I live in the heart of downtown Springfield and have no idea what this guy is talking about…… I have pets as well and take walks daily and nightly with no issue. Maybe the other commenter had a bad experience or two but it is not at all as bad as they made it out to be. There are not shootings at restaurants and bars every weekend. It’s not running rampant with homeless. There are great people here and the danger they speak of is entirely overblown. Again, I live right in the middle of it and have for years. I thoroughly enjoy the city and people.