Dog Haters Unite!

by No Dogs Allowed

A photo of San Antonio Animal “Don’t Care” Services officers

San Antonio, TX - Seven dogs were left to starve to death after their owner became incarcerated a few weeks ago at a San Antonio residence.

Neighbors say the starving dogs became so desperate that they broke off their chains and raided neighborhood garbage cans in search of food; and one of the dogs ate another mutt that got pancaked in the road.

“Two of the dogs got run over, and then one of the dogs - the bigger dog – ate the little dog that got run over,” said a neighbor who wished to remain anonymous.

Neighbors say they called Animal Care Services several times, but were told that officers could do nothing because the homeowner was not there, and that they could not take the dogs without permission because they’re considered property under Texas law.

“They told me that they couldn’t take them because dogs were considered property,” said another neighbor who also wished to remain anonymous.

Finally, the homeowner’s brother, Patrick Carter, gave AC officers permission to take the dogs; so they took three and left two behind, for reasons known only to them.

Mr. Carter said he would take the remaining two dogs to a local shelter soon, and in the meantime is feeding them.

“They’ve been fed……they got a big bag of dog food in the house, we just bought it this morning,” he said.

If this story doesn’t make Animal Care services sound completely useless, I don’t know what does.  Isn’t it AC’s job to cite people for animal cruelty and neglect?

Perhaps they should change their name to “Animal Don’t Care” services.

I wonder if they would have cared if these dogs had been pit bulls?  Although that doesn’t matter too much in this case, because starving dogs are dangerous to everyone, no matter what the breed.  They could easily snack on a child or a frail, sickly, or elderly adult.

Watch a video report here.

by No Dogs Allowed

This is what your train ride could look like if Republicans in Congress have their way.

Washington, D.C. - Some members of Congress have introduced a bill that would allow pets to ride Amtrak trains.  Called the “Pets on Trains Act of 2013,” the bill known as H.R. 2066 inside Congress would force trains to designate one car as a “pet car” in which people could travel with their mutts, kitties, goldfish, etc.  Yes, all pets are included in this bill.  But of course, dog owners would benefit from it the most.

The bill is being sponsored by Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), and Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.)

Lets hope it dies quickly, but I have a feeling it will pass.

This bill leaves me shaking my head for many reasons, a few of which I have listed below:

1.  Service animals are already allowed on public transit.  Why do people need to travel with their pets?  This is just bizarre to me.  Does the dog/cat/ferret have an important business appointment across town?

2.  Doesn’t the federal government have more pressing matters to worry about?  Like, I don’t know – maybe solving the federal deficit crisis, getting our soldiers out of the Middle East, telling North Korea once and for all to f*ck off, fixing our failing public school system, fixing our crumbling roads and bridges, and stop welcoming terrorists into our country with open arms?  To name a few.

3.  Why does Amtrak allow the feds to tell them how to run their business?  I know Amtrak is an odd marriage of governmental and private ownership, but in this case the private owners should tell the feds to go kiss their dog’s ass.

4.  And why are Republicans sponsoring this bill?  Aren’t they always the first ones to bitch and moan about big government interfering in private business matters? Isn’t that what they call – gasp! - SOCIALISM? (Shudder!) And yet, this bill was introduced by three GOPs.  I love the irony.

5.  Amtrak is a failing business.  I’m guessing this ludicrous bill is a pathetic attempt to increase ridership, but this could be accomplished in other ways – like keeping the trains clean and running on time, etc.  (which they rarely do, if you’ve ever ridden one).  Are Amtrak officials ready to handle the inevitable dog attack?  I doubt it.

Few people travel by rail anymore in the U.S., so some may not think it’s such a big deal to allow pets on trains.  But I look at the bigger picture and think, first trains, then what next?  Dogs in first-class airplane cabins?  Dogs on cruise ships?  Dogs in restaurants? This bill is the first step in making dogs like Visa – they’ll be everywhere you want to be.

Click here to read more on this story.

by No Dogs Allowed

Beachy Head, Eastbourne, England - A dog named “Nitty” fell off a cliff and plunged 60 feet to its death earlier today while romping with its owners, who were on vacation at the popular Beachy Head chalk sea cliffs.

Nitty – who was reported as a poodle and a whippet in various news accounts – apparently thought he was the Road Runner, but it turns out he was Wile E. Coyote instead.  An anvil for you, Nitty!

Nitty’s distraught owners said he ran ahead of them, and they didn’t realize he had taken the Nestea Plunge until it was too late.

Moral of the story:  Dogs ruin everything, including beach vacations.  Leave the fleabag at home, or else board it at a kennel.

Click here to read more on this cliffhanger of a story.

by No Dogs Allowed

Carrick, PA - A man ended up bloodier than the rare meat being served at a cookout last Sunday, thanks to a dog.

Neighbor Linda Cramer said she called 911 after a man ran screaming past her with his bottom lip hanging from his face, and bleeding from wounds to his face, arms, and legs.

“You could see the bite marks on his legs, ” said Ms. Cramer. “It was pretty bad.”

The victim – identified only as “Josh” – suffered bite wounds to his legs, arms, and face. “This ankle,” said Ms. Cramer pointing to one ankle, “you could see the ‘meat’ underneath it, the other ankle was just a bunch of bite marks, you could see the bite marks,” she said, describing the victim’s wounds.

The dog had been wandering around a cemetery next door, but after finding no live victims to sink its teeth into, it apparently decided to crash the cookout in a quest for fresh meat.

The dog – which is still on the loose – has been described as “brown with white markings.”

Brown with white markings - sounds pit-bullish to me!  I don’t mean to pick on pit bulls or the losers who own them, but what harm could come from banning these animals?  Probably none.  And people who claim to love dogs could love some other breed less deadly but just as annoying to us dog-haters, such as a Cocker Spaniel, poodle, Yorkie, Lab, etc.  It’s a win-win situation for dog lovers and haters everywhere.

Eva Hughes, who often walks through the cemetery the dog came from, said she carries a cell phone because she worries about dog attacks.  “But once you’re attacked, you’re attacked, and it’s too late,” she admitted.

The victim’s condition or which hospital he was admitted to was not reported.

The dog remains at large.  Anyone who sees the dog is urged to call local police.  Click here to watch a video report.

by No Dogs Allowed

Chicago, IL - A dog jumped a fence to attack a 9-year-old boy who was playing in his yard around 8 p.m. Sunday evening, according to Chicago Police Department News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli.

The attack occurred in the South Side neighborhood of Roseland.

The dog is being held in quarantine by Animal Care & Control and tested for rabies because it was not current on its vaccinations.

The boy suffered bite wounds to his arms and legs, and was listed in serious condition at  Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

The dog’s owner was cited for failure to obtain a dog license, failure to have the dog vaccinated against rabies, and failure to keep the animal restrained.

The dog’s breed make-up was not reported, which makes me wonder if the reporter did not ask this pertinent question, or else omitted the breed name to protect the dog, if it was a pit bull.  If it was a pit bull, this omission could backfire, because it means people can’t use the tired old line “blame the deed and not the breed.”  Now we only have dogs and their owners to blame!

Anyone who keeps a dog without a license should lose the privilege to own pets, in my opinion.

It’s sad that kids can’t even play in their own yards without getting mauled.  We need to have designated “maul-free” zones in which to live, and from which aggressive dogs are banned.

Click here to read more on this story.

by No Dogs Allowed

Three dogs ripped open cages and killed nearly 80 animals at a high school’s farm yesterday morning.

Fresno, CA - A pack of three dogs went on a mauling spree Friday morning at the Reedley High School farm and killed nearly 80 animals that included 54 chickens and 25 rabbits.  One pig was mauled so severely that it will have to be put down.

Scattered feathers, broken eggs and blood spatter are all that remain inside some cages.

Animal sciences teacher Ron Sa says he’s devastated by the loss of animal life, and feels badly for the students who worked hard to care for the animals.

“They take care of them and to come out here this morning and see all their hard work for the last three months… gone,” said Mr. Sa. “It devastated a lot of them.”

Reedley High Principal Rodney Cisneros said he has contacted his school’s insurance company to cover the loss, which is estimated at around $3,000.

The dogs could not be traced back to an owner.  One dog was caught and euthanized, and the other two remain at large.

The surviving animals are being kept inside a locked trailer to ensure their safety.

Watch a video report here.

by No Dogs Allowed

Correction:  This lawsuit was filed by HUD against the University of Nebraska at Kearney, not the University of Nebraska (UN) as originally reported.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is suing the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) for violating the Fair Housing Act after UNK administrators denied a student’s emotional support dog access to the university’s dormitories.

Last month, a federal judge ruled that college and university dormitories are covered by the Fair Housing Act, and therefore UNK officials had indeed violated the student’s rights.

The student in question is Brittany Hamilton.  In the fall of 2010, Miss Hamilton brought her miniature pinscher “Butch” to school with her, and claimed she needed him because he eased her anxiety and depression.  Miss Hamilton and her mother accused the university of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act after officials banned Butch from campus.

Christy Horn, the campus compliance officer, said Butch was denied access to campus housing because he is a pet and not a true service animal.

“In essence, anyone can have their doctor say they are anxious and need to have their dog, cat, snake, or monkey, etc.,” Ms. Horn wrote in a statement to Cheryl Bressington, the campus affirmative action coordinator.

Ms. Bressington agreed, and denied the dog access to university housing because she believed that allowing Butch would “open a big can of worms,” and force the University to allow everyone’s pets.

Butch the miniature pinscher is not a professionally trained or licensed service dog.  He was trained by Miss Hamilton’s mother to put his forepaws on Brittany’s shoulders and “hug” her whenever she is feeling down.