At 04:39 AM 10/28/1999 , you wrote:
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> > A couple of years ago, a pet lap dog got out and killed a neighbor girls
> > prize rabbits just before the fair. The dog owners insisted that their dog
> > could not do that but there was enough proof that the dog was to be put
> > down. This resulted in the dog being taken out of state and several law
> > suits. Both families moved and I am sure there are still hard feelings.
>
>Not to slant the other way but what was the evidence that it was the
>neighbor's dog? Was it just the lack of evidence to the contrary. I've
>seen situations similar and when animals were removed to other
>households, killings continued and they were found to be wilder
>transgressors.
Tracks, scat, animal remains, witnesses, video tape. There was no doubt in
this case as it had happened the two night previous so the barn was
watched. The dog owner felt that her possession (the dog) was above anyone
elses.
> > All together too much emotional energy is wasted on pets and not
> > nearly enough on family and community.
>
>I'm not sure I agree. I think pets are as family members. The better
>owners I see are typically better parents/family members/etc. YMMV. I
>have talked to recent parents who say that everything changed for them
>but for most of the decent animal folks I know, it was simply more
>family to love.
The pet owners that take complete responsibility are not part of the
problem. But I do see way too many times when pets are given more care and
attention than family. How many times is emotional energy lavished on a
pet when personal relationships are ignored. Allowing dogs to roam and
destroy is taking no responsibility for community. We spend more money on
our pets than we do on our inner city youth.
Don Bowen [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Valley Center, CA Senior Software Engineer
C/C++, Internet, embedded systems
http://members.cts.com/crash/d/donb
http://www.oldengine.org/members/ihc14
http://www.oldengine.org/members/ferguson/
