[nagdu] Fwd: [Juno-l] Dogs Are Not Public Property

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Oh, my!  I like it.  And he does make some great points.  The reason we
don't take Daisy for walks as much as she needs to get out of the yard and
see and sniff new stuff isn't so much -because of her -- she's doing great
now -- but because of the odds some stranger will stick their hands in her
face, over even their face and her face and, well...  Daisy would pay the
price of their foolishness.  So unless DD has time and energy to devote to
keeping her safe while we walk, then Daisy doesn't get any good sniff and
strolls!

When Mitzi's on leash and we're just out for a sniff 'n stroll, she ducks
behind me if people get into her comfort zone, so I can just stand between
them and her without making much fuss until/unless she's ready to come out
and give them another chance.  /smile/

Good article; I hadn't realized pet dog owners get the same serial groping
and drive by petting we do.  Grr!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Buddy Brannan
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2011 7:10 AM
To: the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing List
Subject: [nagdu] Fwd: [Juno-l] Dogs Are Not Public Property


--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



Begin forwarded message:

> From: <labs4me55 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Juno-l] Dogs Are Not Public Property
> Date: June 10, 2011 9:28:09 AM EDT
> To: "Juno List" <Juno-l at lists.screenreview.org>
> 
> Thought folks might be interested in this article.   Friend sent it to me.
Article does say pet dogs but holds true for our dogs as well.    
> 
> I've included both the link and text of the article
>  
> Enjoy
>  
> Pat & Jack
>  
>
http://blogs.dogster.com/dog-training/dogs-are-not-public-property/2011/04/
>  
>  
> Text of Article
>  
> Dogs Are Not Public Property
>  
>  
>  
> Picture this - it's a lovely day, and you are relaxing at a local park,
having a picnic with your family.  A well-dressed lady you've never met
before with a large smile on her face exits her car.  She automatically lays
eyes on your family and begins staring.  Slowly, she moves toward you,
speaking gibberish and making baby talk, googly eyes, and grabby hands.  She
begins touching your children, grabbing their cheeks.  She grabs one by the
face, moves her face to within inches of baby Tommy's, staring directly into
his eyes and smiling.  She grabs your husband by the ears, sits on his lap,
and firmly plants her lips on his mouth.  She gives you a little squeeze on
the rump, hugs you tightly, and scratches your 8 year old's head.  Nearby
stands your 3 year old nephew, she quickly grabs his shoulders firmly and
begins applying downward pressure, while saying, "SIT!  SIT!  SIT!"
>  
> What if she then spied your lovely new Coach purse on the picnic blanket
and decided to throw it over her shoulder, cavalierly?  "Oh, I really like
this purse!"  She then removed your keys, approached your car, and drove off
with your credit cards.
>  
> OK, at what point during these events did you call the police?  If anyone
did this to you or your family, you would think they were socially defunct
and may need to be removed from polite society.  Would you, at any point in
this interaction, have acted "aggressively" by telling her to go away?
Would you have left the park?  What would you have done if you asked her to
go away and she continued to harass your family?
>  
> This story seems absurd, like something out of a hidden camera show.
Sadly, this is not science fiction but an every day way-of-life for many
dogs.
>  
> In the eyes of the law, dogs are considered the "private property" of the
owner.  Society apparently did not get the proverbial memo, so many people
assume, "all dogs are for me to touch."  Many have excuses like, "I LOVE
dogs!" which they think gives them a free pass to wander our communities,
groping any dog that comes into their contact.  Yes, folks, there are serial
dog gropers in your community.
>  
> No other private property that I'm aware of is considered "free access" to
the community.  You can't just move into someone's house, take their purse
or car, or abscond with a cell phone just because you like it.  You can't
pick up someone's kid and hug them just because the kid is cute.  You can't
snatch up someone's picnic basket because you happen to like organic chicken
salad wraps, Petit Noir, deviled eggs and fresh fruit.  Yet somehow, when
it's a cute dog, it's a free-f0r-all.  Dogs are approached without owners
being asked, and are subjected to all kinds of things that dogs don't like
(more on this in a later entry), and are expected to just deal with it. If
owners ask for their dog to be left alone, they're looked at as if they are
some sort of green, three-eyed monster with a serious attitude problem.  For
dogs, the rules seem to be:
>  
> Someone steps on your tail?  Deal with it.
>  
> Stranger steals your favorite toy?  Too bad, so sad!
>  
>  
> Have arthritis and someone pushes down on your rear, causing intense pain?
Deal with it.
>  
> Want to have a nice outing with your best friend without being disturbed
by strangers?  Tough.
>  
> Don't like to be molested by strangers?  Too bad, sit there and take it.
>  
> I guess the question must be:  are dogs ever allowed to have opinions?  Do
we really expect them to welcome every type of social interaction, all the
time, in any circumstance?  Do we expect them to tolerate pain, social
pressure, and molestation?
>  
> In the comments on the article I mentioned yesterday, a number of people
said something to the effect of, "if a dog is out in public, I assume it is
friendly and that I am welcome to touch it."  Really?   Where did this sense
of entitlement come from?
>  
> As citizens, we are allowed to protect our homes and property.  We are
entitled to legal protection if someone threatens the safety of our family,
tries to break into our cars, homes, or bank accounts.  Why are dogs, which
unlike all of these other material possessions, have feelings, opinions, and
comfort levels, the only "personal property" we have that is subject to
being assaulted by community members without recourse?  When will we realize
that many actions which humans think are friendly (more on this later, too)
are perceived as active acts of aggression by "man's best friend?"
>  
> The moral of the story is - my dogs are MY dogs.  We may be out in public,
but that does not entitle you to touch them or force yourself upon them.  I
have the right to say, "leave my dog alone," just as much as I have the
right to say, "keep your hands out of my wallet or undergarments."  Mokie,
my Chow mix, really doesn't like being touched by strangers.  She tolerates
it, but does not enjoy it, and looks at me the entire time as if to say,
"I'll get something for this, right?"  Sometimes, she just wants to go for a
walk and NOT be touched by every stranger along the path - in the past, I've
had to resort to telling people "She bites," (she never has) just so we can
go on a peaceful walk.  Why have I done this?
>  
> Because people try to grab her without even asking or proceed to try to
grab her after I ask that we be left alone.  She shouldn't be forced into
situations which make her uncomfortable, she's my friend and it's my job to
help her feel safe.  Cuba, my Saint Bernard puppy, is a teenager and does
like to be touched but needs reminders on his manners frequently, so if you
want to pet him, you may need to wait a few minutes while I make sure that
he is standing at my side, on a loose leash, and not pulling to meet you.
>  
> So if you want to greet someone's dog, ask; and whatever their answer is,
respect it and don't take it personally because it's not intended in that
manner. Most dog owners are not indiscriminate jerks, and if a person says,
"no," there is likely a reason - the dog doesn't feel comfortable being
touched by strangers, the person is in a hurry, the dog is working, the dog
is in training, the dog may bite you.
>  
> Dog owners are private property owners:  if we treated dogs with the same
respect we treated a Coach handbag, a lot fewer people would be bitten, dogs
euthanized, and dog owners forced to deal with the stress of judgment for
securing their dog's physical and mental well-being.
>  
> Dogs Are Not Public Property.  Groping a stranger's dog is like groping a
stranger's wife - just NOT.  COOL.
> 
> 
>  
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> Raisers.  Founded and supported by  Guiding Eyes for the Blind  Graduates.

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