I don't think it makes me an actual fugitive from justice, but when I roll out of town next week (for a semester in Montana), it will be with an unresolved legal matter still pending against me.

It was back in May when the long arm of the law, and the slightly stubbier arms of animal control, came down on Ace and me, citing us for being off leash in Riverside Park. (Well, he was off the leash, but I got the ticket.)

As they do now and then -- at least three times this summer in Riverside Park that I know of -- police and animal control teamed up to nab dozens of us dangerous lawbreakers who went so far as to let our dogs run freely.

I was caught up in conversation, not paying attention, and unhooked Ace's leash as we neared the gazebo, leaning on the rail of which was a plainclothes police officer who immediately called me over.

The officer, who seemed somewhat less than thrilled with his assignment, took my driver's license, ordered me to put Ace back on the leash, and told me to follow him. There, behind the swimming pool, a team of animal control officers were writing citations to those who had been nabbed before me. There was actually a line to wait in to get a ticket.

The back story, to be fair, is that the crackdowns usually follow complaints from citizens who were bitten, frightened or felt endangered by an unleashed dog. Those citizens can get pretty irate. So too can those being ticketed, which is why animal control asked for the assist from the police department.

We all know the law -- it's right there on signs saying all dogs must be on a 6-foot leash -- but many of us violate the city ordinance daily, usually after scouting the park to makes sure police or animal control aren't around.

When they are sighted, we warn each other -- as if we were peddling crack on a street corner. We put our dogs back on the leashes and act all nonchalant. Sometimes people run to avoid being caught. I've actually heard people shout "Five-Oh!" when officers are sighted. And these, by and large, are yuppies.

Why do we want to avoid "The Man?" Because the citation carries a $100 fine -- more if your dog is unlicensed. So we play our little game of cat and mouse, or, more accurately, cop and dog, in an attempt to let our dogs get the exercise they need. And when we get a ticket, we pay it.

But I didn't.

Instead, I took the option explained in the small print on the back of the citation, and, as it instructed, took written notification that I wanted a hearing down to an office in the police station, filled out the paperwork as a photo of Sheila Dixon stared down at me, and waited for notification of when my hearing would be.

It never came.

Which is good, because I had no brilliant defense planned. I figured that maybe the officers wouldn't show up and it would be dropped, like sometimes happens with traffic tickets. Also, I'd heard that sometimes the Environmental Control Board, which conducts the hearings, reduces the fine.

I planned merely to explain that -- despite my deep respect for most other city ordinances -- I felt this one was wrong, and could not in good conscious abide by it. A trained and well-behaved dog should not have to be on leash everytime he or she goes on public property.

Yes, a dog park would be preferable, but there is only one of those, not nearly enough for a city with the number of dogs Baltimore has. Meanwhile, dogs need to run. That, I was prepared to say, is what nature intended (I planned to leave God out of it, at this stage, saving it for the Supreme Court).

Nor did I plan to make the point that a few of those ticketed made to officers while getting written up: Don't you, in a city like Baltimore, have more pressing law enforcement duties to perform? Mightn't it be a better use of the police officer's time to be chasing violent criminals? Mightn't it better serve the community to have the animal control officers cracking down on dogfighting rings, as opposed to dogwalkers? Perhaps, I pondered, I should go all Pacino on them: "NO! YOU'RE out of order! Or at least your priorities are."

I decided not to bring that up at the hearing, unless someone made me mad -- for it is the kind of point that fits much better in a blog, thereby leading to spirited public discussion among those who click the COMMENT button and type in their thoughts.

Now, I guess my day in court will have to wait, unless they issue a warrant for me, or extradite me, or send Dog the Bounty Hunter after me. More likely I will just get threatening letters.

That's all for now.

Signed,

Public Enemy No. 421,312

***

For the next three days, I'm going to be packing for the trip west, but -- as during my semester-long stay in Montana -- the blog will roll on.

Meanwhile, I will have some nice parting gifts for you, which you will have tune in Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to get.

Tuesday's will be my favorite all-time dog video (and no, it's not my dog). Wednesday's will be a special free "while-supplies-last" offer to teachers and people who work with animal welfare organizations.

Thursday's will be truly revelatory, as I will proclaim Baltimore's "City Animal."

For some reason, in this country, we pick state birds, flowers and animals, but not city ones. And while it's probably the mayor's job to proclaim something like this, I'm stepping in to help out.

You may feel free to submit your picks for what should be Baltimore's City Animal (again, it's that COMMENTS button below), but, to be honest, I've already made up my mind.