I shouldn't have renewed at the dog park. But, it's only $60, so I figured we'd pay and then just go less.
I know you all love my righteously indignant crazy dog park stories though, so OF COURSE I had to post this one too!
I was there on Friday morning by myself and Boo practicing on the agility equipment, and this woman comes in whom I've never seen before. She had a key, so she was a member. But then she started telling me that these were her two foster dogs that she'd had for THREE DAYS.
As I watched the female foster ram her body repeatedly into the Boo and put her paws all over her, despite Boo trying to walk away, which then escalated to the female growling and lunging at Boo and putting her paws on her while the male repeatedly tried to hump her, I listened to the woman expound on how wonderful the dog park was as a way to socialize these strays. The female continued to come after the Boo after the foster mom had pulled her off and I had the Boo between my legs by the collar. I was a little nervous that I was going to get bitten.
No good was going to come of this. Which is what I said, and started to leave. The foster mom then blamed the Boo for her dogs' behavior. "Boo must not like to play rough," she said. (Actually that it Boo's favorite game -- but this was bully behavior, not rough play. Is it really that hard for some people to tell the difference?)
It seemed like incredibly poor judgment to me to bring these so recently stray dogs that you don't even know to the park, and expect everything to all work out. Not that I'm this big expert or anything, I'm just saying.
And anyway, in order to be members of the dog park, dogs must have a certificate for rabies vaccination and a Philadelphia dog license. As a foster of these dogs for 3 days, there was no way they had a dog license at least. Isn't the whole point of membership to keep dogs who haven't been screened (not like this helps much) out of the park?
Alert Alert!! Rule Breaker!! Haha.
Ah, whatever. File this under: People are idiots. I've decided to not let it bother me. If she shows up again, we'll just leave.
9 Pearls of Wisdom:
I thought EACH DOG had to be individually approved via a socialization test before being allowed access to that park?!?! I thought the membership (even though I think you only pay one fee per family) is technically for the DOG, not the owner, so if you're a member and you get a new dog, you're not allowed to take that dog until he's been approved.
If that's true, that woman wasn't even allowed to bring those dogs in (let alone the fact that you're totally right as far as it being an idiotic move on her part).
Yep, pretty much. The funny part was when I brought it up with the membership guy (the one with the aggressive dog), and he said, "Well, her HOUSEHOLD is a member." And then I made the point you made. At which point he said I was right.
Not like anything's going to change, mind you.
Hell, getting stories for my readers is the only reason I stay in practice. Otherwise I'd have started my dream job selling sock monkeys door-to-door.
Every foster dog I've had (over 250), has been socialized through gates, doors, and eventually, with my own dogs for days (like 10 - 15) before I even venture to take them to a pet store, or other area.
And I've never taken two brand new fosters together - even with my own dogs. Just too hard to handle and control and teach the dogs anything.
The woman was clueless as are so many bleeding hearts who think just taking a dog off the street and giving it a warm house will instantly turn it into a nice dog.
Don't get me started... haha!
Wow, I can't believe that woman- hopefully you won't run into her again- I can't believe the membership guy was so callous about it!
C -- He just hates conflict of any kind. I wasn't all that surprised by his reaction, unfortunately.
Hope you had a good time in FL!
I am surprised to hear that you need a membership to join a dog park!
Our dog parks are all public and there are no special requirements for behaviour. Despite this, we have never had any real problems during our weekly visits.
My only complaint are the people who take their toddlers into the dog park and then get annoyed when the dogs run up to them...
P-lo -- It's a really interesting point that you make. Luca and I NEVER had these problems at the public park on the river.
I think there is a reason for this: if you've paid money to join a private park, you feel like it is your right to go whenever you want, regardless of how your dog behaves. Also, since people know each other and the other dogs a bit better, they get lulled into this false sense of security (and maybe even take a bit of advantage of the good will of their friends) and spend less time actually watching their dogs and more time socializing.
these dog park stories crack me up so i am glad you renewed :)
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