sorry Code... big difference in body types between a a guarding type of breed and a pointer. You have made up your mind and no amount of personal experiences told to you will change it.
And do I believe that every animal control agency really has the best interest of dogs at heart? No! Sorry, seen too many gung ho in that line of work as well.
Bottom line, dog is fine, and home. No charges brought that I can find....
Dual
Right... but you're completely open-minded, because you've just decided that the baggage handler was delusional, the animal control people were just being "gung ho" and the vet was? and the Tx people... I guess they're gung ho, too? I'm not saying, by the way, that it was a straight-forward abuse case. I'm saying we don't know what it was, but a number of different people who dealt with it were not comfortable just saying "the dog is fine."
Thank you for pointing out to me that pointers are built differently than GSDs, I'd never have known. Except for, of course, the half a million at the dog park and the one that's more or less a nephew of mine. I know some bird dogs that are built very lightly, and others less so. Certainly I would expect one that is active to be lighter, and no I don't think that is easily confused with a dog that is underweight and malnourished, or exhausted and dehydrated from hunting.
I would describe the bottom line a little differently. The dog is home, and being monitored. And the next time that Sparky puts the dog on a plane, I'm betting that he will think a little harder about what shape that dog is in. As might some others. I suspect that's a good thing.
Finally, let me ask you this... Has it ever occurred to you (or anyone who is asserting that this was just a hysterical response to a "fit" dog), that this is something that hasn't happened before? Reno/Tahoe is a major destination for outdoor activities. Do you think that hunting dogs haven't come through there before? Do you think they haven't flown through other airports with compassionate people who love dogs handling the baggage? Why haven't we heard of this happening before? If this person flew his dog in and out for hunting, you can bet others have and do on a regular basis.
Dogs get flown across the country many times every day. Pet dogs, show dogs, rescued dogs, hunting dogs. They get loose, they get lost, they die... we've heard all about it for years. You hear stories on the news and in your own life. Do you hear a lot of stories about baggage handlers refusing to load dogs because of their alarming physical condition? I don't. Never have. Why are you so sure that there wasn't a reason that this happened this one particular time? Are you really so naive that you don't think that anyone who hunts is careless or abusive toward their dog?
susan
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a wabbit, Fuzzy Wuzzy had a dandelion habit! RIP little Wuz... don't go far.
Lot of opinion here from people with little to no experience with working sporting dogs, as opposed to several who actually own such or have direct knowlege. Being acquainted with one or two dogs of a sporting breed which may occasionally hunt hardly qualifies as expertise. How many of youhave even seen one of these extreme athletes in action? You are very obviously clueless as to how they are worked and managed.
No one in their right mind condones animal abuse. None of the posters here who have questioned the actions of the baggage handler and "the authorities" have said that any type of neglect or abuse is okay.
I doubt if any one here objects to the baggage handler's alert about the dog. What some of us object to is that the owner was not notified and his dog was confiscated without his knowllege,vthen an inflammatory article was written that put him a very bad light without the opportunity to respond to these claims. The author of the article never even mentioned that the owner wasn't available for comment or that he refused to comment. Common sense would dictate that his side of the story was not even considered.
There have been photos posted on this forum of sick and injured dogs that could easily be taken out of context and used as evidence of abuse or neglect despite the fact that their owners very obviously love, care for, and protect their pets. Consider the possibility that the same thing that happened to the pointer and his owner could happen to one of these pets, that someone could cry abuse or neglect and have the animal impounded.
The point to objections to what happened in this incident is not that someone was concerned about an animal's well-being, but that it caused the owner time, expense, hassle, and his vilification without grounds. Can any of this baggage handler's supporters say that they would have been grateful if they disembarked their flight only to find that their dog had been confiscated and transported to some unknown location because a random person questioned its condition? Would you be grateful that you didn't know where your dog was or what had become of it? Would you be happy that someone took it upon themself to decide that your pet is not being properly cared for?
There have been several articles published at this point and the owner has not come forward to make any comments. Who knows why, I certainly do not. I think if he had anything to say, certainly he has had plenty of opportunity.
I still count myself as one of the "baggage handler's supporters". I see NOTHING wrong with her being concerned about this dog's well being and taking action.
As to what might happen to one of our dogs if it were sick or injured, well first off we don't fly our dogs anywhere, we have a motor home. We would keep the dog at home or under one of our vet's care to rehabilitate it, so the chances are quite slim of anyone thinking it was neglected or abused. I certainly would not consider flying a dog that was sick or injured unless said flight's was in an effort to save it's life. The unlikely scenario you submitted birddogs is honestly a moot point for us and dare I say many pet owners, especially in the RVing community.
As Susan pointed out a wide variety of dogs get flown daily. I am sure there are many hunting dogs among the show dogs, the dogs coming from breeders, etc. I am willing to speculate that baggage handlers see dogs of all shapes & sizes and most likely in a variety of conditions. What distinguished this dog from the others had to be obvious.
There are times when people's viewpoints vary, this is clearly one of those times. I am always willing to hear (read) the other side but there has yet to be anything said that convinces me the concerned lady did anyone harm while championing for the well being of the pointer.
Times like this it may be best to just agree to disagree.... and move on.
Cat (Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
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Times like this it may be best to just agree to disagree.... and move on.
Good idea. I think it's time to lock this thread in the crate and stop all this growling at each other.. IMO.
Just my opinion, and I hope someone else doesn't have a ego fed attitude with no intelligent rebuttal and call this the most stupid idea ever posted.. Ya' all have a nice day..
Support the Country you live in or live in the Country you support
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John and Elizabeth (Liz), with 3 nutty cats
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An obviously hot topic that I think followed a pretty civil discussion. I think most opinions have been expressed, and in the interest of keeping the peace, I'll close it.
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Ya' all have a nice day..
