So, any of you complete your reading assignment, yet? HUSTLE UP, that book is not going to read itself!
I just started reading "Red Zone" by A. Jones last night. Relates to the Diane Whipple case. What kind of a world do we live in where someone can be literally EATEN by vicious animals on the 6th floor of an upscale apartment building?!?! That is not a hazard a city should pose.
Anyways, the Nanny Dog myth is an interesting one. The lies/excuses/myths that dog fanatics invent to promote their "interests" are usually impossibly stupid, and only make sense to other cult members.
Impossibly stupid? Really? How did the ridiculous notion of a "Nanny Dog" catch on in the first place? How about auto mechanic dog, or airline pilot dog? Lawyer dog? Tax accountant dog?
Sure, some dogs have been inbred to perform certain tasks. Retrieving is a good example: Pick something up and bring it to me. Perhaps they will learn algebra next?
While not rocket science, "Nanny-ing" is a job encompassing several complex tasks that may only be performed by human beings.
Nanny tasks may include, but are not limited to:
- Preparing meals for self and children and cleaning up after. (licking plates clean does not count).
- Changing diapers. (eating poop out of the diaper does not count, either, sorry).
- Driving children to and from school, sporting events and other activities. (chasing cars does not count).
- Assisting children with homework assignments. (Peeing on the homework is NOT generally considered to be a useful assist, sorry).
- Doing laundry. (no snark here, sorry).
- Calling relevant authorities in the case of emergency: I.E. 911. (sorry, mindlessly barking all day does not count).
- Etc...
Dog lovers have anthropomorphized the object of their love to the point that they believe dogs are capable of anything a human can do. Eileen noted that search and rescue dogs, police dogs and the like are really just tools used by humans to do a job: This is a correct analysis, of course, but to the True Believer, those dogs are full fledged Cops, Firefighters and Soldiers!
So, with that under consideration, the Nanny Dog proposal is certainly plausible to the initiate. If a dog can be a cop, why not a Nanny?
Of course, the dog lover will shout "My Fido is safe around kids!!!!". (This is without even raising the danger the scenario may pose - they are revealing their insecurity and self-doubt). In my utter magnanimity, lets give him the benefit of the doubt on that - the dog is harmless. Well, genius, so is my oriental rug. I would never claim my rug is a "Nanny Rug" as it just sits there - it cannot perform any Nanny-esque duties.
Now, the fact that an unstable beast such as the Pit Bull was arbitrarily chosen to be the "Nanny Dog" moves the notion from sheer stupidity to full retardation.
Again, pit nuttery = dog love gone full retard.
I have to agree with your last statement there. The entire nanny dog MYTH was started by a pit breeder in 1971. Before that they were just known as killers. Here is a good read on that: www.thenannydogblog.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThe myth of the Nanny Dog is a life preserver being tossed to the sinking pit owners in desperate need of something to keep them afloat. It is made of lead.
ReplyDeleteA legit service dog was attacked at a 7/11 in ?Utah. A blind woman who had her guide dog for two weeks now has to help him recover. No info on the breed doing the attacking, but I'm betting it was the work of nanny dogs. Probably therapy nanny dogs. What kind of therapy can a dog provide, if it's in danger of mauling everything around it?
ReplyDeleteAs for a dog as a nanny, nope, not for me and my son. My older son babysits on the occasions where the little one isn't in school and I have to work. He'll go to summer camp for additional child care while I work. I trust very, very few people to watch my little guy and no dog could ever do the job.
@Trisha, here's more on the story: http://www.dogsbitedecatural.com/2015/04/salt-lake-city-ut-blind-womans-guide.html
ReplyDeleteThat's where I saw the story. I've actually been following craven and the other blogs for a while. Since discovering the monster that started two doors down and is now right next door. Two doors down it didn't have a yard so it was never out unsupervised. Now it has a dilapidated fenced in back yard. Right next to our parking lot and a common play area for the kids. We have a small side yard and two aleys that aren't busy in the back. They were a good place to let the kids play last year. Ones neighbor has a 9 year old, mine is 7, and the other neighbors have a 5 year and 18 month old. Plus all the other kids who come to visit. We can't let them play there now, no side yard at all, only the alleys under our vigil. I get survivors benefits and work part time minimum wage. My rent for a decent 2 bedroom is only $500 a month plus utilities and I'm a minutes walk from work. With no car and a mostly fixed income the apartment and location are ideal except for the monster next door. I don't hate all pit bulls automatically, the 3 cold ones I know are fine with me. I just hate that so many of them are dangerous and don't belong in town.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lolathepitty.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/How-not-to-interact-poster-Proof3.png
ReplyDeleteThis sums up very well why not dog could ever be a Nanny Dog. Presented and endorsed of course by dog lovers.
Each action there that a child should not do depicts exactly how toddlers learn social boundaries. Silly me thinks they should be able to do it without being mauled to death or being left with an empty eye socket and a life of scars and pain. Toddlers often suffer the worst as they are eye level with the family beast.
If you are correcting your child as they expand their world and become mobile and interactive with their surroundings to make your dog feel safe your are an epic fail as a parent. Notice I am not condoning letting the child abuse a pet, your home or the parents or that correcting unpleasant behavior be avoided. It just shouldn't be meted out via fangs. A nanny in the end is more than a babysitter. They are hired as substitute parent figures to guide, endure and protect your child. A nanny cam would likely reveal your dog sucking its own balls or asshole while the baby drank drain cleaner.
This sort of thing is a variation of "blame the victim". A 2 year old acting like a harmless 2 year old? Total justification for Fido to kill him. Mick Heil!
DeleteI have looked in vain for my correspondence with Walmart over the issue of non service dogs in their stores.
ReplyDeleteThe gist was that store owners have no right to question any dog that is claimed as a service animal as they tremble in fear of being sued. End of story. When you get a cart at a store wipe the cart down using their supplies in copious amounts. Most stores provide a station with a tiny squirt bottle and tiny wipes, Make yourself at home.
The dog in this story may very well no longer be suited to work as a guide dog. Which means that someone breaking the law has likely caused the loss of use of a valuable animal. Thousands of hours in training and impacted this woman's right to use public places safely. The store owners will claim the dog was presented to them as a service animal. The liars might get a civil fine of a few hundred dollars if that. Anyone can buy service vests right down to spending a few hundred dollars for an online quack to email them an RX to use a service dog or infect your neighborhood or apartment building with yapping ESA. My opinion on this is only the victims like this woman can make the case for real change in the ADA laws regarding service animals. If this were a case of a pit bull with a service vest being denied entry anywhere it would flood the social media.
Where is the angst for this ???
Isn't it ironic that the ADA is actually making it more dangerous and difficult for people with true disabilities?
DeleteKids and dogs , specifically toddlers and dogs can be an easy mix. My parents small dogs always loved my older kids and would play with them happily for hours. All were chi or terrier mixes. None ever even growled at a kid. My youngest tried to ride my daughter's beagle lab mix. He did fall down when she moved but he quickly learned not to do it. Redirecting him worked if we were in the same room. Ollie had free roam of the house and she loves my boy so she'd go in and sit with him. He thought she'd make a good pony. She doesn't live with us but still gets all excited and brings him a toy when we visit. She used to sleep beside him if he mapped on the couch. I guess she figured (thought? ) she was keeping the young master safe. A normal, safe , good pet.
DeleteI hope that lady raises Hell. Her dog had a legit purpose and a reason to be inside a store. I guarantee the other dogs didn't.
The ADA was written with the intention of protecting and giving equal rights and access. There also seems to be an assumption that it would not be abused. A foolish line of thinking when dealing with human behavior and the need of a certain faction of our society to gratify their own needs no matter the impact on anyone else. It is a law without teeth or boundaries. So far petitions have proved useless. Perhaps the body count isn't high enough.
DeleteNothing in the doggy universe has any boundaries. Remember: Fido and his owner are BY DEFINITION always agents of good. Who are we to impose any limits upon them?
DeleteI dunno about the rest of the ADA, but the section relating to service animals needs some SERIOUS updating. Problem is, the genie is already out of the bottle, as it is with all things canine. We have a million douchebags being dragged around by their "service" pits and everyone is too afraid of a lawsuit to do anything about it. As per all things Fido, you either sing praise or shut up.... nothing else is acceptable.
"I have looked in vain for my correspondence with Walmart over the issue of non service dogs in their stores."
ReplyDeleteLet me know when you find that, will put up as a guest post if you amenable.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Delete
ReplyDeleteThank you for contacting the Global Ethics Office. One of our objectives is to provide guidance for ethical dilemmas and to ensure formal review for behavior that may be inconsistent with Walmart's Statement of Ethics, which can be found at www.walmartethics.com. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as "any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability . . . ." Some state laws define service animals more broadly. Businesses, such as Walmart, that are open to the public cannot exclude a service animal from entering their establishments. Wherever any individual with a disability under the ADA is allowed to enter, a working service animal should also be allowed to enter. In that regard, under our internal Service Animal Policy, and in compliance with Title III of the ADA, we are not allowed to ask a customer to provide any certification of their service animal, nor can we ask the customer the nature of their disability which requires the use of a service animal. We are only allowed to ask the customer if the animal is a service animal. If the customer indicates as such, we are required to allow them and their service animal into areas of the store other than food preparation areas, without restricted access. While some customers may take issue with seeing a service animal in the store, Walmart is committed to ensuring that each of its customers, including those with disabilities, is treated respectfully.
Regards,
xxxxxx
Global Ethics Department
Under Federal Law, proprietors are allowed to ask 2 questions:
ReplyDelete"When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task."
From:
http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
One part that desperately needs to change:
ReplyDelete"Staff cannot ... require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog"
PROBLEM
Make it a requirement that any Rx for a service dog or ESA ( Linus blanket) must be obtained by a physical visit to a doctors office. No more email, website, mail or fax. Yes for a range of prices you can pay an online doctor to hand you the right to drag your dog along. Shut down all online, ebay, and by mail SD vests.
DeleteAnyone wishing to have a Service Dog or ESA must take the voucher from the doctors office to DMV and be given the permit, ID and vest along with a picture of the service animal that must be attached to the animal along with the requirement that all SD in public places wear their vests at all times.
Doctors must keep specific written explanations for assigning anyone the right to have a SD or ESA.
Treat forgery of ID tags or vests like the felony it should be payable by fines stiff enough to make even the most determined dog owner think twice.
I have zero issues with someone who needs a SD to help them and is task trained. ESA should have a different vest that flags store owners they do not have the right to public access. Notice at no point is anyone required to reveal any disability just that their dog is legit.
Dogs in shopping carts should simply be illegal. It not only contaminates it raises the level of the dog allowing it to spread its dander on everything at that height.
Personally I expect nothing to change until there is a full fledged murder by fake Pit bull SD. Even that might not trigger change.
Diana Whipple should have registered in the minds of everyone. Vicious dogs are not limited to low income neighborhoods on the wrong side of the tracks. Your neighbors with 2 new SUV's living in the 4000 sq ft. custom home that has the hand scraped hardwood floors are as likely to be harboring a rescue dog listed on the homeowners insurance as a lab/mix. Worse you may find that the SD sitting in your child's classroom is a rescue pit. Autism support PIt Bulls seem to be all the rage now.
Eileen - great comment. One thing I might add is that the animal should be microchipped, and the chip # printed on the ID card. Proprietors have the right to cross check the chip to the card.
DeleteAgain, as you noted, none of this violates the medical privacy of the disabled person.
Some people will argue that this new regime is too oppressive, that it places too much of a burden on the individual desiring a service animal. To that, I say: THEY get to violate OUR rights to be dog free via the power of the federal government - us peons should at least have the right to verify that the animal in question is legit.
Goes to point that doggie owners have many legal advantages the rest of us do not.
I agree on the microchip. I don't think any business owner wants to hassle anyone coming in their doors. And hell hath no fury like an Internet FB Posse out to lynch some poor shopkeeper that heaved out a SD real or not for it's untrained behavior. They'll sign petitions and slander on yelp until the real victim.( shop owner) issues an apology and a gift card. That's the mild version of some of the cyber attacks launched in the name of DogGod.
DeleteOn a funny note a few weeks ago going into the grocery store there was a brand new SUV parked in the front row with the dog howling and carrying on. It had totally dismantled both front seat headrests. I hope it got to the whole front seat before the owner got back. The noise even in a large parking lot was deafening. Oddly none of the doggy cooing bystanders thought to go in and ask someone to call the owner of the vehicle. I felt they knew best.
I've written a document outlining changes to the ADA service dog laws that I think should be made. Penalties for fraud MUST be high and include euthanization of attacking dogs to discourage more fraud. IMO any of the changes I've outlined would constitute an improvement to today's out of control situation.
ReplyDeleteNEW RULES ON THE USE OF SERVICE DOGS UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
DeleteIn light of recent maulings and fatalities by service dogs I propose that the ADA make changes to the use of service dogs as follows:
1) A dog which as an individual has a history of aggression, including but not limited to killing, mauling, biting, nipping, lunging, growling, food aggression, dog aggression or other animal aggression shall NOT be eligible for use as a service dog.
2) A dog which according to its BREED STANDARD has been BRED for aggression, including but not limited to the American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American bulldog, preso canario, Dogo Argentino, Cuban bloodhound, and any other pure bred or mixed breed dog that is a combination of these dogs; shall NOT be eligible for use as a service dog.
3) A dog which according to its BREED STANDARD has been BRED to be disliking or distrustful of strangers, including but not limited to the Akita, Chow, Caucasian Mountain Dog, Cane Corso, and any other pure bred or mixed breed dog that is a combination of these dogs; shall NOT be eligible for use as a service dog.
4) A dog which as an individual has a history of disliking, distrusting, or being aggressive towards strangers shall NOT be eligible for use as a service dog.
5) Any dog which is in current use as a service dog which exhibits ANY of the above behaviors shall NOT be eligible to continue as a service dog.
6) Any dog which is not spayed or neutered shall not be eligible for use as a service dog.
7) The MINIMUM penalty for the death of a human by a service dog shall be not be LESS than half a million dollar fine and not LESS than five years in jail. The dog shall be euthanized.
8) The MINIMUM penalty for the severe injury of a human by a service dog shall not be LESS than half a million dollar fine and three years in jail. The dog shall be euthanized.
9) The MINIMUM penalty for the death of another animal by a service dog shall not be LESS than one hundred thousand dollar fine and a year in jail. The dog shall be euthanized.
10) The MINIMUM penalty for the severe injury of another animal by a service dog shall not be LESS than a fine of one hundred thousand dollars. The dog shall be euthanized.
KaD:
Delete1) Agreed.
2, 3) Agreed. However, It might be better to "white list" breeds that are known to make good service dogs, i.e. golden retrievers. In other words, any breed not on the white list may NOT be a service dog.
4,5,6) Agreed.
7, 8, 9,10) Agreed, however those penalties should apply to ALL dogs and ALL dog owners.
3) Agreed.
Ka D. BSL in the SD industry is the one place they belong and would work.
DeleteAnd AU is correct that along with dogs outright banned there should be a list of breeds that are acceptable. You need both as dog cultists will try and blur any rule to get their way as in...Well my GR is ony 1/10th pitbull.
Really, job #1 should be a proofing/ID system. That by itself would solve most SD problems without having to expend too much political capital, and avoid war with the Pit Bull Mafia.
DeleteI guarantee that virtually 100% of Pit Bull "service" dogs are fake. They have not been trained to do anything useful. Simply draining the swamp of fakes takes care of that problem.
Great proposal. I also agree service dogs can be narrowed down to a handful of breeds.
DeleteI could agree with that. The lady with a legit service dog enjoys kids asking what the dog does for her. She enjoys letting the kids get to know the dog. I can't remember if it's male or female , I do know it's a beautiful great tempered yellow lab. As soon as she gives the signal it's happy to sit and meet people. I believe it's the best trained animal I've ever seen. No one has the right to threaten her and her dog , especially not the assholes being pulled around by their fake e.s.a. pit bulls. The golden at the library comes a close second in training. A true therapy dog who lays quietly with her head in children's laps while they read. She also visits hospitals and nursing homes. It would sadden me if one of the assholes with a pit bull let their dog attack her. It would break the hearts of many kids who enjoy her visits.
ReplyDeleteTwo excellent dogs who could be hurt because some grifter feels the need for the support of a mauler. Granted one is for therapy and one is a genuine service dog, but they actually both provide services. They and their owners have much more of a right to be in our library than any attack dog. Oh Devon, the therapy dog is a very sweet Golden. I think most good service dogs are some type of lab or retriever.
I'm not a fan of any dog being used at a library or to 'help kids read'. I could read at age four because my Mother read to me. The dog does nothing to help kids read anymore than a safe, non allergenic teddy bear could.
DeleteKD. Therapy dogs are highly trained and not granted regular public access unless they are part of a program or invited. I hate dogs. I am more in favor of anything that gets a child to sit and read a book.
DeleteTherapy dog is entirely meaningless. Here are some examples: SPCA Trained Therapy Pit Bull “Nettie” In a classic backfire, Anna Klafter's SPCA pencil whipped therapy Pit Bull goes beserk after seeing it's first police horse in Golden Gate Park. Nettie is shot, the police officer is put on the disability rolls and Anna get’s kicked in the face, sustaining a fractured skull. In a bizarre twist of irony, the Taxpayer’s Police Horse; Triple A Andy, has to be retired and is donated to the same SPCA that “pimped” Nettie out onto the public!
DeleteAnimal Control Officer-Nutter Aimee Chapelle establishes one of the first known bite prevention school programs using Pit Bulls to educate...err, indoctrinate children...She is on her way to Pit Bull Superstardom after getting this fabulous PR piece published:
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20050730/VALLEYNEWS/50729010
Then in 2006 the program is muzzled after one of her Pit Bulls defeats her fence and attacks a neighborhood child! http://www.postindependent.com/article/20061226/VALLEYNEWS/112260030
Linda Forney volunteered at the City Public library and would take her Pit Bull with her to expose as many people as she could to Pit Bulls for the “Great Struggle“. All was well until Snoopy bit a resident in the face. Now the City of Maul-lala is being sued for $158,000.
Are you going to tell me they invited a pit bull to the library?
Oh, that is a true classic!
DeleteInsert PIt Bull into anything and you better have the mop handy to clean up the mess.
DeleteMy son loves to read. He's 7 and reading at a mid fourth grade level. That's what being read to from birth plus having a bookworm parent can do for a kid. Still he sees reading with the dog as a treat. I like normal well behaved dogs and he loves them. He does have some behavior issues and the once a month treat is a reward for his best behavior in school. Still that dog is granted access through a program and I very much prefer here to the pits and their owners hanging outside the library for the free wifi.
ReplyDeleteA therapy dog is essentially a glorified pet. I do not have a problem with them BUT I think people have a right to discriminate. Discriminate against any breed or even against all dogs or even all animals. In any case, the "tales for tails" type programs are acceptable IF all parties agree to it - it should not be foist on anybody.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to see a therapy dog used in a legit program that was not highly obedience trained. But they are not task trained . Despite the claims you cannot train an animal to give affection. Successful therapy dogs non reactive and highly tolerant of strangers and other animals.
DeleteAny participation in a program with minors should involve signed parental consent.
Of course I'm sure there is a push for Pit Bull therapy dogs. Which means programs that once offered legit benefits will now become one more platform to promote Americas Meat Grinder.
I'd agree Devon is more of a pet. I think as long as everyone is giving consent then a program like this is fine. The other dog serves a wheelchair bound woman with totally different credentials. Both do perform good services and both are better than any pit bull.
ReplyDeleteIt's estimated that 10% of the population have dog allergies. I'm sure the people NOT in the program won't be asked for consent to have dog allergens introduced into a public place.
DeleteI think the bottom line is: Should this dog be foist on all, or not? If so, there needs to be a verification system. Otherwise, we drowning in a post dogapolypse.
ReplyDeleteWe already ARE.
DeleteI guess you could choose not to go to the library. The dog is brought directly downstairs to the children's department so unless you were using the doors or elevator at the well posted times you'd never interact with her. You still have to get past the pits and their owners with their lit cigarettes half the time.
ReplyDelete"I guess you could choose not to go to the library."
ReplyDeleteAs a net taxpayer, that is not a choice I should have to make. Libraries are a place for the human public to do business, they are generally not appropriate places for dogs. Again, the only exception should be for properly proofed service dogs performing tasks for their owners.
If the "tales for tails" program is truly beneficial, it can be done at private homes or some other venue.
This is one reason there are so many dog haters - dog haters are made, not born and this kind of thing - insisting that dogs must be everywhere all the time - really pisses a lot of people off.
Exactly. My money helps fund the library why should MY rights be less, again, than the self imagined right of a dog owner? How about if parents just step up to the plate and do their job as parents instead of foisting a useless mutt on everyone.
DeleteThe dog Trisha describes is a GR and the program happens on a set schedule in a closed off room. Unless you are so territorial that you have to pee in every corner of any building you enter this dog is contained , out of sight out of mind. The combined tax dollars of everyone pay for this as a common use space. Examples of common areas that are under real siege Your local parks, trails and the streets you walk on. Dog owners with substandard fencing for the dogs they choose to own. Trisha's child cannot play outside in some common areas because of the real possibility that a pit might decide to go through or over it.
DeleteI'm well aware that Therapy dogs are becoming one more pit bull propaganda machines. The truth is if owners really wanted those pits to be happy they would be in favor of dog fighting. Either that or breed the aggression out in which case they would look more like GR. I don't see either happening. The one thing all those pictures of children and pits from the 1800's prove is that bad judgement is not new.
"The dog Trisha describes is a GR and the program happens on a set schedule in a closed off room."
DeleteFor now, we hope. My problem with anything like this is, it is the proverbial inch.
Read my earlier blog entries about hiking trails, state parks and the like: "Trouble in Paradise". Dogs used to be completely banned in FL state parks. They were allowed back in and it evolved into a Dogapolypse. Barking dogs, dogs harassing wildlife, pee and crap everywhere, dogs destroying park property, dogs chasing and behaving dangerously towards park guests (including me), etc... etc...
Good news on the park front is I have been working with the system director and individual park rangers to ameliorate the problem - it has improved remarkably, but only after considerable heartburn and effort. Again, as a volunteer hike leader and trail maintainer, I had better things to do then battle malicious, entitled mutt-owners.
The fact that the library allows it at this time doesn't mean anything. Murder by dog is currently legal, but it sure as hell isn't right.
I want to just stop the slight debate from the same side of the fence here for a moment and thank you for the work you do on trails. I worked on some while in girl scouts and have a deep appreciation of the time and effort it takes to keep what can look like a simple path cleared and easy for many levels of hikers to use.
DeleteI am indeed working my way through your blog and enjoying you plain spoken no nonsense writings.
Here is my last word on the Tales for Tales type programs: Do not, under any circumstances, give the benefit of the doubt to anyone trying to advance the interests of dogs at any time. And, yes, Tales for Tails IS advancing the dogocracy!
DeleteYes, its possible it may be harmless, but it is deserved of a LOT of skepticism. For example, consider a guy picking up small kids in his van with a promise of candy: He must just be a nice guy who likes to give candy to strange kids, right? COME ON... Who are we to impugn his motives???
After everything I have been through, I do not trust ANYONE trying to push dogs in ANY venue. I have good reason to assume the worst... these people are trying to advance a front on the dogapolypse. They are like the pervert in the van. Sure, today it is just a harmless GR in a basement room a couple of hours a week. Two years from now every library building will be flooded with dogs, the books on the lower shelves will be soaked in dog urine, the aisles will be loaded with dog crap, the property will be awash in the non-stop roar of barking dogs, you won't be able to get from one end of the building to the other without getting bit, and anyone who complains is a million times worth than Satan himself! Yes, that is exactly what happened in the parks, and dogs should have NEVER been allowed in the first place!
Anyone wanting to bring dogs into ANYTHING needs to be critically analyzed to death. DO NOT give them the benefit of the doubt.
I am no longer a hike leader or a trail maintainer. I was very active for a few years, got a LOT of people into hiking.
DeleteI did some grueling hike maintenance. I helped put in a new trail in the summer of 2012 - you ever try to bushwhack through the woods in FL in JULY? It was about the hardest thing I ever did.
Long story made short: I quit over a club insider who refused to control his dog. The dog was a Golden Retriever that was never leashed, harassed hikers, ran wild in the woods, etc... the dog was injured on one of its jaunts alone in the woods. It also got lost on hikes due to its owner's failure to control it. This fucking douchebag flat out ruined one of my activities, that I had planned for weeks - I demanded he control his dog and he flat out refused to do it. The dog continued to run wild until it ripped its face open on a saw palmetto - something that would not have happened had the owner made the smallest effort to control it. I am damn lucky I did not have to carry a dead dog out of the woods that day - the pathetic little shrimp who got into an alpha male pissing contest with me that day certainly could not have done so.
I demanded the fucking asshole be purged from the organization. The rest of the team would not kick the guy out, so out I went. But, hey, it was the Will Of Dog that I leave - so its all good, right?????????????????????
Silly, you don't have to carry a dead dog. They drag just fine. I found out that in some of our National Forest here dogs are allowed off leash. I guess any humans using the same area have to endure it for the sake of the puppy. Dogs don't belong in local, state or national forests or parks.
DeleteI'm going to write Tales for tails, ore Tails for Tales, or whatever it is...Pit bulls do not belong near children.
DeleteOr even other breeds. Dogs can bite. I'm so tired of dogs being pushed on kids. Interestingly, I've noticed a percentage of kids who hate dogs. They've been attacked, or watched their puppy being killed a the dog park. Its very sad...and dog people say that they 'need to get over it'. Perhaps they are demonstrating critical thinking and self preservation.
Deletethe kids...demonstrating thinking and preservation. Not enough sleep and too much work for me.
Deletehttp://whatapittie.org/
DeleteA benign breed in a voluntary setting is up to the parent. I did find several references to these kinds of programs going into schools and many of them include pit bull propaganda and rescue dog drivel. At that point the focus has moved from encouraging a child to indoctrination. The link at the top should take you to such a group. Animal Uncontrol is dead on about the mutation of programs that allow dogs.
I hope if Trisha ever walks in on the library program and sees a pit or mix she has the good sense to leave.
I watched my favorite little pit bull pimp last night. The pit in the show was dog aggressive and attacking any dog it could. Of course the mommy-fail went on and on about how loving the dog was with her children. After yet another dog attack which was seen as not that bad since the other dog was recovering well they gave the dog to the glorified dog walker who has plans to rehabilitate it and find a home where the dogs needs are better understood.
The second was a terrier breed that in one of its uncontrolled moments ran up and bit a 2 year old. I have no idea why there was a rest of the story. The dog should have been put down after that.
Aside from his skewed ideas on dog training. I love where he encouraged the pit owners to walk their dog and pretty much see how it goes. My question has always been how does he pick the dogs. One of the horse guru's making the rounds years ago like a rock star got outed for picking and choosing horses for his demo training seminars even though he claimed he could do his magic with any horse.
TV shows like this tend to focus on the positive outcomes rather than the dismal failures.
http://4pawsu.com/cesarfans.htm
this link takes you to a dog training page. Showdown with Holly vs ceasr milian shows he is totally incapable of reading canine body language.
"I found out that in some of our National Forest here dogs are allowed off leash."
DeleteI have an excellent post on an off leash dog at a national forest. Early 2014.
Long story short, some genius let his dog run off a cliff in NC. Splat!
Pet parents should keep better tabs on their kids.
Delete"and dog people say that they 'need to get over it'."
DeleteThat is what they always said. Probably in a dog owners manual from the 1950's.
I don't stick around when pit bulls are about. The only exception is our park, but I've always got my knife at the park. We have a back to the 50's festival in town every year. For a long time people brought their pets. Why you bring iguanas, snakes, and all kinds of dogs to a crowded, noisy event is way beyond me. More and more people started bringing pits, so all pets were banned. I'm hoping they'll ban pets from the Fourth of July activities this year. Most dogs don't like loud noise so why do idiots bring them to the fireworks and parade? And why in the world bring them to the carnival? It's not like Fido can ride the ferris wheel. Trust me Eileen, the golden, and almost any lab breeds, I'm fine with. A pit inside the library would be enough to make me leave. Luckily, the grifters with ESA dogs don't read, so they're not dragging them in there.
DeleteI guess the library boards don't feel the same way. Otherwise tails for takes programs wouldn't be taking place in libraries. Still it's one hour a month before closing time in a completely separate area from the adult department here. Very easy for dog haters to avoid.
ReplyDeleteKaD, I use it as a reward for good behavior. He has had some problems since I left an abusive man and anything that helps him control himself at school is worth it to me. I have punished him, but losing everything but legos and books is only effective for so long. I won't take those two away because I see value in reading and doing something constructive. He gets other rewards too but reading with the dog is his favorite. Why should my rights as a parent be any less than yours? Libraries are there for all of us to use, however we choose to, within reason. We use ours for books, sometimes movies, and many family activities. It's my favorite place in town, second being the park. The two get reversed for my 7 year old as the seasons change. However at the park there are a ton of dogs, especially pits with asshole owners. I've seen them run off leash and very few people carry a bag to pick up after their dogs. I have walked up to strangers and informed them to get toilet paper and pick up their dogs mess. If they get ugly, I offer to call the police. I'm not saying all dogs belong everywhere, merely dogs with a job are fine performing their tasks.
Obviously we agree about dogs in parks. I don't care what breed or size. I don't want to step in crap nor do I want my son to. I don't want to listen to them barking at everything when we're there to play and enjoy the day. I don't want us getting bit. We have two nice sized city parks. Both usually have people with dogs. I would prefer the dogs be in a dog park, not a public play place. If they're going to bring them two things are an absolute must in my opinion. 1 a short non retractable leash keep them close and under control. 2 pick up their mess. If either rule is broken ban them from the park one at a time. The decent owners will be happy to comply. The others will have to explain to their kids why being lazy led to them not being able to use the park.
ReplyDeleteThe two latest attacks on dogs bite Decatur AL. are more than enough proof of things going way too far. A four year old being mauled by the newly adopted XL pit bull, and the 8 year old bouncing the ball. When the ninja cat video was going around, I advocated putting the dog down. I think it was PTS. I actually had people tell me the wheels on the little push bike the kid was riding might have provoked the dog. Sorry, no dice, ever. Kids can run, play, bounce balls, ride bikes, ride skateboards, swing, slide, and walk places, and should have the implied (children have no rights) to due so and be normal, loud, dirty, playful kids without Fido mauling them.
ReplyDeleteThe social dialogue around pit bull attacks is similar to the dialogue used with rape victims. The victim's otherwise ordinary behavior is suddenly suspect, as if they made a terrible judgement by bouncing a ball or playing on a tricycle. Rape victims are questioned for normal dating behaviors.
DeleteI find it more than a little creepy. Women and children having no rights yet again.
This is an ironic DogsBite post on pit bull triggers:
http://blog.dogsbite.org/2008/08/triggers-what-prompts-pit-bull-to.html
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=763_1425268809
Deletethe list needs an update to include ice bucket challenges.
"The social dialogue around pit bull attacks is similar to the dialogue used with rape victims."
DeleteIndeed, blaming victims of DOG attacks is a national pastime. Check out my Proto Nuttery essay - problem not limited to Pit Bulls.
While I didn't refute that a mauler or killer dog should be put down, back when I didn't understand the excessive risk posed by pit bulls, I was quick to believe the claim that an aggressive dog must have been raised badly or was otherwise provoked. I knew certain breeds are more prone to aggression due to their purposes, but figured it was more on the owner to be able to curb and discourage that behavior (not erase it, since you can't erase genetics). Some years later I started learning the truth about pit bulls, and realized continuing to believe "it's all in how you raise them" went against everything I knew about dogs. I also learned a lot the seedy underbelly of the pit and pet industries. Looking at all this now, you have to wonder...pit lovers do all sorts of things around these dogs on a daily basis. Run, yell, wrestle, bike, and yet somehow these behaviors don't "provoke" the pit into launching an attack?
DeleteIf you listen to "it's all in how you raise them" you don't have a reason to look into the details of pit bull attacks or why the pet industry focuses on this breed, because you assume the dog was raised badly. Owners who really are decent people and want to speak out about watching their well-loved, well-raised pit suddenly attack are shamed into silence, because it's assumed they must have done something wrong that a proper pit bull owner simply wouldn't. (the real mistake is getting a pit in the first place, but they're marketed as misunderstood cuddle bunnies.)
I think "it's all in how you raise them" is deadliest and most insidious myth of the pit bull world.
I used to believe the same, I do know that a really bad owner can make the genetic traits of maulers more prominent. JR has been raised to be mean to everyone and everything. They think it's good to make him that way. At least the average stupid person doesn't mistreat their pit and try to make it mean, on top of it already being dangerous.
DeleteYour quiet neighbor, my son also enjoys reading to our rats, and his gerbil. The dog actually sits still though, the rodents think it's always play time. He'll read to anybody, if you're willing to listen, but he enjoys the dog.
Trisha. Yes you can train a pit to be more openly aggressive . What you can't un teach even the most gently raised pit is their natural inclination to be animal aggressive ( kill kill kill ) or the state of mind that some call arousal where they are totally incapable of shutting down an attack once it's started.
DeleteI know you can teach them to be people aggressive. Add the dog's 109+lbs. size. It's a disaster waiting to happen. Still I blame the owners. Having a pit is bad enough, an XL pit is worse. Making it mean to people is the worst of all. I wish it would eat one of them already. Better it's owners than ANY of us.
DeleteOne of the libraries around here uses a guinea pig rather than a dog. I don't know when they have it and when they don't. I just happened to be there one day when they were having an event for children and it was there. The children were heavily surprised, but things seemed to be going well.
ReplyDeleteWhat in the hell is it with these read-to-an-animal things? You might as well go outside and read to a tree. Or a rock. Good grief, if you need to improve your read-aloud skills, you just freakin' do it! You can even do it at home in your closet.
DeleteThey looked like they were just petting it. I meant to say supervised not surprised. I don't know the purpose of the guinea pig, but they weren't reading to it. That would have been hilarious. I don't have children, so IDK. I learned to read via instruction from an adult human.
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