Comments on: In the dog house: Another idiot newspaper columnist http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/08/21/in-the-dog-house-another-idiot-newspaper-columnist/ The Web blog of the Pet Connection, a pet-care feature syndicated internationally by Universal Press. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:40:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Chuck & Lora http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/08/21/in-the-dog-house-another-idiot-newspaper-columnist/#comment-340942 Chuck & Lora Sun, 24 Aug 2008 20:04:00 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2786#comment-340942 He has missed much love and many fun hours,He is to be pitied for his lack of knowledge, maybe now that he has his own pet he will know what he has missed and his intelligence will be equally enhanced.Lifetime pet owners{friends} He has missed much love and many fun hours,He is to be pitied for his lack of knowledge, maybe now that he has his own pet he will know what he has missed and his intelligence will be equally enhanced.Lifetime pet owners{friends}

]]> By: DMS http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/08/21/in-the-dog-house-another-idiot-newspaper-columnist/#comment-340125 DMS Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:10:40 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2786#comment-340125 Note to U.S. readers: "MLA" stands for "Member of the Legislative Assembly." My MLA also happens to be responsible for Manitoba's tenancy laws. Note to U.S. readers: “MLA” stands for “Member of the Legislative Assembly.” My MLA also happens to be responsible for Manitoba’s tenancy laws.

]]> By: DMS http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/08/21/in-the-dog-house-another-idiot-newspaper-columnist/#comment-340116 DMS Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:53:04 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2786#comment-340116 Mr. Rutherford is DEAD WRONG when he says the Manitoba government is trying "to force more landlords to allow dogs and cats into rental complexes." Rather, it's considering allowing landlords to charge a "pet damage deposit", in the hope that the deposit option will encourage landlords to allow pets in more apartments. In other words, it's considering a small "incentive" and counting on the market to create more pet-friendly spaces. And THAT is the idea's fundamental flaw. A market-oriented approach didn't work with payday loan companies in Manitoba. They continued to operate in exactly the same way until the province stepped in and imposed regulations on them. And a market approach WILL NOT WORK in the apartment-pets issue, either. I've written to my MLA, and written about this issue a few times at my blog. Mr. Rutherford is DEAD WRONG when he says the Manitoba government is trying “to force more landlords to allow dogs and cats into rental complexes.”
Rather, it’s considering allowing landlords to charge a “pet damage deposit”, in the hope that the deposit option will encourage landlords to allow pets in more apartments.
In other words, it’s considering a small “incentive” and counting on the market to create more pet-friendly spaces.
And THAT is the idea’s fundamental flaw.
A market-oriented approach didn’t work with payday loan companies in Manitoba. They continued to operate in exactly the same way until the province stepped in and imposed regulations on them. And a market approach WILL NOT WORK in the apartment-pets issue, either.
I’ve written to my MLA, and written about this issue a few times at my blog.

]]> By: Carol http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/08/21/in-the-dog-house-another-idiot-newspaper-columnist/#comment-340111 Carol Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:36:20 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2786#comment-340111 As a breeder, I have to say that some of my *favorite* owners are those who live in apartments in large urban areas. I know that those apartment living dogs are being walked - actually walked - at least three times per day, rather than just being turned out into a yard. Many of them get daily doggy day care, or visits from pet sitters and dog walkers. Best of all, they are a part of their owners lives in ways that suburban dogs sometimes aren't -- they go to Cafes, parks, stores and shops. Responsible dog owners are responsible, no matter where they live, or what they live in. As a breeder, I have to say that some of my *favorite* owners are those who live in apartments in large urban areas.

I know that those apartment living dogs are being walked - actually walked - at least three times per day, rather than just being turned out into a yard. Many of them get daily doggy day care, or visits from pet sitters and dog walkers. Best of all, they are a part of their owners lives in ways that suburban dogs sometimes aren’t — they go to Cafes, parks, stores and shops.

Responsible dog owners are responsible, no matter where they live, or what they live in.

]]> By: puppynerd http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/08/21/in-the-dog-house-another-idiot-newspaper-columnist/#comment-340076 puppynerd Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:06:45 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2786#comment-340076 Unfortunately, it seems that many rescue organizations agree with him. In fact, they go even farther: even if you do have a backyard, if it's not fenced, you're still unworthy of a dog. Because we all know walks are for wussies, and the only way to truly exercise a dog is to send it out unsupervised to dig holes and nap. Sorry, that's a bit of a sore spot for me, and work has already made me cranky this morning. Unfortunately, it seems that many rescue organizations agree with him. In fact, they go even farther: even if you do have a backyard, if it’s not fenced, you’re still unworthy of a dog.

Because we all know walks are for wussies, and the only way to truly exercise a dog is to send it out unsupervised to dig holes and nap.

Sorry, that’s a bit of a sore spot for me, and work has already made me cranky this morning.

]]> By: Xslf http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/08/21/in-the-dog-house-another-idiot-newspaper-columnist/#comment-340059 Xslf Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:01:34 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2786#comment-340059 Wow. I live in a small apartment, 4th flood, no elevator, with 2 cats and a 55lb dog (boxer). She barks maybe twice a *week*, and gets plenty of exercise (at least 3 walks a day, one of them an hour long. The vet compliments how fit she is)- and as a bonus I get exercise myself walking her. She gets to meet doggy friends on the walks- what yard can give her that? Wow.
I live in a small apartment, 4th flood, no elevator, with 2 cats and a 55lb dog (boxer). She barks maybe twice a *week*, and gets plenty of exercise (at least 3 walks a day, one of them an hour long. The vet compliments how fit she is)- and as a bonus I get exercise myself walking her.
She gets to meet doggy friends on the walks- what yard can give her that?

]]> By: Ana http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/08/21/in-the-dog-house-another-idiot-newspaper-columnist/#comment-340039 Ana Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:09:24 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2786#comment-340039 Well, funny story I've got: My dog, a rat terrier, is 6 yrs. old now. I was his FOURTH home when I got him because people kept returning him to the shelter, as he was too hyper and high maintenance. These people ALL had back yards. I’ve had him now for 4 years and guess what? I live in an apartment! Yup, shocking I know. He is the best dog. Sweet, super smart, very friendly with everyone, especially children and the elderly, and all my neighbors in the building and the houses surrounding it love him. Oh yeah, and he doesn’t bark all day long even though I go to work all day, and of course he gets plenty of exercise and play time. Shows how much this guy know about dogs in apartments. Well, funny story I’ve got: My dog, a rat terrier, is 6 yrs. old now. I was his FOURTH home when I got him because people kept returning him to the shelter, as he was too hyper and high maintenance. These people ALL had back yards. I’ve had him now for 4 years and guess what? I live in an apartment! Yup, shocking I know. He is the best dog. Sweet, super smart, very friendly with everyone, especially children and the elderly, and all my neighbors in the building and the houses surrounding it love him. Oh yeah, and he doesn’t bark all day long even though I go to work all day, and of course he gets plenty of exercise and play time.
Shows how much this guy know about dogs in apartments.

]]> By: Marjorie http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/08/21/in-the-dog-house-another-idiot-newspaper-columnist/#comment-339895 Marjorie Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:38:33 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2786#comment-339895 Just a tip for anyone thinking about writing a letter to the editor on this story. I did do, and received a polite email from Mr. Rutherford (the author of the piece) signed with his title, "Comment Editor." So, just know that he'll (apparently) be the one (or one of the ones) deciding how the comments to his piece will be published. Just a tip for anyone thinking about writing a letter to the editor on this story. I did do, and received a polite email from Mr. Rutherford (the author of the piece) signed with his title, “Comment Editor.” So, just know that he’ll (apparently) be the one (or one of the ones) deciding how the comments to his piece will be published.

]]> By: Dorene http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/08/21/in-the-dog-house-another-idiot-newspaper-columnist/#comment-339868 Dorene Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:46:08 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2786#comment-339868 Oh, this type of attitude just drives me screaming yellow bonkers! I've seen so many miserable dogs that are just stuck in a huge backyard where no one ever comes to see them -- they get food, water and shelter, but no walks, no being "part of the pack" and no interaction with anyone, human or canine. Meanwhile, I have a BORDER COLLIE in town who walks with me on every non-food errand, does training runs with my marathon-running husband and spends hours with me at my work at the community garden. But we're an "unfit for a dog" family because we live in an old steel town where they didn't waste space for backyards that would only have collected coal dust anyway? Please! Oh, this type of attitude just drives me screaming yellow bonkers! I’ve seen so many miserable dogs that are just stuck in a huge backyard where no one ever comes to see them — they get food, water and shelter, but no walks, no being “part of the pack” and no interaction with anyone, human or canine.

Meanwhile, I have a BORDER COLLIE in town who walks with me on every non-food errand, does training runs with my marathon-running husband and spends hours with me at my work at the community garden. But we’re an “unfit for a dog” family because we live in an old steel town where they didn’t waste space for backyards that would only have collected coal dust anyway?

Please!

]]> By: The OTHER Pat http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/08/21/in-the-dog-house-another-idiot-newspaper-columnist/#comment-339850 The OTHER Pat Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:32:39 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2786#comment-339850 Comment by EMoon — August 21, 2008 @ 9:49 am "I wonder what he’d say about the apartment complex where I live. The company goes to great lengths to welcome dog owners — they allow large pets, have a large field with lake for running/swimming the dogs, pet waste stations with complementary bags, and dog biscuits in the office so that whenever you walk by they can come out and give one to your dog. Okay - that settles it! Me and my dog are coming to live with YOU! LOL! Comment by EMoon — August 21, 2008 @ 9:49 am

“I wonder what he’d say about the apartment complex where I live. The company goes to great lengths to welcome dog owners — they allow large pets, have a large field with lake for running/swimming the dogs, pet waste stations with complementary bags, and dog biscuits in the office so that whenever you walk by they can come out and give one to your dog.

Okay - that settles it! Me and my dog are coming to live with YOU! LOL!

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