A Dog's Life

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics - Please Mon Mar 28, 2005 23:06

Sean

I loved the photo of the dog and 4 lines from Alexander Pope.

If only people realised the friendship a dog gives and is capable of giving, we need never have our hospitals so overcrowded.

Having had years of limited health and being reliant in the later years between the bed, a short walk and lots of medication, I never thought I would have the chance of having my own dog again.

I met a special person and that special person grasped my need.

The outcome is a 2 year old Jack Russell from potential extermination with some 17,000 other dogs in Ireland, each year.

Jack is as you described small dogs but you forgive all faults of a little dog who can give you such joy. This joy replaces the futility I once felt with combined bipolar and acquired brain injury. Dogs are great for stress reduction.

Jack also gives confidence and reassurance which ill-health and our numbed society perpetrate these days....but there are good people and there are homeless dogs.

I only was left with memory of my childhood dogs, a Bassett Hound called Fred and a corgi called Gracie. Their memory at least allowed me to admire people's dogs in the park.

Like your surprise we got a great surprise this Easter. Kevin and Jack went out for the last walk......They returned to the apartment block but they had an extra!!!

The best part is that He was a mixture.....but he was a mixture of a basset hound and a corgi.

He had the length, paws, long Tail of the basset with the red colour of a corgi head with dropped ears.

He had the mischief and spirit of the bassett

The good news is on the next walk the dog found his way home!!!! Two dogs in apartment would be too much!

He was a memory and a character in one and our Jack Russell in hostile form stated his territory was not for the taking.

I would recommend to anyone to consider having a dog.


Michelle

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Mon Aug 08, 2005 22:14

My partner and I had the good fortune, and by chance, to gain a Jack Russell, last September and what it bonus it has made to our lives.

We live in Dublin 4 and near Herbert Park. I must confess that our little friend has meant no socialising since he came. This is not his fault. The truth is we enjoy his company; the walks; the JacK Russell engagements with other breeds so much. He ensures that we visit the Park so that he can antagonise the Swans (as a coward); the ducks and others. There we meet people who visit daily to feed the birds. (An asside, the pond must be heavily polluted or at least this is the view of people and the three baby ducklings have died). This is a major shame to those involved in the Environment control.

We now know people on our Road; people who have dogs; people who are elderly and who have had Jack Russell's who died. Recently we were on a routine walk to Ranelagh and met a charming woman and her dog Snowey; she told us she was 91 and when her dog died, she felt so bereft she took on Snowy (abandoned and aged 4).

I thought no more until I received a call late at night about Kevin's offer to walk the dog. Let me tell you that this dog Snowey gave rise to a saga over a day and the saga sure improved the life of all concerned. The community Garda became knkown to us as well.

I ask have we forgotten just how important animals are as friends particularly from the scientific and anxiety reduction factors. In Japan, in some of the Corporate companies, dogs/cats are brought to meeting to ensure that the stress levels are kept level. We sure needs some of this in Ireland - it might account for the hot-headed approach of many of the people one meets.

I note from the American Scientist magazine that dogs have nearly 400 words so this makes them intelligent and capable of training. The labradors are great friends of the partially sighted and Emily Dogs help people carry out chores like picking up post.....etc. This is so positive for people with mental health and neurological problems.

On the basis of the foregoing why are pubs, coffee shops, hotels, deparment stores; trains etc so non user friendly to people and their animals, in particular those limited by certain disabilities and the elderly. Can people in business not understand the marketing aspects of being dog friendly?

I don't smoke but I have to say the Smoking Ban had one major impact (the paradox being financial), it kickstarted a lateral thought function in the Entrepreneurial elite. To attract the smokers they were forced to think of options and hence this pavement culture that is really taking on.

Now all I would suggest is that they engage a little more in lateral thought and common sense and make space for people and their animals and they do in Europe and the US.

Recently, due to health reasons I walk to a local village but I must have coffee and sit down to regain strength. To my horror, as I sat at a table on the street with my dog, after my order for coffee was accepted, I was asked to leave as dogs were not permitted. The menu stated same!!! Have we really lost our compassion and understanding?

I look at elderly people who have dogs and who go to the supermarkets. They need to run the risk of leaving their dogs tied up outside the shop (with no offer of supervision). I suggest that the profits of these supermarkets are so excessive that a disregard of a sector of their customer base is ignored. What about community?

I met a woman, most distressed recently in Baggot Street. Her Jack Russell is like her best friend. Yet some man let his 'dog' those that have legislation re. muzzling off the lead and his grip was so hard and unrelenting that he nearly killed her dog. People at the local pub came to their rescue as did a local vet.

Then we can go to Ranelagh Park and we hear that there is a similar situation for people particularly elderly and their dogs. Again it is pit bull terriers!

This may have rambled too much but I sure would appreciate hearing from others and their views about the canine population.

One point. Peata is an organisation that visits hospitals for the elderly and people with disabilities with dogs. It is a good way of communicating with a person who is low in energy and finds it difficult to speak too much. Stroking the dog is therapeutic.

Ireland is responsible for putting down over 17,000 dogs last year.

Can you believe that the Irish sent a quota of dogs to the United Kingdom? Then, the English are renowned for being dog lovers.

Michelle Clarke
Quotation:
Henrik Ibsen (1828 1906) Norwegian Playwright
'A forest bird never wants a cage'

Are we becoming to legislated; to regulated in support of a group versus the rights of individuals....? I don't know

by Rottweiller fan - na Thu Jan 19, 2006 08:30

Dogs are just like people they don't have vicious breeds each dog is unique and breeds are just looks