I think the woman is in the minority. I know some people let their Chis off-lead over fields but I don't know of any that just don't use leads when out with their dogs. It's irresponsible and stupid! I hope she never gets an aggressive dog that runs up and attacks her Chis. That's what happened to mine on several occasions. Even if you can trust your own dogs, you can't trust other peoples', hence keeping mine on lead, so that I can pick them up out of harms way, should another attack take place (I have had to do this on many occasions).

Sounds like she is likely to learn the hard way at the cost of her dogs.