-----Original Message-----
From: Jamie Sculerati <jamies@mrj.com>
To: autox@autox.team.net <autox@autox.team.net>
Date: Saturday, March 17, 2001 4:29 PM
Subject: Re: Pets NOT allowed....
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Rocky Entriken <rocky@tri.net>
>
>> Kudos and huzzahs to the site owner!
>>
>> Autocross sites and race tracks are not meant for furry animals.
>
>Nor, from past discussions, are children, and spectators are just
tolerated.
>I guess it's lucky they let drivers and cars on site.
>
>Just like everyone is responsible for their own behavior at an event, so
are
>they responsible for the conduct of accompanying guests, kids and pets.
>Anyone who can't control one of the above should be prepared to remove
them.
>I'm sorry you were bitten, Rocky, but the responsibility there lies with
>whoever brought a poorly-trained mutt to the event.
Thanks. And I agree with you about whose responsibility it is, and if
everyone were responsible and all dogs were well trained there would be no
problem. My dogbite, in fact, turned out to be a great example of
irresponsibility -- not only of the moment where I was attacked, (which
ended up delaying the event -- I was walking to my car which was first in
line to go out at the time) but also afterwards in a failure of the owner to
follow through to ensure I was not harmed more seriously (ultimately, I got
him in trouble with his local health authorities).
Ultimately, IMHO, nobody *needs* a dog at an autocross (or road race). They
are usually brought because it is more convenient than arranging some care
for them at home. And most of the time the time away for an autox is no more
than the time away going to work, so what's the big deal about leaving it at
home? Do you bring a dog to a play? A movie? A concert? Work? Ballgames?
Museums? Amusement Parks? Or, even a race if you are sitting in the
grandstands? Then why must it be brought if you are a participant at the
motorsport contest?
Do you see baseball players in the dugout with their dogs? Football players
on the sidelines? Actors in the wings? PROFESSIONAL race teams in the
pits/paddock? You didn't come to the event to play with your dog, you came
to play with your car. So did I, and I take umbrage when your dog interferes
with that. (note: a generic "you" -- no one in particular here).
We're not talking about guide dogs or helper dogs here, we are talking about
animals that are strictly pets -- animals often NOT well trained much beyond
not peeing on the furniture. Restraint (barking, biting) is not a hallmark
of such animals.
--Rocky
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