[nagdu] Service dog killed on a bus

[Mardi Hadfield]

Hi every one,  I can not believe that the authorities let the owner of the
dog that killed the other small dog,get away with just not riding the bus or
train for 30 days. This dog killed! It could have been a small child and
next time it might be. Once a dog has killed another animal ,they can never
be trusted not to do it again. I have had experience with this as at one
time in my life I was an animal control officer. I delt with dogs that had
killed other animals, and the law in Connecticut at that time was that a
killer dog had to be euthanized.  Several of my guide dogs have been
attacked and one injured very badly. I do fear that some time it could
happen again. The animal control here in Tucson ,has never done any thing
about the attacks on my dogs. I have ridden on the bus with dogs that were
being passed off as service dogs ,and were not even on a leash. I have also
had other service dogs growl at my dog.  I had a guide dog from GDB attack
my dog at a bus stop and the owner told the bus driver ,that my dog started
it ,which was not true,but I was refused the ride on the bus. This was
before I was legally blind, but my dog was a service dog. I could see this
man crossing the street with a guide dog pulling him and he could not
controll his dog. It was heading right for my dog ,so I pulled my dog up
into my lap(Iwas sitting in a wheelchair) and the guide dog leaped on my dog
as the bus pulled up and stopped. The man pulled his dog off mine and
proceded to board the bus. The driver put the lift down for me and I got on
the lift with my dog and then the driver refused to bring the lift up so I
could get on the bus. I was informed that vicious dogs were not alloud to
ride the bus.Needless to say, I was angry , but every one took the side of
the owner of the guide dog. I had several other encounters with this same
dog and owner.I even called GDB and complained about this man and his dog
and was told there was nothing they could do. So much for that. It has been
about 6 or 7 years since I have even seen this dog, so I hope I never
encounter them again. I have always made sure that my dogs have been trained
to not ever growl or show any agression towards any other dog or person and
they never have. It is too bad that some others don't take the time to do
this . If I could not controll my dog, or my dog acted up in public, I would
not take it out in public  again untill the problem was solved. I have been
complimented many times on my dogs being so well behaved. and how well they
do their job. I take pride in my dogs and feel that because they are service
dogs, that they must be held to a certain standard, that a pet dog is not
held to. I would hope that other people with service dogs  would do the same
,but I guess this is not always the case. My dog is with me to do a job,not
to keep me company! I some times wonder about some of these service dogs
that I encounter. Food for thought............Mardi,and Nala,retired,
Wanagi,gdit and Tokala, gdit.