My daughter walked her tiny Maltese dog, Marshmallow, by herself (the norm in my neighborhood for kids). From where I was in our yard, I could see and hear her nearly the entire time. Then a neighbor called the police.

The neighbor actually told the police a 5-year-old was out by herself. The cops checked in on my family and reported back to the neighbor that I had done nothing wrong and was not endangering my child for letting her walk her dog. Apparently wanting to see me hauled away in handcuffs in front of my kid, the same neighbor decided to call the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), which launched a weeks-long investigation for neglect.

All because my daughter walked her dog.