Sick of Morons in NEPA With Animals (Dickson City, McDonald: low crime, home)

[ScranBarre]

Is anyone else as tired as I am of seeing animal-related stories DAILY on WNEP? Today's top story on the noon news involves a family from NJ who was attacked while dining at the Dickson City McDonald's by a rogue dog that stormed into the restaurant. The 21-year-old idiot who was responsible for this attack also lied to police, claiming that he had found the dog wandering along the road and took him in as a "good samaritan" when in fact he was merely pet-sitting the dog for a likewise idiotic owner who did NOT see to it that her dog was properly licensed or vaccinated. Now this poor little boy who was attacked will likely have to undergo a painful series of rabies shots, and that dog will likely be destroyed thanks to the efforts of the aforementioned Dumb and Dumber.

I work in retail, and the number of morons who bring their dogs walking around our HOME IMPROVEMENT store makes me shake my head. We've had problems with animals urinating and/or defecating on our products and have had to forcefully eject people out of our store. Our store's policy clearly indicates that SERVICE ANIMALS are welcomed, not the stupid dog or cat that you think is cute so by default you want everyone else to fuss over (and clean up after). What would happen if a dog were to break free and attack another customer, an employee, or heaven forbid run into a piece of moving power equipment? Who would be suing whom for what then?

Keep your animals at home, you creeps! I don't care how "cute" or "well-behaved" you think they are. If one of your "precious angels" bites me at work I'm going to proceed to take any measure necessary to defend myself, including but not limited to striking the animal over the head. Since when does your dog have to help you pick out mini-blinds or toilets, anyways? If you can't leave them unattended at home then you should have thought about that BEFORE investing in a pet!

[pocopc]

I never got the 'take you dog with you shopping' deal. Personally i think you are just a walking liability when you do that. Sure your dog had never bitten anyone before.... but that doesn't mean it can't happen. People dont think that far ahead. Why risk a lawsuit?

Same thing with leaving the animal in the car. Its one thing to take it for a ride but why leave it in the 120 degree car while you go shopping in the mall. Leave the poor thing at home.

[go phillies]

What's really bothering me is the sudden explosion in the local population of pit bulls....which ties into the discussions here about the problems with crime and drugs....its usually those types that own those dogs, and they own them for the wrong reasons. Why anyone wants to own a pit bull, when there are many more docile breeds out there, is beyond me.

[61scout80]

i would love if the top story on the local news was of a dog attack. the would mean out of the entire coverage area not one person was shot, stabbed, raped or robbed. while it is sickening that people can't take care of their animals, something like you suggested being top story would be a relief! It shows a low crime rate....

I completely agree about non service animals in public. Keep your pets at home unless you are going to a pet related store.

[61scout80]

Originally Posted by go phillies

What's really bothering me is the sudden explosion in the local population of pit bulls....which ties into the discussions here about the problems with crime and drugs....its usually those types that own those dogs, and they own them for the wrong reasons. Why anyone wants to own a pit bull, when there are many more docile breeds out there, is beyond me.

are there truly more pit bulls in the area, or just media coverage?

[go phillies]

Does Lowe's allow people to bring pets into the store? I thought the only places that allowed animals are the pet stores.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by 61scout80

are there truly more pit bulls in the area, or just media coverage?

No, there are definitely more around...I have seen more people walking pit bulls around here than ever before...and they're usually the Michael Vick wanna-be thug types.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by go phillies

Does Lowe's allow people to bring pets into the store? I thought the only places that allowed animals are the pet stores.

We have on the door that SERVICE ANIMALS are welcomed to help assist our customers with disabilities. However, not a day goes by where I don't see a customer or two toting a dog around in a purse or encouraging people to run up to Fido and fawn all over him or her. Then again, what are we, as employees, going to do? People flip out on me when I uphold any of our store's pricing policies. Could you imagine what would happen if I asked them to remove their dogs from our store?! My manager would be getting an earful about that!

[ScranBarre]

The problem with pit bulls is that they are so unpredictable. The woman who owned the pit bull that attacked this family earlier today up in Dickson City claims that the puppy, named "Baby," never acted out before. It only takes one time for a tragedy like this to occur. The family looked normal enough. I don't think they "provoked" the animal to attack them inside the restaurant. I can't understand why they're becoming so popular around here. I love animals myself, but I would never want to own a breed of dog that could be loyal and lovable for ten years only to suddenly snap in its eleventh year and hurt someone.

[thecoalman]

Pit bulls are no more aggressive than some other breeds, there are more aggressive common breeds. The difference with them if they attack is the tremendous crushing power in their jaws can cause some very serious injury. The media will report these incidents, what you don't here about is the aggressive poodle biting people because the person being attacked will need stitches at most. The majority of attacks by pit bulls are brought on by the people that raised them.

Every dog like a person has a personality. This personality is guided by instinct, genes and for the most part their environment especially when they are very young. Nearly every dog can brought up to be non-aggressive but like people some just have violent tendencies and that transcends all breeds.

One thing to keep in mind about dogs is instinctively they are territorial and can can consider some actions as being aggressive. When someone has a dog in their car for example or are holding one it's probably not a good idea to approach it. Even the most docile animal can turn aggressive in a situation like that.

When an unfamiliar dog approaches you especially one that is acting very aggressively don't lose eye contact and most importantly don't run. If the dog is acting aggressively slowly back up and keep eye contact. If it's being friendly or even slightly aggressive slowly offer your hand palm down and allow the animal to approach you to sniff it. Do not make any sudden moves to pet the animal unless it moves itself within distance to do this.

As for people bringing animals to a store... like some dogs some people are just plain dumb.