-sigh- Todlers do NOT belong in dog parks!

[Romy]

I used to volunteer in a community art studio. People thought that meant they could drop off their children (ranging in ages from 2-10) and simply drive away?!?! How stupid are they? Seriously, this is was not free daycare. And being a community art studio there could be who knows what kinds of sex predators and whatnot lurking around.

So we started calling 911 every time it happened. Reported abandoned children. It didn't take long for parents to get the message.

I am convinced this is a much bigger problem than people realize though. My sister does amptgard (sp?). Her husband was doing a mock battle, and she was at work so one of the moms there offered to watch their 10 month old daughter for them. Anyway, he got done, went to pick up his daughter, and was like "WHERE IS MY BABY!?!?" She just shrugged and said, "oh she went off to play somewhere, it's fine." Her year and a half old son was also missing, at a public event with hundreds of people and she didn't even care. Anyway, my brother in law finally found Cadence, and the stupid woman's son in completely different places trying to eat crud off the floor. Everybody in our family is ready to kill that woman, good thing she lives in Alaska. What kind of person lets a 10 MONTH OLD wander off?

 

[709Juggalette]

I am teaching my 3 yr old to respect animals.
We have kittens,rats,mice,a hamster,guinea pig,reptiles,fish and inverts here,as well as foster dogs (beagles and greyhounds) and I am showing Chloe (daughter) how to respect other living creatures.

Just yesterday we were out walking and there was a strange dog tied up.Chloe wanted to go pet him,but I had to tell her that he was a strange dog and we couldn't pet him because we didn't know him.She was fine and happy with that.The little dog looked friendly enough,but you just never know.

My daughter grew up around animals,so she is quite respectful.I see some kids her age terrorizing animals and the parents think it is funny or cute.Chloe knows better for the most part.Sometimes she will do something that she doesn't think will bother the animals,but I immidiatly make sure she stops.

 

[Storee's Mom]

I should have specified....

With my dog, I would usually just explain that he was getting old and had back problems, and sometimes was sore and tended to snap because of the pain (of a four year old trying to ride him like a horse).

With my own son, he's not quite at the age where he'd get 'respect' the strange doggie, so I tell him other dogs don't like kids, which he gets better..

I agree you don't want to go around saying your dog is aggressive, but with clueless people sometimes you do have to be blunt. We have very simple rules at work, drop off times and just bring kibble in daily ration bags. Only half the people seem to get it somewhat right...

Lana

 

[SizzleDog]

Thank goodness I haven't seen any children at the dog parks I frequent - idiot adults yes, idiot adults with children, no.

I still remember the time Ilsa and another dog were doing zoomies at the dog park back home, and crashed into a little kid who was walking *all alone* in the middle of the park - the little girl (couldn't have been more than 3-4 years old) went FLYING up in the air, then somehow landed on her butt (lucky for her). Immediately started crying, I was scared to death the parent was going to blame my "big mean Doberman" but thank doG the mother owned the dog that Ilsa was doing zoomies with!