Keeping Labs on a leash
when they are at the beach
is tantamount to torture
for the dog and owner each.
But the lawmakers, beseech
the owners in the association each
to corral their dogs and apply the leash
because someone complained
of a loose dog at the beach
harassing little children
when the dog just wanted to play
but the frightened mother yelled, “Stay away.”
The owner tried to allay her fears
but she must have been frightened for years
and now the lawmakers in a knee jerk reach
have laid down the law
and sent out a notice,
“Leash the beast when at the beach.”
Don’t they know that’s tantamount
to torture for owner and dog each?
Maybe they’ll just in the water stay
until the woman and the children go away
and when from the water they emerge
the owner whistling a funeral dirge,
the leash will immediately be applied
and by the law they will eternally abide
even if such abiding is tantamount
to torture for owner and Lab each.