"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured by the way its animals are treated." Mahatma Ghandi
How do you think the U.S. measures up?
First, let me say, I love and am proud to be an American! I feel I need to say this because we've been existing in a climate where if you say anything less than favorable about the U.S., you are deemed a a traitor or downright un-American. However I feel the U.S. has a lot of ground to make up in its treatment of animals compared to European countries. Things are getting better, but truly we're not that much of a pet friendly nation. Let's start at the top with our government. Despite fostering a 30+ billion dollar industry, pets are still considered mere property in the eyes of the law in every state in this Union. That's right, our beloved companions are looked upon almost the same as the car sitting in our driveway. While there are humane and animal cruelty laws on the books, the fact is, an animal has to be treated very, very badly or killed in order for law enforcement to intervene. On the other hand, in many European countries dogs can accompany their people almost everywhere, including restaurants. In fact, when I was in Belgium and the Netherlands Amsterdam, I even saw dogs in the pubs! It was really awesome to see.
How do you think the U.S. measures up?
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Hello,
I think that the laws are even less protective to dogs when it comes to live stock. I had a friend that had 2 border collies that went on an outing alone and wandered up to a neighbors home that had chicken running loose in the yard, well you only have to quess what happened. The owner of the dead chickens appeared and caught the dogs, locked one in the barn and tied the other up to a fence. Now the story goes. Animal control was called, while they were in route the dogs were killed, both being shot in the head at close range. Photos of the carnange of both chicken and dogs were taken, and given to the owner with basically a bill for the chickens. The dog owner did have much to stand on since the dogs were running loose,w/o collars and were on the chickens property. She got in trouble. Though the chicken guy did know who the dogs belonged to.
Anyway horrible store, sad ending. Law did not work for her.
I am proud to me an American.(most of the time)
That is a horrible story. To be honest, I'm not that surprised that something like that could happen in Virginia. I find some of our laws especially archaic. But I do wonder if it could happen in any state. I'd like to think that some states are a little more progressive when it comes to killing animals. I mean, the damage to the chickens had already been done. The dogs had been caught and corralled. Why should they killed? There was no more imminent danger to the chickens.
I am a devout patriot, but as a country we could be more pet friendly.
From the legal standpoint, however, dogs/pets being "property" may actually work in their favor in some regards. For instance, in all of the fights with PETA and all of the "free the animal" groups, we have constitutional rights to our property. We cannot be deprived of our property without due process. If the animals are no longer our property, things become murky, from a legal point of view.
As for the pet-friendly issue, I have found a few restaurants that are willing to let me sit outside with Diesel, and during the summer months I will frequent those place almost exclusively. People take their annoying kids inside restaurants. My dog is much quieter, mostly more behaved and frequently less messy. I don't see why he can't come inside 8-)
I think the bottom line is (especially with Diesel) to most people, a dog represents an unkown quantity. It surprises me how many people are genuinely scared of dogs, even small ones. With Diesel, I've had several occassions at a drive-thru window where the clerk has refused to deal with me because Diesel was in the car. On both occassions it was a woman. The first made another worker come to the window, and the second asked if I could get Diesel to the other side of the car.
It is discouraging, but I try to let Diesel be a good ambassador and not let it get me down.
As for Debbie's story, I know first hand that it could happen in Texas and Louisiana. In both states you can protect your property with deadly force. Now, that also goes for your dogs. So, if someone were kicking your dogs, you could shoot to kill 8-)
Christie, yes dogs being considered our property does give them some rights and us some rights, but I guess I'm more concerned about the mentality of our dogs being "just dogs" in the regard that if something happens to them they are only equal to fair market value. That leaves a real sour taste in my mouth. If someone steals your dog, and let's say your dog is a mutt, would it be considered a felony? Probably not since the "fair market value" of a mutt would not be over $500. That stinks. To me if any of my dogs were stolen to me it would feel the same as if my child were abducted even if the law doesn't deem it that way.
I, too, have found that most of the restaurants with outdoor areas will allow you to sit outside with your dog. I've eaten at the Panera outdoor area with my dogs on many occasions, as well as some of the outdoor areas in old town Fredericksburg.
I do wish that my pup could go more places with me as well. I agree w/ Christi about some dogs being more well behaved then alot of kids.
Last year, my mom and I went to Wal-mart, and as we drove up, there was a hound puppy running around outside, trying to get any attention he could. I got out and asked if he belongted to anyone, while my mom parked the car. It was raining and cold outside, and he was only about 4 months old. They wouldn't let us bring him in long enough to get a collar, leash, and some food for him....they'd rather he run around and get hit by a car then come in their store. Luckily, he slept the whole time we were in the store.
Recently, I saw a girl who had brought her dog to class (at UMW)with her...a small/med mix, chihuahua/terrier mix maybe? However, I really don't see them allowing many others to do the same, though it would be really cool (and of course with a pit bull it would be even more difficult for me).
My understanding is many European countries have banned tail docking and ear cropping - practices I find disturbing. The US has a long ways to go in this regard.
I wonder how many of the AKC breeds require docking or cropping in order to meet the standard? Maybe if we have a major blizzard I'll spend the afternoon counting... in the meantime, Aussies, Dobies, Poodles, Rotties, Cockers, Great Danes, Pointers (some of them)... come to mind.
Europe is way ahead of America in this respect.
I've enjoyed being able to go down to Fredericksburg to catch a quick sidewalk lunch with my dogs. There's one restaurant where the waiter/waitress will bring out a bowl of water for the dogs! Now that's encouraging!
I've also spent a lot of time traveling with my canine companions. It's becoming more common to see dogs accepted at motels. This also is a good thing.
Years ago, though, when planning a family trip, I noticed that many national parks did not allow dogs - it seemed the most prevalent in the western states. Also, (again, this was over 10 years ago) the state of Maryland did not allow dogs in it's state park camping areas.
Unfortunately, many dog people are very inconsiderate with their dogs, leaving their dogs to bark in strange hotel rooms, leaving them loose in the rooms to chew on baseboards and soil carpet, etc... and my personal pet peeve - NOT cleaning up after their dogs. I seem to be the unfortunate person that manages to find evidence of that crime on the bottom of my shoes!
Dogs will become more accepted in public places as more and more responsible dog owners step up and show the public that dog owners (for lack of a better word) can be considerate.
I agree with Laurie that the loss of any dog is akin to the loss of a child. Unfortunately, our legal system just isn't set up that way. I don't know what the solution is.
I agree that in order to make our dogs more acceptable to others, we need to clean up after them and not let them be a noise nuisance.
There is a movement (or it may have already passed) in NY to outlaw cropping & docking. I'm not completely convinced that outlawing the docking & cropping is a good thing. I know that a rottie with a tail is a painful, powerful thing. My understanding is that the original reason their tails were docked was because they were brusing the cattle they were droving to market. The tails are so thick and powerful, they knock children over.
I have frequently seen people "sneaking" their pocket dogs into stores in the handbag-type carriers. I'm convinved that it only flies because no one sees the animal. I'm jealous and at the same time appalled.
So, how do we convince merchants and lawmakers that our dogs are our children with all of the applicable rights?
I've snuck my pocket dog into places before. :-) but I've never tried to sneak them in establishments that prepare food.
I think, overall, the pet people who travel with their pets are generally considerate to others and do clean up after them. However I'm not convinced about show people. I think they are the ones who do the most damage - including grooming and bathing their dogs in the hotel room, clogging drains, leaving hair behind, etc.
Lauren, most of the AKC standards for the breeds usually shown with crop ears have been changed to allow natural ears. Even still, you'll be hard pressed to find a top winning Boxer, Dane or Dobie that has a natural ear. Tails I'm not sure about.
I know people with service dogs who still get crap about their dog accompanying them in grocery stores and restaurants!! Now that shows the ignorance that is still so pervasive in this country.
Here's one for our side. As awful as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were, they did bring about one positive thing. They gave us the PETS (Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards) Act (signed into law 10/6/06) that requires all states to submit a preparedness program to FEMA to allow for service animals & pets in their evacuation plans before they receive their funding. This is one BIG positive step in treating animals as family not property.
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