Dogs should be allowed in public places
I know it's only a few days before Easter and I should be writing about Easter bunnies as pets (not good choices), chicks and ducklings (ditto) and salmonella and children (not good for youngsters to handle these animals).
OK, did that. Now on to other issues.
What the heck is all the fuss about whether or not dogs should be allowed in public places? (Coloradoan reader-submitted opinion piece March 28). Honestly, from all the comments Joe Plummer received regarding his opinion that dogs shouldn't be allowed in public places you'd think the guy was talking about banning children.
Oh, wait a minute, he kind of was, wasn't he?
How many of us refer to our animals as our kids and ourselves as parents of our four-legged children? A whole bunch of us.
Mr. Plummer is entitled to his opinion. He's entitled to ban dogs other than service animals from his business. What I disagree with is pushing his opinion onto others and demand that no dogs be allowed in public places.
As long as dogs are clean and well-behaved I believe dogs should be allowed anywhere. I understand that the Joe Plummers of the world use allergies to dogs as reason to ban dogs. I assure Mr. Plummer that as someone who is allergic to dogs I have found ways to control my allergies and still live with several dogs.
Some people agreed that dogs should be banned. Maybe these people just don't like dogs. I personally do not like the color yellow. Well, I think that yellow has its place, like on certain flowers, honey bees and lemons. I am appalled at how many people think that yellow is an appropriate color to wear or put on a car. I think it's a horrible color but I don't try to ban the color yellow from store shelves. I simply will not buy a yellow car or wear yellow clothing.
My dislike for the color yellow is my problem. It would never occur to me to think it was up to me to dictate where yellow should be found. Nor would it occur to me to tell people not to wear perfume. I have had to leave concerts and plays because my asthmatic reaction to all the perfume being worn around me. My problem - not someone else's problem. It's just life.
If people want to bring their clean, well-behaved dogs into stores, I'm all for it.
Europe has been doing it for centuries and it apparently hasn't destroyed their commerce. I think that the only thing it may do is encourage more people to train their dogs.
Gee, what a great idea.
I remember a sign outside of one of my favorite stores in California: "Well-behaved Dogs Are Always Welcome. Please keep Your Children Under Control At All Times.''
Enough said.
Terry Jester is a nationally recognized companion animal behaviorist. To learn more about companion animal training, visit www.rockymountainrawhide.com. For questions about your own pet, call Jester at (970) 568-7585 or send e-mail to arriniranch@aol.com.
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