I've been writing a lot about First Principles, or basic values, the past year or so. With all of these ludicrous, damaging, degenerate events going on, its sometime tough to keep track of your basic values. Its easy to get off on tangents, and criticize this or that, without being consciously aware of WHY I/we are criticizing it.
Everything I write and say comes from First Principles. I do not pretend to be credentialed in any relevant area, nor do I necessarily have any deep insight into any of these issues. What I write about is self evident based on First Principles.
What are my First Principles? (not an exhaustive list).
- Truth / Honesty.
- Peace.
- Safety.
- Freedom.
- Stability.
- The Golden Rule (treat people the way you would have them treat you).
- Legal / Social equity.
The above are primary values. Now, hating pit bulls (or even all dogs) would be more of a secondary value / principle. Why hate them? Well, its self evident that (in many cases) uncontrolled pit bulls are an active threat to basic values such as Peace, Safety, and Stability. Furthermore, the antics of their owners are a threat to Truth and Freedom: They lie like rugs and suppress everyone who does not buy into their DOGma. The government does not recognize the right of victims and complainants to legal equity. So, secondary values flow from primary values. If our primary values were respected, there would be no need for the hate.
Snark, humor, even ad homenem can have a basis in first principles. For example, when I refer to the Mickey foamers as degenerates, that is ad homenem. However, it is also true - it is self evident that the Mickey foamers lack civilized values: They are a supremacy cult that lies, cheats, and shows a complete disregard for the rights of others. They are a bunch of revolting misanthropes.
One of my other favorite topics is excessive barking. Here is an article by Your Quiet Neighbor about a successful lawsuit prosecuted against owners of 2 chronically barking dogs.
I detest chronic barking because it violates SO MANY basic principles:
- It is destructive of the PEACE.
- It prevents the surrounding community from using their private and public spaces as they see fit.
- The dog owners almost always lie about it.
- Authorities put the onus on the *complainant* to solve the problem, instead of where it belongs - ON THE DOG OWNER.
The plaintiffs in the case above finally prevailed, and yes... they deserve every penny of that $240,000.00 award. And, YES, this case was not won by default... THE JURY FOUND IN THEIR FAVOR. 240K for a full DECADE of harassment and abuse almost seems a bit small.
Coming up next... our adversaries. What do THEY value?
I've read that in California it is legal to take your neighbor to court for barking and the set award is $5000-it should be this way everywhere. It's my dream to win the lottery so I could take my white trash dog collecting neighbors to court again and again until they are bankrupt. To be as much of an inconsiderate menace to them as they and their dogs are to me.
ReplyDeleteYes, statutory penalties are what is needed. Thanks for writing.
DeleteOf all the things I resent most its the actions that I am guilty of as a grown adult in response to my neighbors inability or will to control the dogs they choose to own. In many ways by the time I stepped back from the brink and called in AC/Sheriff I was no better than them in some pretty disgraceful displays of anger. Yes I pointed our vehicles at their front yard and would set the car alarms off when their dogs started to bark. I swore at them like a fishwife. I'd yell at them to shut their fucking dog up and they would respond by letting it loose to bark. I own every bit of my bad behavior no matter what they were doing. Looking back it's a wonder someone else didn't call the cops on both of us some nights.
ReplyDeleteAC stepped in but the only way to keep the peace is my nifty amazon purchase of an outdoor webcam that is on 24/7. I also believe that the only reason AC has been on top of this is what I'm sure is the impression that I gave dispatch the night their dog tried to launch at my indoor cat. That this was going to escalate to something much worse than just a doggie dispute. Dog barking has no equal for being intolerable. Sleep depravation can drive the sanest person to act out. Just sayin.
Eileen - Your neighbors should have had their dogs impounded after the third complaint. Your problem is, unfortunately, VERY typical. The State DOES need to intervene sooner - I would put most of the blame on them.
DeleteThe government injects itself into our lives, takes our money and limits our behavior with the following rationalization: "put aside your blood feuds and disputes and let us dispense justice. Let US keep the peace". As civilized people we should be content in doing so to the extent that they at least try to do their jobs (maintain the peace).
These particular darlings have been in trouble in the last 4 years for starving horses and starving goats. I indeed turned them in over the horses. That was after an offer to help with feed was rejected by a haughty , They're our horses and we can do what we want. Fine. Have it your way. I have no idea who turned them in over the goats but I have a good idea. In both cases AC and Livestock played the work with them game instead of throwing the book. I even know why. All rescues with livestock are overflowing. Transfer that to the dog problem. Most shelters, rescues are overrun. Another lovely effect of the no-kill policy. AC in most cases will bend over backwards with back flips to NOT take a dog.
DeleteIf AC was structured in a way that mattered they would be red tagged from having any animal in their care of possession. My neighbors haven't changed their behavior. They have simply been beaten into submission.
I haven't included some horror stories committed before we had any animal welfare or control out here. Although you would think the church pew they're roosting in today would burn though the seat of their pants. Which is as far as I'm going to trod down the path of Born Agains and their behavior in the real world.
I'm still waiting for an apology for the travesty of having their loose dog trying to go through my window. They have our phone numbers and emails. Until then there can be no dialog between us. There isn't going to be a campfire with kumbaya playing in the background ever. It would be nice to relax and dial it down a few notches.
Its like the adage of putting a bigger , stronger and nastier bit on a horse with behavior issues. It only works until the pressure builds up and nothing can stop the impending meltdown.
Dog barking should be treated like other noise disturbances. Here in Tucson, you can get ticketed by the cops if you have a loud rockin' party that disturbs others. And the fines START at $500. You also have to display a fluorescent orange tag on your front window. Around here, it's called the Red Tag, and it is quite effective. OTOH, barking goes through our county animal control, which is worthless.
ReplyDelete"Dog barking should be treated like other noise disturbances."
DeleteAbsolutely. However, the dog foamer does not believe in legal equity. Noise from FIDO = GOOD. Noise from everything else = BAD.
This jurisdiction needs to be taken away from animal control/Humane societies/etc... and given back to the police.
It used to be that the city animal control would, you know, control animals? Now, it is their job to be a doggy advocate: Public health and safety is not a priority for them.
I eagerly await what my dog owning neighbors values are. So far I haven't had much to work with. Carefully worded appeals aimed at moral decency have not worked. I find it rather repugnant to sic the law on my neighbors. Perhaps I've missed something.
ReplyDelete"Carefully worded appeals aimed at moral decency have not worked"
DeleteYou can't appeal to their morals because they don't have any. Only confrontation with painful, expensive consequences will budge them.
On that line of thinking check this out: http://www.cravendesires.blogspot.com/2015/04/high-conflict-people-part-1.html
DeleteIndeed. They seek out fights.... give it to them with the intention of winning.
DeleteI'm very aware that in her mind at least. This is a power struggle and that somehow having to keep her dogs according to the county ordinances equals me trying to dominate her. We would just like to enjoy some reasonable peace and quiet. We have considered a direct appeal to her husband but he would simply defer to her.
DeleteWe have a forced peace but at least it's quiet.
I have no doubt my neighbors don't share any of those principles when it comes to anyone else. JR barks, and threatens the peace and safety of others, as well as the freedom to enjoy being outside. Today was an ideal spring day, perfect for playing outside. Also, I'm working six days a week, so on Saturdays the last thing I want to do is sit inside and do nothing. The preferred place for spending a few hours outside with a 7 year old is the park. I know, parks are public land and people are going to bring their dogs. I'm not crazy about that, but, if it's a well controlled dog, kept away from the playground areas, and the owners clean up any messes, I can deal with it. There were four or five people, or families with dogs today. One puppy, a true lab mix (not pit bull, looked more like border collie/lab), was great. It had already been taught to sit when kids approached, and was friendly, and just happy to be with it's family. The guy had a few bags with him, in case it did go on the grass. The single dad, with his very sweet, bigger than average Boston terrier, one of my favorite combos. The man, his son, and the dog are always pleasant and nice. A beagle, that I only noticed because it got scared by another dog and barked about it. That was a family cookout at one of the farthest areas from the playground and the owner quickly quieted it down. A very small mini looking female pit that had clearly been bred, who seemed ok, but the owners kid was calling of the other kids fuckers, so I'm not sure what kind of people they were. The big, barking, annoying pit bull, who scared the beagle and wanted to run and jump at everything and everybody.
ReplyDeleteI didn't notice if the group with the beagle had kids, but I think the ones closer to their area belonged with them. At least they kept the dog back there, and got it quiet very quickly. The small female pit was clearly scared of the big one too. She jumped in her owner's lap when the big one started in. Clearly the owner of the big one cared nothing for the safety, freedom, peace, or the rights of the rest of us to enjoy the park. I'm tired of it, I wish they'd ban dogs from city parks. Hell, if I won the lottery, I'd buy some land and donate it, for a dog park, just to make it happen. I don't enjoy our good, quality play/peace/outdoor time being made unsafe or unpleasant by uncaring owners and their dogs.
Dog owners demanded that public land be made available to them so they would have a safe place to let their doggies run free without being fined for letting fido run rampant in city parks and playgrounds. Cemeteries BTW are considered by dog owners as a perfectly acceptable place to let their dog pee and crap. This comes under the dog owners code that nothing is more important than their right to provide for their dogs needs.
DeleteNow with dog parks all over , dog owners are refusing to use them with claims they are unsafe for their dogs. Now they have managed to cabbage onto mass quantities of once public space that is now little more than an above ground septic tank and have re invaded playing fields. picnic grounds, playgrounds and any other green space. Why would you want to gift dog owners anything ?
It wouldn't be a gift, it would be a stipulation. I'd fight to pass a law banning them from city parks, and only allow them at the dog park. I would put up a playground, that way, they can spend the time with their kids too, but I'm so tired of the large, menacing dogs at our parks, and the owners who don't want to clean up after any size dog. The park is large and has some great paved walking paths, which would be wonderful, IF the ones walking all of their dogs along them cleaned up. I see people walking two or three, usually smaller dogs without even one plastic bag to clean up the messes. Even an area of both parks in town, fenced off and dedicated to their dogs would be better than it is now. I want them out of our playground and walking areas.
DeleteOur local park is so overrun with dog shit you can smell it wafting through the air. I don't even walk through anymore. And there are stands with FREE bags and cans for disposal. Until AC gets out there and routinely hands out tickets the situation won't improve (probably about the same tell hell freezes over). Dog owners don't care about no damn rules.
DeleteOurs isn't that bad yet. We don't have AC in our town but the cops have better things to do than write tickets for littering. We have a skeleton police force and a rising heroin problem. They don't have control of anything.
DeleteIf you have no AC is there any chance you can volunteer and write out citations?
DeleteHer best bet is to become a familiar face at city/town council meetings making sure she has asked to an allotted time to speak. Present evidence. And describe how the lack of or non enforcement is impacting her life.
DeleteIf there are no ordinances requesting a committee to formulate a plan. Usually you can look to neighboring towns or counties to find what you need. Lots of people complain. It's our duty to become a pain in the ass to move things forward.
Most news stations have contact emails for their reporters. Look for someone young and hungry.
Even if you only opt to speak once your voice has been heard. It might roust up the rest of whiners to speak up themselves.
Trisha sounds like a good fit for this. She's not a dog hater. She just wants some kind of control that protects everyone.
Her personal story about the fear of an aggressive dog coming over a fence where her child plays should be used to imprint that something needs to happen sooner than later.
Two of our smaller towns combined AC and they are in different counties.
If no one is pushing nothing will get done. Believe me there is a line in front of everyone and they all want something.
"This comes under the dog owners code that nothing is more important than their right to provide for their dogs needs."
ReplyDeleteYep. Definitely one of their values.
Apologies for the 'dog hominem' comment. I fear it may have been misunderstood. It was a joke, since its impossible to attack Mickey's character. He is a dog. Dogs cannot have character.
ReplyDeleteI am a scientist with a creative mind; tangents are something I do. Apologies there too, if I facilitated that.
I do not dislike all dog owners, or dogs. Not all are the same. I am currently in conversation with a dog owner I know..about that myth that it is 'how you raise them'. She's been told this by pit bull owners. I am gently giving the other side, and I think she is starting to process it. You never know, someone might change their mind without being witness to a vicious dog attack via gentle persuasion.
I do not know how dogs, dog owners, and the rest of us are going to live together in some sort of peace. There are too many people, too many dogs and too little land. But I am hopeful that with creativity and some compromise something better can be achieved.
Peace out
No need to apologize, I knew you were kidding.
DeletePursuant to the article, Ad homenem *can* be right or wrong, depending on the context. For example Pit Bull aficionados like to call their detractors racist. Given that dogs are not people, simply disliking a breed of dog for whatever reason does not make one a racist, so that is a bad ad homemem. However, if one were to make disparaging comments about a race of PEOPLE, then THAT would make one a racist.
KaD speaking at a council meeting would be the better choice. When I'm at the park I want to spend my time playing with my son, reading and socializing not writing tickets. Eileen is right. I'm not a dog hater, I simply want responsible owners. I don't want to live in fear of having to stab a dog to save a life. I don't want feces dragged onto the slides or other equipment the kids play on. I want to be able to let my son play outside without having to keep vigil because of the monster next door. I'm not a single mother by choice, my husband died when our son was 2 and a half. We have two productive adult children. In other words I'm a typical citizen with no particular ax to grind , I just want a peaceful life as much as possible.
DeleteS. Smith, you can change minds. After living with two cold pit bulls and knowing another one, I wondered what was wrong with JR. It was doing searches on pit bull attacks and reading some of the most horrible stories that made me realize no thing's really wrong with the dog next door. He's typical of his breed. A time bomb slowly ticking and just waiting to explode. I don't even hate all pit bulls. Tommy and Gracie were great dogs. Sweet and calm, really they wouldn't lick you to death either. They just liked to cuddle and be petted. They weren't overly anything, they acted like many other dogs I've known. I know a man with a Staffy that doesn't even bark at squirrels. She acts like a perfectly normal dog. I wish there were no Mickeys or JRs. I wish they were all like Tommy, Gracie and Tillie. Then they'd only be as much trouble as their owners. Never something to fear.
Just in: "Family" Pit Bull kills baby in TX. Dad shoots dog dead, thus preventing another Mickey-esque debacle.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the Lexus Project is going to go after the father.... I mean, doesn't every dog deserve his day in court???
It was an accident your honor, the family nanny pit was simply trying to entertain the baby by pulling on the bouncy swing. And for this the hateful dog owner took this helpless pet outside and executed it. We believe that this baby was never taught how to behave properly around dogs and contributed to his own death.
ReplyDeleteUnderstand I'm no making light of this. Already the comments are full of who leaves their baby alone with a dog. But it was a nanny dog right ? We will hear demands for proof it was a pit bull. Lets play the breed name game. Other dogs bite but you never hear about it in the news. Not true. If other breeds were KILLING babies they would indeed be in the news. It's how you raise them. Ok. My neighbors are crappy dog owners and their dogs are mannerless curs but they haven't killed her children no matter what kind of neglectful parent she is. They might have bitten them , I don't know. They seem to have all their fingers and toes and are without facial scars.
It's always a pit type dog and a bag of excuses. The parents need to be charged with manslaughter. The father does not get points for shooting the dog. They were harboring a portable meat grinder in their home.
I have no sympathy for the parents. They are directly responsible for the death of their child. I see very little difference from this and the father beating the baby in the head with a baseball bat while the mom watched.
If leaving the baby alone with a dog is a bad idea, what will the pet industry do? They won't be selling as much dog food to families with infants and children! The horror!
DeleteI expect this to be played as the dog playing with the bouncy seat and the baby was just an accident.
DeleteAre we going to lay bets on this being a rescue dog ?
According to Dogsbite.org, the dog was 8 years old and had been with the family in question for most of its life.
DeleteAU. That is truly scary.
DeleteThey must have trained it to kill the baby - after all, its all in how you raise them!
DeleteI bet that bouncy seat had been checked for recalls. Child safe locks installed on kitchen cabinets and in the bathroom. chemicals moved to locked storage. The car seat installed and inspected at a police station. All plastics clearly marked BPA free.
DeleteAnd they left the baby alone with a mechanical separation machine.
"According to Dogsbite.org, the dog was 8 years old and had been with the family in question for most of its life."
DeleteThis sounds like Kissy Face all over again!
My son made friends with the niece and nephew off JRs owners. Their mom and stepfather were temporarily living there. None of them could understand why I wouldn't let my son play over there. After all JR hasn't actually bitten anyone and he LOVES kids. It's only if you knock that he is mean they said. So if I were stupid enough to let my son play there and someone knocked what would stop him from a tracking my child? The answer was simply he wouldn't do that. My seven year old has enough sense not to believe their claims. He loves dogs and lived with two pit bulls but is wise enough not to approach them and smart enough to know JR is dangerous. Yet adults are stupid enough to bring them home to their babies. For the record, I know how lucky we were that Tommy and Gracie were cold. I won't ever take that chance again.
ReplyDelete