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July 10, 2009 at 5:58 am #591498
celeste17ParticipantHi all-
I know I am inviting a snark attack with this comment but here it goes.
Please leave your dogs at home this weekend when you go to the street festival. Thursday night it wasn’t very crowded and people had their dogs out. There were children all around and I saw two little girls almost bitten by a dog that got nervous with their yelling and running around.
So that is my comment bring on the snarky comments about being able to bring your dogs any where you want.
July 10, 2009 at 6:26 am #671708
WSBKeymasterAlso note that while last year there was a sponsored rest/play zone of sorts for pets behind Next to Nature, this year there is *not*. Also, WRT the kid zone – instead of it being somewhat “off to the side” on Alaska east of California as in years past, it is more centrally located, in the south half of the Alaska-to-Edmunds block (you’ll see the location of the climbing wall when I publish some highlights from tonight’s setup and Art Walk by midnight). The stage that used to be at that end will instead be where the kid zone was, on Alaska, near the park site, which is home to a fundraiser beer garden. And re: crowds, the music this year has so much buzz, I am certain the crowds will be noticeably bigger.
July 10, 2009 at 8:23 am #671709
JanSParticipantCeleste, quite understand what you’re saying. And for some people(heaven forbid I should mention a gender – lol) it seems to be a “macho” thing parading around with your big bad dog. I’ve always had a problem with that at the Street festival. Yes, you’ll get snarky retorts, but there’s bound to be an incident with that many animals about.Common sense sometimes does not prevail.
I, myself, will have a cane with me – lol…and I know how to use it :) (just kidding, animal lovers)
July 10, 2009 at 2:10 pm #671710
hammerheadParticipantI absolutely agree. I have very well behaved dogs and know one of them does not like crowds. So I don’t bring any of them. Unless a service dog of course.
July 10, 2009 at 2:59 pm #671711
the_urbaniteMemberI would also request that people leave their children at home. I find them incredibly annoying and one time one of them stepped on my dogs paw.
July 10, 2009 at 3:28 pm #671712
sam-cParticipantBrought our dog the first year we went and realized the mistake in that. never brought him again. it’s always so crowded that you either trip people with the leash, or the dog gets stepped on. it makes perfect sense to leave the dogs at home.
July 10, 2009 at 4:03 pm #671713
swimcatMemberAmen Celeste! I’m worried about having to push a stroller through the crowds and may just put my 10 month old in her backpack instead (which can get quite uncomfortable and tiring for me, but out of consideration for others I would do). I just don’t know why people bring their dogs to these types of events. Leave ’em at home!
July 10, 2009 at 4:57 pm #671714
JoBParticipantit’s going to be 80 degrees today…
it’s a good time to leave dogs at home where it is cooler anyway.
dogs get cranky in the heat too.
July 10, 2009 at 5:34 pm #671715
KBearParticipantI probably won’t bring my dog to the festival, because it’s too hot and she doesn’t always mix well with other dogs. But otherwise, I agree with #5. I’d rather see well-behaved dogs at the festival than uncontrolled children.
July 10, 2009 at 5:39 pm #671716
JiggersMemberMy dog has helped me meet plenty of girls….lol
July 10, 2009 at 6:15 pm #671717
jwwsParticipantI wouldn’t dream of exposing my dogs to crowds with children “off leash” running and screaming – whatever happened to the old saying children should be seem and not heard????
July 10, 2009 at 6:29 pm #671718
SarahScootParticipantMy god, I’m so sick of the comparisons that are always drawn between dogs and children. I’m not a huge fan of children in all situations, but bringing one’s dog along everywhere is certainly *not* the same as bringing a child everywhere. Especially when we’re talking about a street festival that heavily caters to children (rides, bounce houses, face painting, etc.) A dog can be left to its own devices at home, at least for a short time. A young child or baby? No way. That’s CPS-worthy for sure.
Complain about ill-behaved children in fine-dining establishments, but not at a friggin’ street fair.
Bottom line: dogs and children are not one and the same.
July 10, 2009 at 6:36 pm #671719
the_urbaniteMemberComplaining about common public behavior (dogs are everywhere in public in West Seattle) is as idiotic as complaining about children in public places, hence my ridiculous request that people not bring their children! If I could I would ban mullets from the festival, but I can’t, and I’m not going to post a request on the blog that people with mullets stay away. I live in the Junction and so does my dog. This is her neighborhood too. She will be attending the festival. Watch out dog haters… she might “almost” maul somebody.
July 10, 2009 at 6:45 pm #671720
SarahScootParticipantYes, dogs are everywhere here – I believe that was the original poster’s point. People around here feel it’s their right to bring dogs *everywhere*, including where it’s really not appropriate or even lawful. I don’t have a problem with dogs in general, but I am allergic, so it’s annoying when I have to leave an establishment because someone walks in with a non-service dog. There was also a big debate on here last year about why the WS Farmers’ Market doesn’t allow dogs – it’s a sanitation and safety issue.
I think it’s great that there are such devoted pet owners, but I don’t support the idea that the dog must participate in everything its owner does.
July 10, 2009 at 6:56 pm #671721
the_urbaniteMemberIf SummerFest were held at a rural fairground that people had to drive to I would totally agree. However, the Junction is an urbanized area where many people live. A lot of the dogs you see live within a few blocks and their owners are simply taking their dog for a walk in their own neighborhood.
July 10, 2009 at 7:17 pm #671722
bluebirdMemberI see sarcasm goes right over some peoples heads. Btw, your child’s diaper sitting in my shopping cart where I put veggies, is so much more unsanitary than anything my dog can do to you.
July 10, 2009 at 7:26 pm #671723
miwsParticipantthe_urbanite, just because a person feels certain venues are inappropriate for people to bring non-sevice dogs, doesn’t make them a “dog hater”. That’s an old, well worn out accusation in my opinion, that always seems to come up in any thread regarding dogs.
One might note, in the various dog threads, that actual dog owners that have a different opinion than the “accuser” are blindly lumped into the dog hater group.
Regarding the Junction Festival, or any event that invites a huge crowd into a relatively small area, the concern of many, including myself, is not only for the safety and comfort of the people, including many excited children, but for the dog as well.
There will be lots of stimulation there, between all of the kids being excited, as I mentioned above, but also from the various food booths around putting out their smells, little kids walking around holding their corndogs, ice cream cones, and such, at head level of many larger sized dogs.
For the record, I haven’t owned a dog in many years. I can’t currently, due to living in an apartment that doesn’t allow pets. Plus, I’m not in the financial situation to give a pet the care it needs and so richly desreves. I am a huge animal lover, and enjoy interacting with them immensely.
As far a you wanting to walk your dog in your neighborhood, there are 362 days out of the year that the Fair is not running, (363 on leap years!) that you can walk your dog through the Junction. And, there are some great residential parts to your neighborhood for dog walking, within a radius of the Junction.
Mike
July 10, 2009 at 7:39 pm #671724
swimcatMemberThe problem with some dog owners that insist on bringing their dogs virtually EVERYWHERE with them is the self righteous attitude and lack of respect for others (which is not evident on this thread but I’ve seen it come out on other dog-related ones in this forum before). When I go to the festival this weekend, I’m going to cart my 25 pound daughter on my back so I won’t run into people with a stroller. The backpack is not comfortable for me, but I’m doing it to be considerate of others. Just try to think of others before you head out to the festival.
July 10, 2009 at 7:43 pm #671725
kgParticipantMike, you blatant use of reasoning might get you elected some day. Watch out. =)
July 10, 2009 at 7:44 pm #671726
flowerpetalMemberI think the issue is not so much about dogs or no dogs but more about well trained dogs and not so well trained dogs. Celeste describes a situation of a dog that may not be so well trained. And I recognize that some dogs have been worked with diligently and cared for immensely (thanks JoB!). And still those dogs might not be good in a crowd. An owner should know that and leave them at home.
But a well trained dog that doesn’t get nervous; doesn’t get his leash tangled; doesn’t get in a snit when a toddler quickly approaches… I would welcome them to an outdoor event such as this.
Its a dog owner’s responsibilty to know what is appropriate; and to have a well trained dog.
My little pooch is extremely well behaved; but I still wouldn’t take her to the street fair. She wouldn’t like it and doesn’t need the attention or pats from scores of people she doesn’t know.
July 10, 2009 at 7:47 pm #671727
maplesyrupParticipantAnybody care if I bring a monkey?
July 10, 2009 at 7:57 pm #671728
flowerpetalMemberMonkey yes, ferret no.
July 10, 2009 at 7:59 pm #671729
sam-cParticipantI’m not a dog hater, I have a dog who is a very much loved part of the family.
it’s because I like the dog that I’m leaving him at home.
plus, if I remember, you can’t take a dog into the beer garden. leaving the dog tied up while you pop into the bakery is one thing. leaving your dog tied up outside of a beer garden for an hour or so that it can get harassed by every person (young and old) that walks by is another thing.
if people bring their dogs that’s fine. personally though, I think our dog would much prefer a trip to a dog park, not a crowded street fair.
incidentally, a woman (last night) had a black lab in the midst of the crowd watching the bubbleman. He was wagging his tail and it kept hitting me in the leg. it didn’t bother me one bit, but she kept apologizing… it’s that apologizing for my dog that I don’t want to have to deal with. but maybe an extreme dog lover would consider everything their dog does to be perfect, including jumping up on strangers. oh isn’t he cute – he just wants to say hello! ha!
July 10, 2009 at 8:00 pm #671730
the_urbaniteMemberI am so sick of this dog discrimination! I feel like Rosa Parks or Harvey Milk having to stand up for the pooch population. Just the other day my pup and I were having a lovely dinner in the bar at AmaAma and some lady came over and asked if I’d go outside with my “mutt.” She acted like I was smoking or something.
July 10, 2009 at 8:07 pm #671731
miwsParticipantm, Thank You for thinking of others, in your choice to “backpack” your daughter, instead of using the stroller. I realize it won’t be an easy thing for you, especially on a hot day.
kg, me, get elected? Yikes!! ;-)
Mike
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