Safety Desk: The Open Gate Is the Adventure That Worries Us Most

Columbus — Our safety desk turns today to a quiet hazard: the gate, door, or fence panel left open just a little longer than usual.

Most wandering, dogs will confess, begins not with a grand escape but with honest curiosity and an unlatched gate. A quick glance before opening the front door, a gate that clicks fully shut, and a tag that’s ready just in case — together they prevent most of the worry.

We say this with love, from one creature of impulse to the humans who look out for us: latch the gate. We promise to act surprised that it’s closed.