Dog Debate

[LSimoni197@aol.com]

Wow, Hot topic! I have not brought dogs to rides, but lets look at this issue
from a different point of view.  The woman who travels alone.

I am writing from California, the Bay Area where the weather is great.  What
ever direction I drive, there have been women who were abducted from their
cars, or parking lots, and killed.

The 3 women in the Yosemite area.
3 different women around Hayward.
San Francisco had one recently.
Vallejo.  Petaluma.  San Jose.  Newark.
If we think about it every large city and even small towns have had problems.
If we were to do the research we would find out how very many times some form
of violence occurs to women.

I live rather isolated in the country and have my dogs as robbery preventives.
They have done the job for 23 years.  For many women who drive long distances
their dog is more than just a companion.  That dog is their protection, their
safety net so to speak.  That pickup, camper, trailer is their home during the
time they are traveling.  You could look at it as rude to tell these woman who
they can have in their home with them. 

I believe that all of us agree that dog, child, horse, or spouse should be
well behaved at a ride.  WE are either camped on Public land which has rules,
or on private property where the owner has the right to state their
requirements on their land.  I do believe that inside the camper is considered
the same as inside a house, with the owner having the same rights.  Perhaps
this means you can bring your dog, but you cannot take him out to relieve
himself.  

Could we develop a dog policy which would protect others from dogs, while
allowing well behaved dogs to accompany their master for the purposes of
comfort as well as the guard duty they perform?

Lynge Simoni
San Jose 


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