advice needed

**Kate3** · 10-09-09 01:23 AM

I sometimes have emotional problems and when I'm at that state of mind I can't figure out if my worries are real or all in my head. This time it's related to getting a police ticket, could you help me please to figure out if it's pure anxiety caused by my unstable mood or a thing to be really concerned about?

I have to stay out of trouble with the law for some reasons (need to pass background checks and such). Something at the level of a speeding/parking ticket may be ok, but beyond that would be a problem.

Here is what happened. I was walking my dog at a park without a leash. You're officially supposed to keep dogs on leash at that park, but most people don't care, people without dogs are rare at that location anyway.
Some time ago one crazy looking guy approached me and told me that my dog should be on the leash. The guy definitely had some mental issues, so to be safe I just put the leash on my dog and walked away.

Today I met this guy again and he started to telling me again that I have to keep the dog on leash or pay a fine. This time he was with two women so I ignored him. The women almost didn't participate in the conversation. One made some signals for me to ignore him. He obviously wasn't bothered by the dog itself, just by the idea that somebody doesn't follow the rules.

At first it didn't bothered me, but than I got worried that he would go to police, convince them that they need to give me a ticket for having the dog off leash (they do give such tickets sometimes here, although it's rare). He certainly doesn't know where I live or my name, but theoretically it's possible for the police to find me by the breed/color of my dog because I live close to that park and my dog is registered with the city. Even though the guy is obviously crazy, he seemed to know the laws well and had a lot of enthusiasm.

So I worry I would get a ticket. Is my fear rational or is it the product of my mood disorder? Looking back, I should just have put a leash on my dog, but it didn't come to my mind back than. I'm not going again to that park in any near future.

**TJMS81** · 10-09-09 01:30 AM

Sooo...where's the question? Keep your dog on a leash...problem solved.

**Kate3** · 10-09-09 01:42 AM

The problem is that I'm afraid that I'll get a ticket if that guy complains about today and that would ruin my life. My question is about today, not future. Well, in the future I can't keep my dog on a leash because it needs to run every day, but I can take it to a more remote park where I'm unlikely to see another person at all.

**TJMS81** · 10-09-09 01:45 AM

Extremely doubtful you will get cited for today. Leash your animal as the ordinance requires or go somewhere else.

**Bob Loblaw** · 10-09-09 02:41 AM

It would require quite a bit of following up for an officer to find you without the reporting party knowing your name or contact information. And if the officers in your city are like me, they won't have the time to spend on such a small violation.

I don't know you, so I couldn't make any type of determination as to if this fear is related to a mood disorder or not, but I will say it sounds pretty irrational. Even more irrational, in my humble opinion, is thinking that a citation for dog at large would "ruin your life."

**Roger Dat** · 10-09-09 05:54 AM

Do what your supposed to do and theres no problem. What is wrong with people!!!!!

**Piggy** · 10-09-09 07:16 AM

Here are some options:

Go to a different park.
Get a leash.
Avoid the guy.
Sell your dog on ebay.
Get a cat.
Have your dogs legs amputated so it won't run anymore.
Go get some anti-anxiety medications.
Get a bigger dog who has anxiety problems too, so you won't be approached

**MountainMan** · 10-09-09 07:25 AM

Here is a solution. If you don't have a place big enough to let the dog run.
1. Put him on a leash.
2. Take him for a run while holding the leash.
3. Take the dog to a dog park where he can legally be off leash.
4. Take a bicycle ride with the dog running next to you on a leash.

**pac201** · 10-09-09 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by Kate3

I sometimes have emotional problems and when I'm at that state of mind I can't figure out if my worries are real or all in my head.
I have to stay out of trouble with the law for some reasons (need to pass background checks and such).

do your plans include becoming a police officer?

**CityOfChicago** · 10-09-09 09:16 AM

You will not get a ticket if dude complains. The officer needs to witness your unleashed dog for you to get a ticket. Think about it. Say you had a BF that you broke up with. Out of spite he goes to the cops and says he saw you walking the dog unleashed and you need a ticket, even though you were at home all day. The cop's gonna write you a ticket? No. So, leash the dog from now on, and no worries.

**Kate3** · 10-09-09 09:47 AM

Thank you everybody for your kind responses! I now feel a bit better and understand that it's a mixture of my mood disorder with the realization that I need to be extra careful until that thing in my life that requires background checks is over.
pac201, no, my plans don't include becoming a police officer, I'm afraid of criminals and confrontations. ;-)

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