Why does this shit always happen to me?
We were in the dog park less than 5 seconds, my hounds were indulging themselves in their first sprint across the field, when Harley, the small (15 pound) pup intersected the path of a mentally and physically handicapped teen aged girl.
She was running full-out, being "chased" by some other dogs, looking over her shoulder instead of where she was going and tripped over Harley, ending up doing a face-plant in the grass.
Thankfully, Harley wasn't hurt...
Is that callous? Maybe, but I don't give a shit, frankly.
Yes, of course I'm glad that no lasting damage was done to the kid, but either way...wtf was she doing in the dog park, anyway?
She was there with her Grandma, they didn't have a dog...it's not a playground, folks!
If the girl likes dogs, great, bring her to the park and then PARK her ass on a bench, so she can watch. Don't let her run around the field with about twenty dogs who are going in all different directions if she doesn't have the capacities to pay attention and stay on her feet.
My dog was scared out of his tiny mind, jumped into my arms and tried to climb on top of my head. Luckily, he was only traumatised for about 18 seconds (his entire attention span). Then he was off and running again.
The girl was complaining to Grandma that she couldn't breathe (but was having no problems talking, go figure), and they packed up and left a few minutes later, with Grandma telling her she'd take her to the doctor. I attempted to apologize about three times (why? Because I'm overly socialized), but Grandma completely ignored me and wouldn't even look at me.
An hour later, a couple with their cute Boston terrier showed up at the park. I just wish they had found a babysitter for their obnoxious, four-year-old son...
11 comments:
This is one of the reasons why we no longer bother with dog parks and find alternative ways to exercise our pupper.
One of these days, your dog park will make the newspapers. Not because it's a great place to socialize, but because one of these parents (or grandparents) will sue the park and the people who go there because their child or grandchild will get bitten and/or mauled.
At that point, nobody will be blamed except the dog(s) who bit the child. Which is very sad indeed because the parents who bring their young kids to the dog park and let them RUN AROUND or interact with strange dogs are IDIOTS. Great, big, fat IDIOTS who are putting their kids in danger.
Dog parks are where dogs play, NOT children.
Can you start a petition to your city to post park rules at all the entrances? Our local park has a "by entering you're assuming full responsibility if anything happens" disclaimer atop a list of rules. Among them - NO food or drink. NO children under 12.
Well, there are signs stating that by entering the park you accept the risks of being there. (I guess absolving the city of liability).
It also depends on which park we go to. The one I describe in the post is in Clark County, so is run by Clark County Parks and Recreation.
The huge park I go to on weekends (because it has NO LIGHTS, dammit), is managed by the City of Las Vegas Leisure Department. That one does have more comprehensive rules on the gate, but more relating to liability, etc. NONE of the parks have any kind of age limit, and people are constantly bringing even infants in strollers in. Stupid.
My dogs just don't get enough exercise if I just walk them. They need to RUN. For about an hour. Normally all is sweetness and light at the dog park. What's amazing is that except for "Captain Kirk" that one time, we've had absolutely no problems at all with other dogs. It's always the kids that are a pain in the ass. At least the weekend dog park is so frickin' huge that any kids brought there aren't an issue.
So, ther ganny took the kid to the dog parkk soo she could run around in the dog poo and get chased by pit bulls. Very nice.
FHB, it WAS the "small dog" area (25 pounds and less), but some of those small dogs can be pretty mean!
Yeah, I feel the same way about the poo, though. I see so many families with many small children there, all running around (and rolling around) the field.
EEEEEEWWW!
Get a big bad Dobie, let him chase down Messicans for exercise.
Piece o' cake.
Don
Don, naughty-naughty!
And I'm not a fan of owning big dogs...their piles of poo probably weigh as much as the dogs I own now!
Bluebell banana pudding ice cream is the bestest.
Trashman! How dare you pollute MY BLOG with the abomination that is *shudder* Bluebell banana pudding ice cream?!!
Why, everyone knows that the bestest icecream EVAR is Willie Nelson's Country Peach Cobbler by Ben & Jerry's.
That's terrible, that the handicapped girl was set afoot in the dog park. Bad for the girl AND the dogs. I wouldn't feel guilty, either - it's the dogs' territory, not hers. She should maybe have been on a shorter leash, herself.
Thanks, Phlegm. I try not to feel guilty, because you're right, it is a dog park, but I still feel bad.
"She should maybe have been on a shorter leash, herself.
"
*snort*!
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