by Animal Control, depending on if you’re back in your enclosure when they find you and if you’ve had all of your shots. And if your owners follow the instructions to make sure you cannot get out of your enclosure again, no citations will be issued, no fines will be levied, and there is no other punishment.

I don’t really know of a solution to the first problem of a dog wandering around the streets. A leash law would help if the owner of the dog could be found. And while I don’t like that we kill dogs that are unclaimed, I can also see the problem of releasing unclaimed dogs back out on the street.

But it seems to me that we need to bring the punishment for a dog that bites a person more into line with the punishment of a person who hits another person. It appears that we punish violent people, but not violent dogs. I love dogs, but if one seriously hurts me or someone I love, I’d be much more in favor of putting them to death than I am of unclaimed stray dogs. And it could actually solve two problems, because if their owners want another dog, there are plenty to be found at the animal shelter.

But at the moment, around here, it is better to be a human than a dog if you’re out wandering around the streets, but on the other hand, it is better to be a dog than a human if you attack and hurt someone while you’re out wandering around the streets. Go figure.