When it comes to your dog, are you a good neighbor?

Staff writer Nancy Needham has another story in today's edition on page 10 about a dog attacking another dog. It's our brand of community journalism- the kind of story we'd report that the dailies won't cover- unless an actual human being is killed or maimed.

There seem to be more dog attacks than we thought. And frankly, if they continue, we may have to pull the plug on covering them on grounds that they happen too often to be "news"- sort of like bank robberies.

The trick, if you own a dog, is to be smarter than he is. Don't laugh: It may be easier said than done. A really smart dog who wants a few hours of freedom can bolt almost at will. He has uncanny skill, perfect timing and the element of surprise whenever a door is momentarily open or ajar. Dogs can dig through, under or around almost any fence. They're so good at it, they could probably escape from any maximum security prison.

When a dog gets out, he's usually not a problem, other than watering Mrs. Smith's prized petunias or leaving a few calling cards on your closest neighbor's perfectly manicured lawn.

Mostly your dog just wants to run around and smell everything.

There is, however, a darker side to canines. Some of them are good around people but totally aggressive toward other dogs. The alpha male or female isn't always a lap-happy, drooling bundle of joy. When he or she sees another dog, Dr. Jekyll unfortunately turns into Mr. Hyde.

People with large bad-tempered dogs must always be smarter than their dog. There's no way a dog like that should ever escape. He should be confined by a kennel or be on a heavy leash that's securely tethered in an enclosed yard.

This obviously goes, too, for any dog that's dangerous to people.

The overwhelming majority of dogs- even the so-called aggressive breeds- are good animals.

It's the other ones that are always a concern.