Dogs I've had several email discussions with people about dogs and some interesting facts have come up. An ecologist pointed out that dog packs are present in many countries and they kill a number of people each year. Much more than other wild animals. Here in the US we have had serious problems around Wyoming and some other western states.
We spend a fortune on dog control here in the US. Most counties have a dog control officer who collects stray dogs full time. This effort is opposed by some animal rights groups who have their own shelters. Our native wolf and coyote populations have crossed with dogs and now consist of many hybrid colonies. Each area has a different type of coyote. Generally, the coyotes retain their wariness and do not cause major problems. The one exception is a "rabid" coyote. Dog problems are often handled by the police because of the emotions involved. The more sensational conflicts make it to the media and the courts. The media seldom grasps the big picture or presents a useful discussion. They ignore the thousands of dog problems that occur each day and often side with the dog owner. In most cases the problems are due to pet owners who do not understand animals or refuse to accept the facts. Some can't cope and abandon their pet. The philosophy of pet ownership gets even quirkier. Many people who believe in "people" before animals have pets that they feed. This food could be used to feed those starving. When we are confronted with the idea of eating our pet this causes mental anguish. At the same time we eat many other animals and some cultures eat dogs. jeff
