The rain, the park and other things, Part I

The good people of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are predicting El Niño… which portends for periodic warming of the Pacific waters during the winter of 2009 to 2010. What does this mean for those of us who chauffeur our dogs to the Genesee off-leash area? Rain. Sloppy parks. Wet, smelly dogs. Muddy car seats.

Why aren't we deterred from the ugly prospect of wet, smelly dogs dirtying the car seats of our Volvos, Toyotas or Suburaus? (Extra points for those who labs, which can't resist rolling in puddles. And how many retrievers and labradoodles do you see riding in "clunkers"?) It goes without saying that we are certifiably crazy. What wouldn't we do for our four-legged friends and family members. But consider, also, that dog owners -- or "parents" as many of us prefer -- recognize that there are far worse odors that we fear and loathe:

• Enlarged anal glands long overdue for expression.
• Canine ear yeast infections.
• Aqua Velva Musk.

Honoring dogs that served in the military

While a grateful nation prepares to honor our service personnel on November 11, give a moment of thought to the canines who worked alongside our soldiers, sailors and air personnel. About 30,000 dogs served in the United States military during the twentieth century. Dogs have served in the military since the World War I. The old-school dogs performed sentry, guard, scouting and messenger functions.

Consider the story of World War I hero Rags. The small terrier served more than a mascot of the 1st Infantry Division. When members of the 1st Division troops were surrounded by the enemy, Rags imitated the soldiers he saw by crawling along the trenches. The terrier delivered a SOS message -- a note attached to his collar -- to the 7th Field Artillery. Rags saved the members of the trapped unit.

During World War I, Stubby the Pit Bull ferreted out a German spy and held by at bay until relief arrived. When soldiers of the 102nd Regimental Infantry recaptured Chateau Thierry in 1918, appreciative townswomen fashioned a chamois uniform for Stubby replete with ally flags, chevron stripes and a stripe to denote wounds that the pit bull sustained when a grenade exploded.

The military recruited dogs -- including household pets -- to serve in combat situations in World War II. During the Korean War, dogs patrolled warehouses to prevent pillaging and looting. In the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) , military dogs and their human handlers are credited with saving the lives of more than 10,000 troops. An estimated 325 military canines died in RVN. In the Persian Gulf, dogs patrol perimeters and detect explosive devices.

In 2003 National Geographic offered an article documenting feats of the military canine corps:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0409_030409_militarydogs.html

Earlier this year, The Sun detailed exploits of dogs serving in Iraq with the British military:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/article1447714.ece

As did the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/28/AR2009032801045.html

Yankees still suck

There's a difference between "winners" and "champions."

Service dogs: Fill 'er up, check the tires and the fluids

The New York Times ran a story recently about therapy dogs. Once used to assist the visually impaired, contemporary service dogs anticipate seizures and anxiety minutes before onset, maintain the emotional stability of people with psychiatric disorders. The Kreskins of the canine world.

Are these service dogs intellectually gifted or intuitive to their owners' needs? One service dog reportedly possesses a 500-word vocabulary. One border collie knew 1,500 words. That's 624 more words than a syndicated wingnut.

If my dog learned a special skill to improve my life, he'd get to ride Sound Transit for free. Actually, he would have the right merely to board light rail.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/weekinreview/01kershaw.html?em

Lhasa versus Land Rover: Blinded me with science

Who presents the greater threat to the planet: Antonio the Lhasa Apso or the Land Rover?

In their book Time to Eat the Dog? The Real Guide to Sustainable Living, authors Robert and Brenda Vale make the argument that people who love the planet should trade in their dogs for sports utility vehicles (SUV). These authors argue that a mid-size canine leaves a greater carbon pawprint than a gas-guzzling Toyota Land Cruiser. The Vales contend that resources required to feed a dog — including the amount of land needed to feed the animals that go into its food — emit twice the eco-footprint of the manufacturing and fueling a Toyota Land Cruiser.

New Scientist magazine hired John Barrett at the Stockholm Environment Institute in York, UK, to calculate eco-pawprints based on his own data, Barnett's calculations echoed those of the Vales, The conclusion? "Owning a dog really is quite an extravagance, mainly because of the carbon footprint of meat," Barnett told New Scientist.

Seventeen per gallon versus the Kibbles 'n Bits consumer. Vote the dog off the island.

If the City of Seattle took these studies to heart, bureaucrats would pave over the off-leash areas and replace them with parking lots. Put in parking meters, and we reduce the city's financial woes by a grand or so.

But really: Which would you prefer in your neighborhood: A harrier or a Hummer? Would you prefer dealing with the bodily waste that comes from a Weinmaraner or the pollutants from the neighbor's Range Rover?

For the New Scientist editorial:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427311.600-how-green-is-your-pet.html

For a local perspective from the Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010183212_dogcarbon02m.html

Do celebrities visit the Genesee off-leash park?

Granted, our park is located in the lovely Rainier Valley. Most of the people in town view the area south of Safeco and east of I-5 as out of the way as, say Walla Walla or Idaho.

Ten years ago, people would be scared to exit their vehicles if they inadvertently ventured into the valley. Lock the doors, roll up the windows, hit the gas, and make a beeline for I-5! Don't stop for the red light!

That was then, and this is the era of light rail. (Remember, though, that dogs can't ride Sound Transit.) Still, the Genesee park does not seem like a hub for celebrities and their dogs.

By comparison, the Regrade (Belltown) off-leash park drew the likes of the Piano Man and his pug a couple years ago. The Seattle Times reported the sighting so it must be true. It figures that the five-time Grammy winner wouldn't own a prosaic pooch like a yellow lab or a border collie.

Gotta give this much to the Piano Man: He didn't give a second thought to sitting on a plastic, dog-park chair.

Parking woes

The adage that "there's no such thing as bad publicity" gets put to the test.

The proprietor of a hauling and removal business insists on parking his large, unwieldy truck in front of the dog park. This behemoth not only displaces park frequenters -- particularly during peak usage -- but presents a hazard to those parked directly behind the truck and who pull out into traffic.

Granted, street parking is first-come, first serve. And there's nothing in the municipal ordinances that gives parking priority to park users.

But consider this: By parking your hulking truck in front of the park, are you really making friends and creating a climate for future business?

PERSON NO. 1: Wow, we cut down our cottonwood, and have to take the branches to the dump. Who shall we call?

PERSON NO. 2: I see a phone number on the truck that's parked in front of the dog park...

PERSON NO. 1: Not the truck that's always parked in front of the park! I hate that! I'll call Fred G. Sanford first.

PERSON NO. 2: Do we have that card that Lamont gave us? Do you have Aunt Esther's number?

Roll credits.