As we spend more and more to bail out CitiGroup and probably now the Big Three auto manufacturers, I have a home-related issue to rant about.
Since we’re talking billions every day, I never thought that “b” word would ever come out of my mouth and as I see our investments tanking, it never will except in terms of our government using our money and our children’s and grandchildren’s money to bail out banks and insurance companies who all got red Ferraris as a bonus a couple of years ago. Yes, please keep these people in their $20 million homes with their cars and country clubs.
I’m talking about dog owners. There are 72 million pet dogs in the USA (AVMA, 2007) and we pay taxes. Every year parks are allocated, ball fields and playgrounds are built, but there is no awareness of the needs of responsible dog owners to legally let their dogs off leash. Socialization and exercise are necessary for owners and their dogs. But while athletes and toddlers are paid for, dog owners are told to buy their own land and build and maintain their own parks.
Why is this? We pay for the ball parks and tot lots and mowing the grass. Many of us don’t have kids and would like to share our local parks legally, in whatever way works for each community and each park. We’re talking about responsible dog owners with well-behaved dogs, rules etc.
Bed Dog
Many cities do not have space for new parks. In San Diego, four Council Districts were targeted. Of the other four, one was taken care of and the others were in areas in the City not conducive to off-leash activity. Only Districts 2 and 5 tried, after six years! My dog died awaiting legality of her park.
District 1 was a disaster, thanks Scott Peters, for whom I campaigned and who lied to us about being open on this issue. I can say this because I haven’t lived there for five years. On May 2, 2001 instead of bringing a ball, for the first and only time my dog brought a huge teddy bear to the park, ironically purchased at a yard sale from leash-free opponents.
She wagged her tail and said hello to everyone. The next day she was gone. I spent all my evenings and weekends at community meetings, to get my dog a leash-free area and she died awaiting it. Over forty friends and neighbors donated a tree to the City in her honor. We had a brief ceremony and everyone poured a cup of water on the tree. Last I saw it, it was doing well.
Chani’s ashes are in the teddy bear she took to the park that fateful day. They are in a plastic bag behind a felt heart with lace borders and about fifty microscopic red and white beads our dear friend Joan sewed on. She also asked me for photos and made a montage that is displayed in our home today, with the bear.
A few years ago when we moved, friend helping out asked if our new dog (who is not new as she’ll be five in January) Zoe could have a stuffed animal. I said OK, most of them are Chani’s old ones and she’s been eating through them one by one. Then I remembered and asked what it looked like. NOT THAT ONE!!!!!
Responsible dog owners who have legal leash-free areas make parks safe and clean. They spawn user groups that utilize informal peer enforcement to encourage other dog owners to be responsible. Here with Zoe and at our former park with Chani, toddlers and their parents ask if they can pet my dog. My rule is that child asks, asks parent, asks dog owner, OK to pet.
We just want to be treated like other citizens and park users, especially as we pay for our parks but are only allowed partial use of them. Ten million would do wonders nationwide, in the right hands. But we’re not asking for money, only sanity. Billions more to bail out people who ran off with our money in the first place and are about to do so again is foolish. For the Big Three to not have their act together at a Congressional hearing, while holding out their hands for money, is a disgrace.
I’m just trying to put things into perspective. Dee
