My heart still jumps into my throat thinking about the time one of our dogs broke free from a lead and took off.

And me frantically running after him … yelling and pleading with him to stop because it’s not a game!

I can still see the blur of white streaking across the backyards, up the alley and onto a busy cross street.

Thank goodness for interesting smelling shrubs that slowed him down long enough for me to catch up.

I never want to feel that kind of fear and helplessness again.

So I find it hard to believe when I see so many posts on social media about lost, stray and wandering dogs.

I’m not talking about the ones where the owner posts that their “escape artist” has done it again, seeking their neighbors’ help as they work to train their dog and secure the yard. Or the ones where they post a picture, phone number and ask for folks — anyone — to please help them find their Fido.

I know and understand these people.

I mean the ones where someone posts a photo of a dog running on X street at 10 a.m., and then someone posts the same dog on Y Street an hour or two later, and then another good-hearted person posts the same dog still running in the evening.

And there is no owner jumping into the thread looking for information or leaving a number to call if someone saw their dog.

Some dogs have been “lost” so many times that everyone on social media knows their names.

This I don’t understand.

Yes, some people just aren’t on social media. I get that, but you probably know someone who is and would let you know: “Hey, someone saw Fido over by the church or school! Did you know? Can I help?”

At that point, I would be panicked about getting my dog back and worried about his safety while out of my control.

Under Pennsylvania law, dogs must be under control of their owners. They’re not allowed to run at large. And their owners are responsible for them and any damage they may cause while on the run.

Breaking the state’s dog laws comes with penalties.

In 2022, the most recent statistics available, Pennsylvania’s dog wardens issued 2,402 summary citations and 130 misdemeanor complaints for dog law violations. Among the violations enforced were failure to license, dogs running at large or abandoned and dangerous dogs.

Local and state police as well as humane society officers enforce cruelty and neglect laws and can file charges.

Several animal cases from Carbon and Schuylkill counties are working their way through the court system now.

Animal advocates, such as Tom Connors at the Carbon County Animal Shelter, are watching those cases closely, wanting to see irresponsible owners prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Connors hopes that those cases will serve as an example and that other dog owners will take heed because the shelters are full. They can’t take any more animals in, he said, and their volunteers are stressed trying to care for the animals they have and find homes for others they can’t take in.

People can help by licensing their dogs.

“Dog licenses are the best way to help ensure that your dog is returned home safely and doesn’t end up at a shelter,” said Shannon Powers, a spokesperson for the state Department of Agriculture, which oversees the state’s dog laws.

Licenses are also required by law. All dogs, which are considered personal property by Pennsylvania, “must be licensed when you buy or adopt them (earliest is 8 weeks old) or 3 months of age, whichever comes first, by Jan. 1 of each year,” according to the state.

Licenses can be obtained from the county treasurer’s office and list the owner’s name and address on the dog’s collar, Powers told me.

“Dogs with licenses are returned to their owners,” she said.

All of our dogs were always licensed, which should have given me peace of mind when they slipped their collar and tore off up the street.

And I certainly wasn’t thinking about breaking the law or fines when my dog broke away from me so many years ago.

But clearly, some dog owners should be.