Recently, an acquaintance described seeing a stranger walk a tiny dog. "Walk," however, might not be the word. Apparently, the young woman whipped down the street, practically dragging the poor animal behind her. The observer was outraged--and unsure about whether to confront the woman. And, if so, how?

This is not an unusual situation. Nor is my advice original: I'm adapting the wisdom of Parents Helping Parents (formerly Parents Anonymous) on confronting an abusive parent:

Most people, if criticized (or if they think they're being criticized) will react defensively. One technique that works well is, getting both of you on the same side. (In the case of the parent: "Boy, kids sure drive you nuts sometimes, huh? Now, when I had this problem...")

In the case of a mistreated animal, you might start by saying, "What a cute pup. What breed is this?" (At the very least, you might get the offender to stop and talk, giving the pooch a rest!)

Then, you can use diplomacy. Try something like, "I hope you won't mind my saying this--I can see you love your dog a lot--but little dogs like these have short legs and often can't run the way larger dogs can. I've heard you need to walk them slowly." (You can make up the details. A little lie in this instance would be more than forgivable.) This way, you're not blaming the owner--who, after all, undoubtedly thinks she's a good "mom" to her pet.

Want personal advice on a problem of your own? Just ask. (You must agree, however, not to hold me liable in any event.)