Recently in Dogs Category

For those of you following the debate about allowing leashed dogs  in municipal parks in Redondo Beach, the Los Angeles Times published a story today.

The Daily Breeze story on the same issue ran Thursday.

The (9/20/09) comic strip "Off The Mark" by Mark Parisi

Thanks to our friends at Dogster for posting this poem (author unknown). It carries an important message about our roles as stewards of creation -- and the benefits of adopting unwanted pets from your local shelter or rescue groups.

It's called I Adopted Your Dog Today:

I adopted your dog today

The one you left at the pound

The one you had for seven years

and no longer wanted around.

I adopted your dog today

Do you know he's lost weight?

Do you know he's scared and depressed

and has lost all faith?

I adopted your dog today

He had fleas and a cold

But don't worry none

You've unburdened your load.

I adopted your dog today

Were you having a baby or moving away?

Did you suddenly develop allergies?

Or another reason he couldn't stay?

I adopted your dog today

He doesn't play or eat much

He's very depressed

But he will learn again to trust

I adopted your dog today

And here he will stay

He's found his forever home

And a warm bed on which to lay.

I adopted your dog today

And I will give him all that he could need -

Patience, love, security and understanding.

Hopefully he will forget your selfish deed.

- Author Unknown

So here's some update info on last night's trio of meetings regarding dog- and park-related issues in the South Bay:

• Redondo Beach: Dog owners probably face an uphill battle to get the City Council there to overturn or relax a longtime ban on canines in that city's parks, according to a post this morning on the Daily Breeze Pipeline blog by Kristin Agostoni, our reporter who covered the meeting. Discussion was in response to two petitions calling for a change to the 1979 city ordinance that forbids dogs (leashed or otherwise) in municipal parks other than the designated off-leash dog park on Flagler & 190th. Councilman Bill Brand and Mayor Mike Gin raised the matter which now goes to the the city's Parks and Recreation Commission after a 4-1 vote moving it forward for more study last night. Commissioners will consider changing the rule for Czuleger Park only for now, perhaps as a pilot? But opposition remains strong to changing the citywide law, with Councilman Steve Aspel saying this: "Someone's leaving a thousand turds a day on top of the Esplanade. Ask our public works department." And there was this from Councilman Pat Aust, who cast the only dissenting vote:  "Parks are for people and kids. Zoos are for animals." **********(Read Kristin's follow-up story in Thursday's Daily Breeze.)
• Manhattan Beach: Council members there voted 4-1 to approve (with changes to the original proposal) an $18,200 off-leash dog run at Polliwog Park. It would be the city's third such spot, following similar set-ups at Live Oak and Marine Avenue parks.
• Rancho Palos Verdes: Bruce and Maureen Megowan report a generally positive response to proposals for dog parks at Lower Hesse Park and/or Grandview Park at last night's RPV City Council meeting. (See the full report and recap on Maureen Megowan's blog.) Council members authorized spending $50,000 to hire a designer to flesh out the proposed park designs (which  include other elements besides a dog park), but they stressed that this was only a "first step" and not a commitment to impelment the designs. The Megowans also raised questions about the proposed size of the dog parks (relatively small as drawn, I gather), adding that research shows the most successful (and safest) parks include at least 3 acres -- 2 acres for large dogs and 1 acre for a separate small dog space. There are still homeowner objections to address, however, and none of this will probably be a slam dunk. But other cities on The Hill reportedly are  entertaining proposals to establish a dog park as well, according to the Megowans. (Two suggested dog park sites were turned down by Rolling Hills Estates at a meeting this week, though, I'm told. But discussions continue on the possibility of using part of the PV Landfill area in that city.)

Email mmegowan@cox.net for more information.  

So, nothing firm on any of these proposals yet, but stay tuned.

Thanks to Daily Breeze crime reporter Larry Altman for alerting us to the news that a 24-hour tip line to report dog fighting has been launched in Los Angeles County.

The program will pay tipsters up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest or conviction of individuals involved in dog fighting. From the press release:

Beginning today, residents can call 1-877-NO2FITE and provide information about a dog fighting ring, an upcoming dog fight or an individual who is involved in dog fighting.

If someone is aware of a fight in progress, they should call 911 immediately, said District Attorney Steve Cooley.

"Our goal is to encourage citizens to help law enforcement root out a brutal crime that often goes unreported and occurs in the shadows," Cooley said during a press conference.

The Humane Society of the United States is co-sponsoring the program. 

Calls will be answered by a person 24 hours a day.

The Humane Society estimates that dog fighting is widespread in L.A. County. And dog fighting, Cooley said, often leads to busting people of other crimes, including drug dealing and weapons possession.

"We expect that these tips will be a starting point for major criminal investigations," he said.

I still remember talking with a young boy, probably about 10, at the Long Beach dog park one afternoon maybe 15 years ago. He was walking home and stopped by just to visit the dog park with a friend. He mentioned to me that someone in his neighborhood was involved in dog fighting and that the kids sometimes went to watch. I was horrified and urged him never to watch such a thing, that it was both immoral and illegal, and that someone really should report it. But ever since I was sorry I didn't try to get more information out of him about who and where so I could have reported it to the authorities myself.

Animal control and police officers I've spoken to since acknowledge dog fighting goes on in our local communities. But because it operates in such an underground world, they have a very hard time getting enough details in a timely manner to make arrests.

Maybe this hotline and the monetary rewards will help.  

As reported in the Daily Breeze (shameless plug, you really should get a subscription if you don't already have one), three meetings tonight could give dogs more park space in our local cities:

• Redondo Beach City Council, in response to a citizens' petition, will start talks about allowing leashed dogs in Czulegar Park. City codes currently prohibit canines (leashed or otherwise) in all RB parks, with the exception of the designated off-leash dog park adjacent to Dominguez Park. If the council agrees, the issue would likely go to the Parks and Recreation Commission for review. Tonight's meeting is at 6 p.m. at 415 Diamond St. (Streaming video of the meeting is available from the city's Web site.)
• Manhattan Beach leaders will consider an off-leash dog run for sprawling Polliwog Park. If approved, the $18,200 run would be the city's third such spot, following similar set-ups at Live Oak and Marine Avenue parks. Tonight's meeting is at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, 1400 Highland Ave. (Go to the city's Web site for information on how to view the meeting via cable or computer.)
• Rancho Palos Verdes City Council will weigh plans for improvements at Grandview Park and Lower Hesse Park, with both proposals including a possible fenced-in, off-leash dog park. (See our separate post below  for more details.) Mayor Larry Clark also will give a presentation on the need for a dog park on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at Fred Hesse Community Park, 29301 Hawthorne Blvd. (You can also view a broadcast of the meeting on the city's Web site.)

If you live in these areas and care about the issue, you might want to attend one of the meetings in person to lend your voice to the discussion in public comment. And let us know if you attended any of the sessions. We'll have follows on the outcome of the meetings in the Daily Breeze.

I spotted a reference on another pet blog -- Ohmidog! -- the other day to a post from Jennifer Ginsberg at momlogic titled "Your Dog Grosses Me Out."

It reminds us that not everyone is enamored by the four-footed ones in our midst. Some people find our dogs, well, downright annoying. Her post recounts her attendance at a birthday party of a family friend:

I knew that I would have to deal with Shlomo, their big, stinky dog. Before you burn me at the stake for admitting that dogs gross me out, let me make myself clear. I respect animals. I do not wish them any harm. I have been practically vegan for years because I cannot stand the thought of animals getting tortured.

But if I wanted to cohabit with them, I would live on a big farm out in the country -- not in a single family home in West Los Angeles. And I even hold the highly controversial belief that dogs are not equivalent to human beings and do not deserve the same rights and privileges that people do.

  There is nothing that disgusts me more than walking into someone's house and having Fido run up to me and hump my leg and slobber all over me. And dogs always seem to sense that I am not a "dog person," so they work extra hard to win me over with super-aggressive humping and double-wet and sticky licking.

....Even worse was the other couple who brought their dog Fifi to the party, who wouldn't stop yapping the entire time. The nonstop barking made it nearly impossible to have any adult conversation ... The owners of the yappy dog seemed to think their wretched little beast was cute and went so far as to rationalize her obnoxious behavior by telling the guests, "Forgive her barking -- she's blind. ... "Ohhh..." was the collective murmur heard around the room. Nothing can bring a crowd to near tears faster than talking about your dog's illness or disability.

She goes on. But you get the idea. And some of it, I have to say, is pretty funny.

Now as much as I love dogs, I also will say that I sympathize somewhat. I think she makes some valid points and criticisms. Dog owners should always be sensitive to those who may not love their dogs, especially when they are guests in their home. I agree with her that the value of a dog's life is not equal to a human's, despite the cultural trend that (I think) too often improperly blurs those lines. But I do take issue with her suggestion the dog lovers opt for a relationship with a pet rather than people to meet their "emotional requirements."

It's an unfair stereotype I've heard more and more in recent years and one that doesn't fit 99% of the animal lovers I know. OK, maybe 98%.

But that aside, check out the entire post and tell us what you think. How do you handle your animals when guests are coming over? Should dog owners be doing more to improve relationships with their anti-dog-owning friends and relatives?

Not long before his death, Harry and I headed out for a walk that proved eventful. He was nearly 13, old for a big dog. Walks were no longer the slap-happy Iditarods of his youth, frenzies of purposeless pulling in which we would cast madly off in all directions, fighting for command. Nor were they the exuberant archaeological expeditions of his middle years, when every other tree or hydrant or blade of grass held tantalizing secrets about his neighbors. In his old age, Harry had transformed his walk into a simple process of elimination--a dutiful, utilitarian, head-down trudge. 

Sherman, as you may recall, is my sister's dog. Sherman and my dog took obedience classes together about a year ago. Although he's about a year younger than my dog, Sherman came in first place, while my stupid dog came in last.

A recent humuliation came when my sister took sherman to visit our parents. My mother couldn't stop talking about what a good dog he is. She's never said that about my dog.

To give Sherman an even bigger ego, my sister recently enrolled him in agility training.

Here's a picture of the little jerk. Yeah, he's pretty cute, even if he consistenlty has to put my dog in his place (come to think of it, that's exaclty what my sister did when we were in elementary school!)

Anyway, here's a little something my sis wrote about the experience. I promised I'd post this weeks ago, but I'm a lazy cuss and am now just getting around to it.

Sherman is almost 1 1/2 years old now and has taken classes in Obedience, Rally and Agility.   I think he has found his calling in Agility.   We still have a lot to learn, but having a great time doing it.
We are taking a course through Torrance Parks and Recreation at Entradero Park.  The instructors, Robert, Deb and Kelly are absolutely wonderful.  They are patient, kind, have a wonderful sense of humor, are great motivators, and best of all, they are generous with the cheese.  We have just completed out first session and have registered for the next session of classes.   In the picture, you can see Sherman on the dog walk

Sherman has made previously appearances at South Bay Pets. If you want, you can click on these links to see more. And by "you," I mean my sister and her dog friends,

Sherman's first day.
http://www.insidesocal.com/pets/2008/07/the-secondcutest-dog-in-the-so.html

Obedience school:
http://www.insidesocal.com/pets/2008/09/and-the-winner-is.html

Herding:
http://www.insidesocal.com/pets/2008/10/herd-any-good-ones-lately.html

Happy Birthday Sherman, 1 year old:
http://www.insidesocal.com/pets/2009/04/sherman-then-now.html

Sherman playing with his brother Cosmo:
http://www.insidesocal.com/pets/2009/07/torrance-twin-terror.html