Maybe I am just a liberal... oh yeah, I am, but isn't democracy and America about personal rights. Phil, you say that you don't want your rights to be dismissed and it's your right to enjoy the Public rivers and land without the annoyance of dogs. Fair enough. But what about the rights of dog owners who want to bring their pets with them while they enjoy the same public rivers and land? Who's rights are more important? I believe, and this may really be a stretch for some people, that personal rights aren't about what YOU can do or say, but about YOU accepting the things that others do and say which piss you off or make you mad. Acceptance of other's personal rights and freedoms is the greatest form of freedom we can give to each other. Dogs are on the rivers, like it or not. If you cannot accept that personal freedom being expressed by others than find a sport which doesn't allow dogs... I can think of many off the top of my head which require leaving the dog at home. Otherwise, accept the river sports for what they are dogs included. I agree that people who leave their K9 tied to the back of a truck or in a car while they boat are irresponsible. Probably shouldn't be a dog owner... but labeling of all dog owners or making a blanket law forbidding people to bring their dogs with them is irresponsible as well. Despite your claims, the rights of animals are not picking up much steam, except for in Boulder. If you don't live in Boulder, then your pet is still, by law, considered "property." Doesn't mean that animal control won't take your animal away for brutality or abuse, but unless a city or county has "Tether Laws" roping a dog to the back of truck isn't illegal. There are many municipalities who are trying to change this, but they are running into major legal problems along the way. I agree with your posts that some people are irresponsible dog owners and I am not going to call you names, because that isn't productive. I just hope you realize the irony of your statements. Phil, for someone who has used this thread to champion YOUR rights on the river, you seem very unaccepting of the rights of the OTHER people who call this great country home. But I agree, the name calling isn't good for either side of this debate.
I keep looking in the constitution and in precedent set by the courts to find where it says that you have the "right" to own a dog....i just can't find it....someone help!!!! J ROck this is your specialty so please enlighten us. Maybe show me where it says you can enjoy the "parks and natural recourses" without interference from dogs....
-aaron
P.S. it does say something about being able to own a gun though....backasswards if you ask me.
It's a shame, imo to see the childish behavior shown toward this issue. If you don't want to abide buy the regs for Westwater, go somewhere else or accept the consequences like an adult.
After looking over this thread, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one at work slacking off. Maybe everyone needs to get off the computer and go outside or something. And respect from all sides would be another great idea. Yes there are some idiots out there who take their dogs places and either have no control over the dog or choose to have no control over the dog. Either one is wrong. By the same token, anyone who drives recklessly without a turn signal, cutting people off should be lynched. No seriously, they should. They are just an accident waiting to happen to someone else.
What it boils down to is respect for everyone, including the dogs, and taking responsibility for your actions, before they lead to negative consequences.
Hope all the spelling and punctuation was right, since I'm being graded.
I love dogs...they taste like chicken. General Tso's Chicken.
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I hope in the future Americans are thought of as a warlike, vicious people, because I bet a lot of high schools would pick "Americans" as their mascot. -Jack Handy
I love dogs, but I do agree with Philbob. There are some dogs that I would gladly welcome anywhere I go, including the river, but the vast majority would greatly degrade the outdoor experience for me.
I stepped in dog crap 4 times last year - two times at the Golden whitewater park, and twice while hiking. Once I rode over a pile of crap with my bike, but didn't know about it until I threw the bike in my Subaru and then got to smell it for 3 months. Dog feces is NO LESS disgusting than human feces, and I'm pretty sure it would be a problem if I started craping all over the high-traffic paths, parks, sidewalks, and put-ins, so why do SOOOO many dog owners leave these little land mines to ruin someone else's day?
I also did NOT appreciate it when I was camping a few years back and someone else's beloved pets decided to use my brand new tent as a urinal for the weekend. This is ridiculous, folks, and I find it disturbing that so many dog owners are calling US the selfish ones.
No seriously, they should. They are just an accident waiting to happen to someone else.
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