How pet friendly is Branson? (Springfield, California: how much, Home Depot, campsites)

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Ellwood

Actually we didn't leave too much $$$. It was a Navy reunion with reduced rates in hotel and only went to one show, which gave us a group discount. I know I won't return...only got me once.

[latetotheparty]

Originally Posted by Peculiar John

Families are nuclear or extended and exists only among human beings.

Other species groups are packs, herds, schools, prides etc.

To say an animal is family is an ignorant statement made by many.

I support the "no adult left behind act".

and in what dictionary did you find these definitions??

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by latetotheparty

and in what dictionary did you find these definitions??

Probably the Dictionary of Common Sense for Humans.

[latetotheparty]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Probably the Dictionary of Common Sense for Humans.

Originally Posted by Peculiar John

In an effort not leave an adult behind or be latetotheparty:

A family as a social unit applies to only to humans.

Family is also applied to other things living and non living of similar traits and characteristics but are not social relationships. These are scientific and biological relationships. Wolves and coyotes are a biological family. A pack of wolves is the social unit, not a family. Family as a social unit exists between humans.

Family can be loosely applied to many things by contrarians such as yourself seeking to differ, often as used as accepted slang. When people start believing it is where the animal - human - old truck confusion sets in.

Dat ol' dawg isa part of r family. Da twuk is too.

Really?

thank ya' both for the edumacation.....

[SW Missouri Dave]

Originally Posted by Ellwood

Actually we didn't leave too much $$$. It was a Navy reunion with reduced rates in hotel and only went to one show, which gave us a group discount. I know I won't return...only got me once.

Ellewood. If the veteran who was attending the reunion in Branson was you or your SO or another family member, I want to break into this debate over the status of a family cocker spaniel, and say thank you for your/their service to this country. Branson is a tourist town but there are millions of American's who have no desire to visit and I say "to each their own". Thousands of Vietnam veterans visit Branson every year because of the annual "welcome home" festivities and many of them would probably not visit Branson otherwise.

Everybody rolls their eyes when the 'animal kooks' start rescuing pets after a natural disaster. Heck I did. It annoyed me to no end to see people down in New Orleans rescuing cats and dogs when people were still separated from their children. Then they showed a video of a dog on a bridge crying in fear as a stranger was trying to rescue him. It suddenly hit me that the pets these 'kooks' were rescuing weren't wild animals, or people, responsible for themselves or raised to survive on their own. These were dogs and cats that were bred to be taken care of by a human being. In this case, that human owner was either dead - or having a hard time taking care of themselves. Other humans were stepping in - and while I did not agree with their politics - I appreciated their efforts to rescue the pets.

Then the tornado in Joplin came, and its nearly constant local news coverage of the disaster, showed just exactly what the family pet meant to many Missouri families, who had lost everything else. Maybe it's a bias on the part of the local news media, but I saw many stories where families who had lost everything, were overjoyed to discover a family pet had been rescued and were reunited. I do not remember seeing any similar emotions being expressed at the discovery that the family 3/4 ton Ford was still drivable. I can tell you that my father, who would be easily qualified to run for president of the 'pets are a waste of money' faction, was part of a group of volunteers from his church who discovered a small white dog in a completely destroyed house, two weeks after the tornado. Even amongst these men, who were there to help pick up wreckage, and who had not personally suffered any loss in the tornado, were heartened to have discovered life amongst all the destruction. They were there to clean up wreckage, not rescue animals. But their mission for the day suddenly became to reunite this little dog with its owners, if they were still alive. A few hours later, with the help of some locals, they got to do just that - with the owners who, according to my father, acted like they had rescued their child. My father said he will never understand how people can become so attached to a 'dog', but he couldn't help be moved by how they reacted.

For those of you who don't want pets - don't get a pet. If you come across a store that allows pets inside and that fact bothers you - shop elsewhere. For those of you who love your dog - more power to you. And if you are offended if the city park requires a leash - go elsewhere.

In my opinion, pets are NOT people too - but sometimes, they can be far more desirable to be around than many people.

[Ellwood]

Originally Posted by SW Missouri Dave

Ellewood. If the veteran who was attending the reunion in Branson was you or your SO or another family member, I want to break into this debate over the status of a family cocker spaniel, and say thank you for your/their service to this country. Branson is a tourist town but there are millions of American's who have no desire to visit and I say "to each their own". Thousands of Vietnam veterans visit Branson every year because of the annual "welcome home" festivities and many of them would probably not visit Branson otherwise.

Everybody rolls their eyes when the 'animal kooks' start rescuing pets after a natural disaster. Heck I did. It annoyed me to no end to see people down in New Orleans rescuing cats and dogs when people were still separated from their children. Then they showed a video of a dog on a bridge crying in fear as a stranger was trying to rescue him. It suddenly hit me that the pets these 'kooks' were rescuing weren't wild animals, or people, responsible for themselves or raised to survive on their own. These were dogs and cats that were bred to be taken care of by a human being. In this case, that human owner was either dead - or having a hard time taking care of themselves. Other humans were stepping in - and while I did not agree with their politics - I appreciated their efforts to rescue the pets.

Then the tornado in Joplin came, and its nearly constant local news coverage of the disaster, showed just exactly what the family pet meant to many Missouri families, who had lost everything else. Maybe it's a bias on the part of the local news media, but I saw many stories where families who had lost everything, were overjoyed to discover a family pet had been rescued and were reunited. I do not remember seeing any similar emotions being expressed at the discovery that the family 3/4 ton Ford was still drivable. I can tell you that my father, who would be easily qualified to run for president of the 'pets are a waste of money' faction, was part of a group of volunteers from his church who discovered a small white dog in a completely destroyed house, two weeks after the tornado. Even amongst these men, who were there to help pick up wreckage, and who had not personally suffered any loss in the tornado, were heartened to have discovered life amongst all the destruction. They were there to clean up wreckage, not rescue animals. But their mission for the day suddenly became to reunite this little dog with its owners, if they were still alive. A few hours later, with the help of some locals, they got to do just that - with the owners who, according to my father, acted like they had rescued their child. My father said he will never understand how people can become so attached to a 'dog', but he couldn't help be moved by how they reacted.

For those of you who don't want pets - don't get a pet. If you come across a store that allows pets inside and that fact bothers you - shop elsewhere. For those of you who love your dog - more power to you. And if you are offended if the city park requires a leash - go elsewhere.

In my opinion, pets are NOT people too - but sometimes, they can be far more desirable to be around than many people.

Thanks for your kind words. Yes, that veteran was me, who served 20+ years. Excellent post SW Missouri Dave! Dogs love you unconditionally and I would rather be around my dog than MANY people.

[Ellwood]

Originally Posted by Peculiar John

Extremely touristy? - Over 7 million tourists a year come to visit "hee haw" so what would be else expected? It is marketing at it's finest. Branson is a tourist town by design and tourist make it what it is. A little research and trip planning would be helpful towards personal desired experiences. Don't fault the area.

Mean spirited people? - Absolutely! With Branson's population of 7500 and over 7 million visitors annually odds are greatly in favor of one encountering mean spirited tourists who are expecting a personally tailored experience to their likings while suffering through the reality of being a one of 7 million.

I personally would never have chosen Branson for the reunion, nor would I have added it to my list of places to visit. Many at the reunion expressed a desire not to have another reunion in Branson. The lack of friendliness or rudeness I was referring had nothing to do with tourists...I was referring to people who worked in the area. This wasn't only my opinion, many others at the reunion felt the same way. I have been to many touristy towns, but what I was referring to is the overabundance of "hee haw" everywhere you went, even into the hills. It was like a "five and dime Las Vegas."

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Ellwood

I personally would never have chosen Branson for the reunion, nor would I have added it to my list of places to visit. Many at the reunion expressed a desire not to have another reunion in Branson. The lack of friendliness or rudeness I was referring had nothing to do with tourists...I was referring to people who worked in the area. I have been to many touristy towns, but what I was referring to is the overabundance of "hee haw" everywhere you went, even into the hills. It was like a "five and dime Las Vegas."

Most unfortunate. Branson celebrates Veterans Week, not just Veterans Day and in my experience in living in nine states, its support of and appreciation for veterans (Yeah, I am one also) has been unparalleled.

Yes, there's a lot of "Hee Haw" but it keeps about 8,000,000 tourists coming to the city each year although, admittedly, a lot of them arrive on what are called the "Blue Hair Buses."

I would hope that appropriate complaints were made to anywhere you were not treated appropriately.

And, no, I don't live in Branson, just in SW MO.

[Ellwood]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Most unfortunate. Branson celebrates Veterans Week, not just Veterans Day and in my experience in living in nine states, its support of and appreciation for veterans (Yeah, I am one also) has been unparalleled.

Yes, there's a lot of "Hee Haw" but it keeps about 8,000,000 tourists coming to the city each year although, admittedly, a lot of them arrive on what are called the "Blue Hair Buses."

I would hope that appropriate complaints were made to anywhere you were not treated appropriately.

And, no, I don't live in Branson, just in SW MO.

Well, at least Branson treats Veterans well, but getting back to the topic, Missouri, overall is not pet friendly. Unfortunately I didn't find it people friendly either. Others who love it, great. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, right, wrong or indifferent. Overall, we found people, not the tourists, were unfriendly. I realize dealing with the public can be a tough job, but it pays their bills.

[latetotheparty]

in my 25 years in Missouri, I have found it very people friendly.... pet friendly, not so much....