On Dogs at the Living Now Festival

[Guest guest]

I too am a dog owner, and am faced with boarding my dogs for the duration of

my trip to New York, but I can see why the festival would say " no dogs. "

Maybe some people's dogs would not chase wildlife or bark when tethered to their

owners tent space, but mine are not that well-behaved, and in everyday life we

deal with them and try to avoid them creating a lot of noise and chaos by

keeping them indoors at night and bringing them inside from their fenced yard

when

they begin barking at stray cats and people walking by the house.

 

When I take them on walks, the minute they see a squirrel or rabbit they bark

and attempt to give chase. I assume most people's dogs, who do not see

wildlife daily or are well trained, would probably do the same, which is why I

assume that they are not allowed at the festival. While the dog's people are

taking part in a class or listening to a speaker, who will watch their dog?

Mine

might be okay if they came with me, PROVIDED there were no other dogs present

at the event for them to worry over. Realistically, they would probably growl

and strain at their leash to try and get to another dog. My dogs are just

not well socialized. They are cherished family pets, but since my friends own

pit bulls and rotweilers, they don't see too many other dogs. A pity yes, but

this is reality.

 

I would not object at all to other people's dogs at the festival, knowing

that they were not my responsiblity, and if I were allowed to take my dogs, I

would, and hope for the best, but if I were the one planning the event, the

thought of dog fights and barking dogs desturbing the tranquility we are all

seeking might make me also decide on " no dogs. " From an environmental

perspective,

dogs are known to harrass wildlife, and that right there would be enough to

make an environmentalist recommend that no dogs be brought into an area filled

with wildlife. Of course, human's aren't very good for wildlife either!

 

But please don't boycott the event! Perhaps next year there could be camping

in a dog-friendly area, with areas for dogs as well as no dogs. I think most

people do not object to dogs as long as they are well-behaved, and my

thinking is that most raw-foodists, who are so carefull about most things in

their

life, would not be lax in their care of their four-footed friends.

Have a wonderful raw day! Annie