Rant & Rave: All animal edition!

Rave To King County Animal Care and Control for deciding not to euthanize a healthy 15-year-old cat someone brought in to be euthanized. She now lives with me and she's a great pet. Thanks to Animal Care and Control for giving her a chance.

Rant To dog owners who leave their pets in their yard to bark and bark and bark. Our home is surrounded by households with dogs, and there's rarely a 15-minute stretch of time when at least one of the dogs isn't barking, including after 11 p.m. and before 6 a.m. If your dog is barking, that means it's upset, frightened or maybe just bored. Take it for a walk or play with it, or at least bring it indoors so it doesn't disturb your neighbors.

Rave To the woman who dropped Baker the English setter at the Eastgate animal shelter six years ago: Thank you for bringing six years of love, companionship and silky fur to my life. While Baker's life has sadly ended, I will be forever thankful to you for allowing him to spend the remainder of his life in a home that appreciated his sweet qualities and quirky neediness. He will be missed but not forgotten.

Rant To the woman whose standard poodle bit me while I was walking my dog. I'm a dog lover and will take your word that this has never happened before, but it is obvious you know your dog is aggressive by the way you tightened the leash as I approached. Please take precautions before you have an incident with someone much less forgiving then I am.

Rave To the guy who walks his dogs along Southwest Avalon Way who I often see picking up trash strewed by inconsiderate motorists and pedestrians. If more dog walkers picked up trash along with picking up after their dog, Seattle would be a much cleaner place. You rock, dude.

Rant To pet owners that use schoolyards at James Madison Middle School, West Seattle High and Pathfinder School as off-leash dog parks. You have to walk past signs prohibiting pets, then let your animals run, play and poop where children will run, play and roll in the grass. Please find and use a park designated for off-leash activities.

Rantandrave@seattletimes.com.