The other day I noticed my wrist was hurting. I first thought it was the inevitable arthritis that comes with old age. Then I remembered that Goldie, my six-year-old Catahoula mix puppy, was the reason for my ailing wrist.

My dog is strong, and when she sees a rabbit or squirrel she wants to chase, she forgets I’m on the other end of the leash and takes me wherever she wants to go. Thus, I often end up with a sore wrist.

Our country, of course, has much more than an ailing wrist because of t...