Search Results for 'Qu'

[Shibaguyz]

I will apologize in advance for not having been clear up to this point. I am usually a better communicator than this but it appears that my point has gotten lost and has been summed up for me several times without actually being stated well at all.

I will restate my position about this thread. I do not feel entitled to do anything when it comes to any part of my life. I feel like I have earned the right to do a lot of things in my life but I do not feel like any of it came as part of an entitlement package somewhere along the line.

Being able to take our “boyz” along with us is a privilege that we gratefully acknowledge whenever possible. Yes, we take them just about everywhere with us. If I started a list, it would go on forever. There is, however, no sense of entitlement with that. We always ask an establishment if they allow dogs and we do go to some places without them. However, over the past few years, we have found a surprising number of restaurants, coffee houses, shops and stores that gladly welcome our family.

My issue here is with the West Seattle Market managers and their abrupt change of rules that shocked both us and the other dog families that were left standing on the edges of the market a little at a loss for what to do.

When we asked for an explaination, we were given the run around and told that if we didn’t leave immediately we would be removed. You can go back through this thread to get the entire picture.

I posted here wondering if anyone had any information to share. NOT to say that we were entitled to take our boyz anyplace with us that we pleased despite the wishes of the owner.

I have always clearly understood that the markets are managed by different people. My comparison of the two markets was for the purpose of trying to find out what the laws were in this state regarding outdoor markets.

My questions have now been answered and I will take up any remaining issues with the managers of the West Seattle Farmers Market.

[shihtzu]

I’ve sent requests via the Trader Joe’s website and asked about it at the store. They said not any time soon due to parking.

[JoB]

The West Seattle Blog Forum members are at it again and Mike from PS Key and Lock tells me that he is overwhelmed with the response from the community.

he was there tonight to let us know what was happening and what we could actually do to help besides donate to the bank account that has been set up in his business’s name at Wells Fargo..

As he explained it, his space was 2X4 construction and dry wall over old-fashioned plaster… that made his business a little “easy bake” oven… but confined the fire mainly to his unit.

Unfortunately, it also made the fire pretty hot and besides burning anything combustible, basically fused anything metal.

The landlord will reconstruct the walls of his space… and will make it possible for them to remain in the space… but he will need to build cabinets and counters and get new key machines… as they were basically fused in the fire.

Thanks to this forum, we already have offers to help with his construction.. and tonight we got contacts through the Morgan Community Association to request donations of building material… once we know what will be needed.

There is a possibility that the Association of Locksmiths of America will be able to help them with new machines…

What they need most is cash to cover all the incidentals involved in running a business.

Several of our forum members have donated items for a raffle.. with more already promised by local business owners…

So.. we will be holding a raffle.

We would also like to hold a social event in conjunction with the raffle and will be looking for a space that is available mid April.

Many of you wanted to know what we need.

We need a local non-profit that is willing to partner with us and the Morgan Community Association to put on this benefit… So if you know a group that might be willing to work with us on this event to avoid tax issues… please have them contact us… it’s a good local cause.

We need more items for the raffle.. so if you have ideas there… or know someone who might donate.. please contact us.

We have the beginnings of a great committee.. but we could use your help. We had great input tonight from everyone who attended… and we can always use more.

We are having another planning meeting on Saturday at 10 AM at Uptown Espresso…

Members of the committee will be at work this week and we will start off the meeting with a report on their work.

Hopefully, we will have both a time and space for the event. If our first choice works out.. we will have an activity… if not that will probably still be open.

There is still plenty of time to join this committee… whether you can attend the meeting on saturday or not…

This committee will be doing a lot of it’s planning and business by email… so let me know if you want to be added to that list… I will be glad to pass the info along to our communications person..

we will be asking for real contact information from anyone who joins the committee to keep this project from being hijacked by the unscrupulous.

I will be the contact person since my email is already out there.. so email me at joanne (at) brayden.org.

[Kayleigh]

$500 billion (billions of that $ lost, stolen, or squandered) and 4,000 American lives?

I’m not sure anything is worth that. And I don’t recall it being presented to Congress and the American people as a “generational war”. We were supposed to be greeted as liberators and in and out of Iraq quickly, with our ultra-cool precision weapons technology.

Revisionist history? You bet.

Welcome to the military-industrial complex and a world of perpetual war.

[walfredo]

Jan- an honest question. Would you work for and support Hillary if she won the nomination even though she finished behind Obama in votes, pledged delegates, and contests won?

[TheHouse]

I’m glad that we were able to solve issue for Katydid and I appreciate all of her patience (I got very sick mid-week)and kind comments she posted above.

Jan, if you would like to discuss your question you know how to contact me. It’s most likely a pretty simple solution .

As I have mentioned in the past, I like to keep work and personal time separate. I would never speak on my employers behalf, but if I see a customer in need I feel that it is my responsibility to address the issue. If any of you have specific questions, don’t hesistate to contact me directly (my e-mail was in a previous post) and I’ll address them quickly!

Thanks!

[Tonya42]

My opinion is that history will judge the cost worth the reward.

You know, we need to keep perspective. We’re 5 years into the Iraq War, things have improved to a degree, but it is still ongoing. The current situation could persist for another 10 years, or another 10 months. But the internet and modern media have a way of compressing time, and judging events as history long before the verdict was called. When we look at Iraq 50 years from now, it could been seen as as significant as the Korean War, with which it has many similarities. Or it could be seen as a post-modern Boer War.

It may have been easier to not fight the Nazis in the 1940s. Millions may have died, but millions who did die could have been spared, and the billions of then future people who were yet to be born would not have known freedom.

History judged the cost worth the reward. The same could be said true of Iraq. Or it could not. It is far too soon to tell.

But some things are a simple fact of this war, facts that have come to pass.

The US is in the region, permanently. Ten million people could take to the streets in protest of March 19th every year for the next century. We’re not leaving Iraq in whatever capacity, they better get used to it.Yes I hate to break it to you but Obama himself would not pull the plug.

You don’t build a fortress city, a massive consulate and five major bases capable of hosting strategic airlift sized cargo planes for a short stay.

This is a generational war, deal with it.

Equally, the US military, at high cost, has become wise in the way of asymetric warfare and stability, lessons that will serve them well this century, as Iraq is the template that most wars of the 21st century will look like. Urban, low intensity, asymetric, high tech vs. low tech, uniformed vs. irregular, and innocent civilians as fair game by usually one of the two sides.

So again, keep perspective, and lets figure out a way to make this end on the best possible terms, not just for our interest, but for the Iraqi’s welfare, as they really deserve a peaceful country of their own design.

[JoB]

charlabob…

is it possible that my words are frighteningly articulate because they hold that illusive grain of truth?

You dream of the day i will come around… and i have told you all along that if he is our nominee… i will support him. i just don’t think it is in our best interests to make him our nominee… and i don’t think that will change.

I am not anti Obama. I am anti… Obama the second political coming… because the guy who is being worshiped right now is not someone i can get elected this fall.

And if he’s our candidate.. that will be my job.

It is impossible to get an Obama supporter to admit and realize that this candidate might have faults… and what do you truly expect to happen when they do?

Because, believe me, all of America is going to hear about every single possible fault this fall.

You think Kerry looked wish washy on the war?

How about Obama’s stand that he has always been against the war alongside his printed admission that he didn’t know how he would have actually voted had he been in office to vote at the time?

And the fact that he has voted to support every funding bill for the war since he has been in office?

What about the angry young black man Obama was? …And those angry black men he continues to associate himself with?

Hillary has been quiet.. but the republicans won’t be.

His current remarks about his grandmother and “white women” afraid to even encounter blacks will make some interesting tv moments. they already have. … his ingratitude to the same people will make more… by his own admission, he chose to go live with his grandparents because they would let him do whatever he wanted…

and the mother he calls simply a woman from (some state in the midwest.. my lapse of memory not his)? …

Do you think his dismissal of this incredibly accomplished woman won’t make for more entertaining discussions on Hammity and Holmes? …”Doesn’t look like Obama thinks much of white women” .. he doesn’t even respect his own mother…

how do you think his statement that perhaps he would have concentrated more on the parent who lived than the one who was absent if he had known she was going to die will sound in that context?

there is enough in Obama’s book alone to make for some exceedingly entertaining newscasts…

and that little matter of his associations…

will he be cast as a liar who did know what those people were up to or a fool who couldn’t figure the obvious out?

possibly a fool.. since only a fool would pay $100,000 dollars more for a piece of property than it’s assessed value… 3.5 times it’s assessed value…

fool or liar? … neither looks too good..

but my guess is that they will go for liar… because it will fit the picture they will paint of him.

my guess is that they will portray all those poor Obama supporters as the idealistic fools… taken by a clever con man…

and a lot of them are likely to believe it when the man they thought above all that… is exposed as nothing more than another political hack… working the room on his way to the top.

i know this won’t stop the rants about my giving Republicans ammunition..

but i haven’t given away anything that hasn’t already been available through the media so far…

what i am worried about is what hasn’t been out yet. And you can be sure there is at least something.

The tragedy in all of this is that even if he is elected.. we are unlikely to get the chance to find out if he could have come anywhere close to meeting the expectations he has created.. because, like jimmy carter.. he will be handed an exploding time bomb of a political mess.

I voted for evolution.. because i think a lifetime of working inside the system actually gave Hillary a chance of pulling us back from the brink of the disaster that the last 8 years have created…

you vote for revolution… I don’t use the term lightly… idealism and thought can be more revolutionary than violence… but history doesn’t give up much hope for the ability of revolutionaries to create peaceful prosperity.

And in our society… by the admission of Obama’s own speech.. there is no revolutionary so dangerous as one of color.

I have never been anti Obama.. i just think evolution first would have created a space that revolution could have flourished in… i tend to look at things in the long term…

But this campaign has destroyed any possibility of that…

I think it is time to acknowledge that Obama isn’t teflon.. and that he is up against far more in this election than any Obama supporter anticipated.

Focus on the real enemy… not Hillary … but what he republican machine will make of Obama.

If you can… maybe we will all stand a chance.

[JoB]

i receive both Clinton and Obama campaign material.

So far, i have not received anything from the Clinton campaign which is soliciting republican and independent votes for the democratic primary.

Saying it’s so.. doesn’t make it so.

they do encourage voter registration.. and they encourage those who are no longer happy with their party to register as democrats…

but THEY do not encourage cross registration for the primary for the sole purpose of ensuring Hillary’s candidacy…

while Obama clearly does. Those words are a direct quote from his campaign materials…

i didn’t have to edit them…

the Obama campaign goes about it’s decidedly political tactics… many of them not so clean…

and shout loudly at the “dirty pool” played by the other side… while the republicans rally to his cry… ah.. sweet mayhem.

the Obama campaign uses those pundits to tar Hillary with responsibility for the antics of the same republican pundits…

and thus justifys it’s own dirty tactics with the need to retaliate.

Great gig if you can pull it off.. but not so clean. and not a campaign trick he will be able to use past the primary.

Yes, i am quite sure the Clinton campaign promised Richardson something…. but then…. they aren’t claiming to do anything but run a political campaign.

Imagine that. True transparancy.

and imagine their audacity to continue representing voters like me.

As for what you have seen from Clinton and her supporters.. i challenge you to get yourself a good bottle of wine and actually read the threads here supporting Obama…

It will take just a touch of critical thinking.. but it certainly won’t take long to discover who has been doing the real mud slinging in this campaign.

And sadly, those posts reflect the actual campaign.

If you are going to stand for something.. stand for something.. and stand for something real.

Obama has warts… and every time i have tried to point that out.. all i get is abuse.

The bullinging this campaign has done might be an exceedingly effective caucus tool… and it might even shout the pro-Hillary camp off the blogs and out of the media….

but it won’t work for 10 seconds when the republican political machine starts exposing and magnifying those warts.

And far worse, having the righteous indignation of the Obama campaign turned against fellow democrats isn’t gong to win those same hearts come fall.

This has been an incredibly divisive campaign.. and it is getting worse by the day…

Is this the America you want?

Is this what you think this candidate stands for?

If you actually believe in this dream, perhaps it is time to start living it..

instead of feeding a culture of hate towards fellow democrats … and justifying every divisive tactic as “the necessary price to retaliate against the b…”

Obama’s message is a positive one.. it really is too bad his campaign isn’t.

an inconsistenciy i am certain the republicans will be glad to point out…

[charlabob]

JoB, I wasn’t assigning motives to *you* — your words are not unique to you (though you are particularly, almost frighteningly, articulate.) They are coming hard and fast from all corners of the Clinton campaign. Whenever I reply to one of your posts, part of me says, “Why bother? You can’t say it nearly as well.” You simply made some points which allowed me to say some things that I’ve thought for a long time needed to be said.

I apologize if that seemed rude — it wasn’t meant to be. It was meant to be direct and emphatic. I wouldn’t dream of trying to shut you or anyone else up; I’m surprised you think otherwise. I do dream of the day you come around, but I also dream of being a 21 year-old supermodel. I’m not sure which will come first :-)

I do confess, my new signature is aimed at you. When I feel as if I’m not being listened to, I get a little cranky:

IF CLINTON IS NOMINATED, I WILL WORK FOR HER, AND I WILL VOTE FOR HER.

[JanS]

I think in the end we all (us on here) want the same thing…a democrat for President. We just see different ways of getting there..and there’s nothing wrong with that. JoB, what is “reality” to you may not be “reality” to Charla, or many other people. To me, both of the candidates have both good qualities and bad qualities…whoever the Dem nominee ends up being will get my support.

The “reality” that I see is the Repugs wanting enough infighting amongst the Dems that it overshadows what the real mission is, defeating McCain…and the Repugs are perfectly happy with that, believe me.

[c@lbob]

Latest Gallup Poll shows Obama/Clinton positions back to where they were at the beginning of the month. Obama is ahead again.

“Obama is the choice of 47 percent, Clinton 46, a negligible difference in a poll like this, a March 20-22 survey by the Gallup Poll. The survey confirms Gallup’s finding just before Easter that “Clinton’s recent lead in the race — apparently fueled by controversy dogging the Obama campaign over the Rev. Jeremiah Wright — had evaporated,” Gallup’s Lydia Saad reports.”

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/03/obamaclinton_tie_in_new_poll_p.html

The latest flap concerning General McPeak comparing Bill Clinton to Joe McCarthy is a short-term problem, but should blow over fairly quickly.

To me, the worst thing about it is that McCarthyism is trivialized by it. The worst thing about Joe McCarthy wasn’t that he kept people from getting nominated for President, but that he ruined the lives of thousands of people who were teachers, scientists, actors, writers, and the like; people who couldn’t work in their professions often because of some gossip.

What Bill Clinton has been doing, throughout the campaign, has been to consistently make Barack come out short when compared to someone else. Bill would praise Edwards, Biden or Dodd, but not Obama. When those other worthies were gone, he took to praising McCain over Obama.

Bill knows exactly what he’s doing with his words. He’s not Joe McCarthy, but Lee Atwater would recognize one of his tactics being appropriated.

[charlabob]

OK, watching the Clinton campaign try to demoralize the Obama campaign at every turn is just getting on my nerves. So let me say this in plain English: Obama is going to win the nomination and Obama is going to win the general election. The era of the Republican wing of the Democratic party is over. We put up with dismal nominees for 20 years because we were told “Look what happened to <fill in your favorite semi-progressive candidate>. NOT THIS TIME!

The American(sic) people are ready to be challenged to go beyond “beer with bubba”. They have been since 9/11 or before. And, ya’ know? If they’re not we’re in such trouble that right-wing Democratic band aids won’t help.

I do not understand why there’s not more of a concerted effort to stop Republican efforts to steal the election *ahead of time* by disqualifying or scaring off likely Democratic voters. Could it be because many of the voters they’re targeting are likely to vote for Obama? And the Republican Wing of the Democratic Party doesn’t want that?

Once more: IF CLINTON IS NOMINATED, I WILL WORK FOR HER, AND I WILL VOTE FOR HER.

[WSB]

OK – here’s the answer from the Neighborhood Farmers’ Market Alliance, which runs WS and most other farmers’ markets (though NOT Ballard) — I am rushing out to an appt so not even time to reformat this, just cutting and pasting from e-mail, sorry

======

(this part is an excerpt from a NFMA newsletter last year, according to the spokesperson who replied to me)

Dogs at the Farmers Markets

Every season we get asked why we allow dogs at some markets but not

others.

Shoppers on both sides of the equation (pro-dog and anti-dog) often

have

strong opinions, and many valid reasons both pro and con for including

canines at the markets. Farmers markets in Washington State are free

to

make their own rules about dogs at their markets (in other states, such

as

California, it is illegal to allow dogs at any farmers market). Our

policy

differs from neighborhood to neighborhood based partly on shopper

survey

results and partly on the logistics and setting of each market. The

majority of dogs are well-behaved, but we have had incidents (even

already

this year) of dogs jumping up and eating samples off vendors’ tables,

dogs

getting into fights with each other, and dogs on leashes causing

obstruction

or safety hazards. Fortunately these incidents are uncommon, and

because

the markets are walking destinations and leisurely outings for many,

many

shoppers, we try to accommodate dogs where we can. Of course, service

dogs

are allowed at all markets.

_______________________________

(this was added context from the spokesperson)

As stated above, this issue comes up over and over – people who don’t

think

they should be there tell us to not allow them at the markets where we

do

allow them, and of course vice-versa! It is impossible to please both

sides, and unfortunately it only takes one careless dog owner for

something

unfortunate to happen.

It might be worth noting, too, that last year at our first season at

Phinney, we allowed dogs. By the end of the season, the Phinney

Neighborhood Association decided to stop allowing dogs at that market –

they

felt there were too many problems and the market too crowded. This was

not

our decision, but we have to abide by the rules they set, and they

presumably represent the community in that neighborhood.

=======

–TR

[charlabob]

I believe the point is that we believe independents and some republicans are likely to vote for Obama in the general election, so there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking them to make sure the candidate of their choice makes it to the general election.

I also believe a major difference in the Clinton and Obama campaigns is transparency. Anyone who believes the Clinton campaign is not doing exactly the same thing is, at least, naive. And anyone who believes the Clinton campaign didn’t offer Richardson pretty much anything he wanted to endorse them or remain neutral is equally naive. And I’m being kinder than I feel by saying “naive.”

I hope Richardson expressed interest in the position of Secretary of State. I assume Albright has it sewn up if there’s another Clinton presidency and I would not like to see that.

I began this election season as a DElighted Edwards supporter. When he dropped out, my head said Obama and my heart said Hillary. Every time people asked, I said, “I support Obama now — and every other word I said was in support of Hillary. I was, as JanS says, the ultimate mugwump — and my wump was rapidly tumbling to the Hillary side. It drove the bob half of charlabob nuts.

I have become a passionate Obama supporter because I listened to him (and read what he said and mulled over exactly what Clinton *did*, rather than what fuzzy libs like to think they remember he did.)

90 percent of my support for Obama is based on what I know of him and what I expect from him. 10 percent is based on what I’ve seen from the Clinton campaign and its supporters. Sadly, I know what to expect from them too, and I don’t like it.

BUT I WILL WORK FOR CLINTON, IF SHE’S THE NOMINEE, AND I WILL VOTE FOR HER. (Somehow I feel as if I have to make that my signature, so no one misses it.)

[BB]

We have been using Stella Ruffingtons for a couple years. Tammy (groomer) does a great job and since it is a doycare as well the dogs get to play a little before they get groomed (if you like). The thing I really like is that the grooming stand is out in front and you never see any “forceful” techniques.

[JanS]

JoB…I couldn’t agree more. I get very discouraged about what America listens to, then believes, in the news, on the internet. The media (I know it’s a generalization, and some don’t)slants things the way they want to make it interesting, because if they didn’t they wouldln’t have much of a job. I don’t trust Tim Russert much, and well, Fox, they’re just rumor and hate mongers, IMO. We need to question and dig deeper.

The Repugs will come after us with both guns drawn…and we’d better be prepared.

[Shibaguyz]

Well stated points all. I’m glad this has opened up a discussion like this.

When it comes down to it, we do spend our money at the Ballard Farmers Market. BTW, the West Seattle and University markets are managed by the same folks. We’ve run into this same woman at both. She put her hand up in front of us at the University Market when we tried walking in there with our boys. We needed to finish our shopping so Jason stood outside and I yelled across the booths to him through the fence. We were asked by vendors and patrons why we were doing it. When I made it a point to tell them, the wild haired woman (with a cowboy hat on this time) showed up with some guy next to her to ask us to stop making a scene about it. Then, a police officer on a bicycle showed up to follow my partner around while he “shopped with me” through the fence.

I wasn’t going to drag every incident through the forum here with how we’ve been treated. I did, at first, just want to find out if someone could get more information than we were given. However, talking about it has brought on a renewed sense of peeved off and the social crusader in me is starting to come out.

Yes, I agree that people have the right to manage their businesses as they like. Yes, I understand that some folks have a phobia about dogs. No, it does not violate any health codes. Yes, maybe they do need more space and feel like some people’s dogs get out of hand in such cramped quarters.

If you CHOOSE to not allow dogs in, then at least be able to answer the question when posed to you about why your rule suddenly changed without notice. She said it changed as a result of a “vote by the community.” I explained to her that we WERE the community and knew of no such vote. When I spoke to several of the vendors that we are acquainted with from attending the markets for years now, they had attended no such meeting or voted on anything like that. We asked her when the next “community meeting” was and she flat out refused to tell us anything and said she had to go.

If they do feel like some dogs have gotten out of hand, then have people walking the market to prevent such things. Yes, it is the owner’s responsibility 100% to prevent their dogs from snarking while they are in public places. And, if I had (GAWD forbid!) that kind of dog, I would accept being asked to leave.

I guess the real issue is that I have been dodged by this woman and by the people at the market too many times and given too many inconsistent answers. We still shop for our dog and cat food there in the Junction, and often on Sundays on our return trip from the Ballard Market, so I always make it a point to stop by the West Seattle Market booth and let them know that I am a West Seattle resident that supports another farmers market because of their policies. I also go to my friends at a few of the booths and let them know that I have been to their booths at the other market because I can’t bring my dogs in.

Now… I don’t mean to get on a rant… oh wait… yes I do!! LOL

I mean seriously!! We take our two boys to Tiffany & Co., Macy’s & Nordstrom on a regular basis. We also frequent Pike Place and ALL of the shops and eating establishments there. We always ask ahead of time if they are allowed to come in then we do business with those places that allow us to enter. We have our favorite sandwich shop, a coffee joint, a wine/truffle shop and about a dozen other businesses that welcome our boys with open arms and treats from behind the counter. The one place even ENCOURAGES us to come in because it draws a crowd and he can sell them more of his product. We get a discount if we stick around long enough! LOL

Okay, so maybe now this is a true rant. I just want people to stop jerking us around. Give me a straight, honest, believable answer and I’ll be happy. And… have the human decency to say it to my face instead of avoiding me and lying to me.

There… that’s my rant for now. Thank you all for responding and weighing in. You have certainly made me consider a few other thought paths these folks may have taken. What a great community this is here!

talk to you soon…

Shibaguyz

[Gina]

When the Market first started, there were a lot of people that brought dogs that were perfectly friendly with humans. But were very agressive towards other dogs. What a fun atmosphere with the snapping and snarling of teeth, foam flecking their lips. The smaller the dog, the more agressive. I would quickly pick up my summer berries, and get the heck out of there.

Figured after enough labs ended up with teacup poodles clamped on their throats, there would be some kind of dog ban. You just need one out of control dog to ruin a fun family outing. Keeping the dog by the side, and not 10 feet away on a retractable leash when in a crowd that size didn’t seem to be an option for many folks. After all, it’s their dog, and you should watch for that leash strung like fishing line across the lot.

My problem with pets in public places is the owners. Guide dogs go everywhere, and behave. Pets that people want to go everywhere should be held to the high level of behavior we expect from guide dogs.

My cat cannot achieve that level of behavior, so has to stay home, curled up on the sofa.

[beachdrivegirl]

I have walked there a couple different times for lunch and have been very impressed with their sandwhiches. Also, beofre having company over, a few wknds ago I stopped to get a couple of beers/wines to have on hand. They had one of the best selections I have seen a very long while and the owner was open to getting anyting upon request. It is not quite the same as your typical mini mart but in my opinion that is a good thing. :) I have gone there at least three or four times and plan on stopping by more. :)

[Julie]

Shibaguys, I do understand that you’re asking a limited question about why dogs are banned from the WS Farmers’ Market, and what the law says about this.

But you’ve posted this question in a discussion forum, so, although I have no information as to why or whether dogs may be banned from the Market, I do feel entitled to express my opinion, as a customer, that I prefer people not bring dogs into the Market area.

I don’t object to dogs in general, and there are individual dogs I like. I appreciate the many courteous dog owners who take good care of their dogs, keep them leashed in areas where there are people or wildlife, train them well, clean up after them, do not treat them as living fashion accessories–and don’t insist on bringing them into shops, restaurants, and other areas where there are people who may, for various good reasons, prefer to avoid their presence.

[JoB]

i don’t know if i will be there monday or not.. i am not bouncing back as quickly as i would like… if i’m not, let me know what i can do.

also.. probably goes without saying.. but BPP is a business… support your local business by buying a drink while you are there:)

[Shibaguyz]

We have two dogs and often have a pack of three or four because we socialize our breeder’s show dogs and new puppies. Our dogs are well socialized and we follow the leash laws at all times.

That said, I just want to make a couple of statements about Westcrest and responsibility:

When we are at Westcrest, we set our car alarm when we are there and we don’t go there when it’s dark. We’ve been going there for over a year now and we haven’t had any problems and we are there a few times a week. I have heard that cars get broken in to there but we have yet to have a problem with it or seen anything happen while we are there.

Yes, we’ve seen the creeps trolling around in the bushes and we stay away from those areas. As far as I know, there aren’t any of those folks in the actual off leash areas… none that we have encountered at least.

The responsibility for good dog behavior (and child behavior) lies completely in the hands of the people/parents. We have no hesitations about telling children that they may not run up and pet our dogs without asking first. Then, we tell them how they are to approach them and how they are to pet them. We have also socialized our dogs to the point where they are used to being handled by children and other strangers… that is our responsibility. I can not say the same of the children we encounter almost daily.

It is a regular occurrence for some child to come running up with no apparent adult guardian in sight and try to grab at one of our dogs. I can’t imagine anyone thinking that is acceptable behavior for a child. I won’t go any further with this point because I believe previous posts have covered all of the relevant issues about responsible parenting. I will say, however, that there has been more than one nasty parent who didn’t like it that we put our hand out to their child to tell them not to just grab at one of our dogs. Don’t get mad at me because you haven’t trained your child on how to act in public.

We are probably the extreme case because our dogs can be found shopping with us in Nordstrom, Macy’s and Tiffany & Co. downtown on a regular basis. Knowing we want our dogs to be that much a part of our lives, we have worked very hard with them to make sure they act acceptably in public. Yes, we treat them like part of our family and we are happy to take them wherever they are allowed to go.

However, there are responsibilities we have just as parents have with their human children. We don’t leave their piles laying around when they do go to the bathroom and we don’t let them run wild in areas that aren’t designated for them to be off leash. Even in those off-leash areas, we follow proper etiquette and make sure our dogs aren’t playing too rough or acting inappropriately. This is the same whether you are talking about human or dog children.

All of this debating and fussing back and forth doesn’t make much sense to me. Follow the rules, vote to change them if you don’t like them, use common sense and get some social etiquette. It seems pretty black and white to me.

Just sayin…

[clairdesol]

Thanks for your offer, we found an 800 number for Integrated Fitness, and they sent someone out to do the job. Everything is put together and works fine.

[Shibaguyz]

That is what we thought Kayleigh but there were no such incidences to be found when we asked around. In general, we have seen more children running out of control than the dogs at the market! LOL

Erik, we did the same thing once. We were walking from the pet supply to the car and walked, apparently, too close to the boundary line of the tent. Some woman with a name tag on and wild, curly hair started running toward us and telling us how we could either find another way to walk through the public parking lot the market sets on or we would be removed. Removed???

Again, everyone at the markets knows us because our pups are so unique so I think she saw us coming as “those guys” who keep asking her why we can’t bring out dogs into an outdoor public market.

Here’s an idea: what if we all walked in with our dogs… hhmmmm…