[RTC List] Condolences

[Rich Kline]

Leaving out the question of whether this dialogue is appropriate for this
forum, I would like to comment on Eureka's dog situation.

I lived there for 11 years, always with large dogs which I walked
frequently. When the dogs were younger and more vigorous, and during
training of them as puppies, I took them to the beach or jetty to run free.
Occasionally, once the dogs were well trained and under control and if there
were no children, other pets etc. around, I allowed them to run free in the
back reaches of Sequoia Park, usually during very early morning hours,
although this was and is against the law. I was prudent and cautious, and
HAD CONTROL of my dogs, thanks to HUMDOG training. I DID NOT allow my dogs
to run free outside of our FENCED yard, ever. Nor did I allow my dogs onto
other people's property during our walks.

During walks in the neighborhoods, my dogs and I were confronted and
attacked numerous times by stray dogs, and dogs which the owners would not
contain or control. I learned where to walk, and not walk, and always
carried the following tools: a stun gun, pepper spray, and a stout walking
stick. During early morning and evening walks, I carried a large "police
type" flashlight. I had a barely legal pocket knife. If California didn't
have overly restrictive carry laws, I would have carried a handgun as well.

I used the stun gun several times to frighten attacking dogs (they hate the
buzzing sound) and once actually stunned a dog who had attacked and rolled
my elderly (16 year old) pooch. I always contacted animal control when a dog
attacked, especially if the owner was belligerant or obviously negligent.  I
worked with the animal control officer to entrap one such owner and bring
him to justice ‹ this was the archtypical antisocial pit bull owner who
allowed and encouraged his dog to intimidate passersby. It took many months
to get his dog away from him, and he probably has another one now.

I had occasion to pull my pepper spray from its holster several times as
well, to intimidate DOG OWNERS who seemed to think it there right to allow
their dogs to threaten and intimidate other dogs and people.

There are many such people in the area, sad to say, and this incident was
probably not the first, nor the last of its kind. "Scooter" or whatever his
name is, is probably in Arcata now, his dog prowling free, searching for
other "prey." I hope someone has the means and courage to stop him, and stop
his dog. 

I live in Oregon now, where attacks of this kind appear to be very rare ‹
Oregon enforces its leash laws, and aggressively confronts transients like
"Scooter."  It has has very lenient weapon carry laws, and allows property
owners considerable freedom to protect themselves and their animals on their
property. There are dog incidents, to be sure, but the police and courts ‹
and the people ‹ seem to have the situation under control.

Humboldt County and Eureka have never adequately funded animal control, and
the courts have allowed abuses of this kind to go unpunished. Californians
seems resigned to an environment that dehumanizes and demoralizes decent
people. Maybe dialogs like this, from a newcomer, will make some of you
realize that you have become hardened and desensitized, or perhaps just
demoralized and intimidated to the point of resignation. My solution to this
kind of problem was to leave.

That's all . . . as you can tell, this story got my attention. And brought
back plenty of memories.

Rich Kline


on 8/20/07 12:01 PM, Michael Welch at mwelch at redwoodalliance.org wrote:

> This was a horrible situation, but I question and disagree with this call for
> donations to this "cause."
> 
> I also felt misled by this writer to discover upon reading the story that the
> "family" member was not human, but a pet (sure, pets are important, but they
> are not immediate family). And I did not appreciate the arrogance of telling
> us "tough" if we felt the post was off-topic.
> 
> Folks should donate to whomever you please, as will I. But IMO I think that in
> this day and age there are a lot more worthy causes than financially helping a
> professional who presumably has the kind of income that goes along with his
> position.
> 
> Humble also blamed the City of Eureka, and according to the article he is
> consulting a lawyer and "seeks redress," so by sending money to Humble, we are
> likely helping him to file a lawsuit against our community (that's "us").
> 
> Sorry, I'd much rather financially help the truly downtrodden than some
> relatively wealthy veterinarian who intends to sue us.
> 
> Tim Mueller wrote at 03:39 PM 08/18/2007:
> 
>> Please forgive me if this post is inappropriate here, but if so... tough.
>> 
>> I'm writing to express my deepest condolences to fellow RTC member
>> Joseph Humble (Business Member: Cutten Animal Health Center) for the
>> loss of a family member last week.  This is what happened:
>> http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_6657724
>> 
>> On top of enduring the unimaginable pain of experiencing such a horror,
>> he's facing over $10K in medical bills.  Even though no one has asked, I
>> intend to make a donation to help with those expenses.  Maybe some of
>> the other members would like to do the same.  I know for certain that if
>> I experienced what he did, I would be consumed by rancor, feeling only
>> enmity towards the world at large, but hopefully he's a better man than
>> I.  Regardless, some support from the community, even just a card, may
>> help ease the pain just a bit.
>> 
>> Godspeed, Chance.
>> 
>> -Tim Mueller
> 
> 
> - - - - - - - - - - - -
> Michael Welch, volunteer
> Redwood Alliance
> PO Box 293
> Arcata, CA 95518
> 707-822-7884
> mwelch at redwoodalliance.org
> www.redwoodalliance.org
> 
> 
> 
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