“walking his Labrador Retriever off-leash”
Nothing to see here. Move along......
“........ because sit happens”
Off-Leash Fascination in Rural Areas
As a trainer I am often asked by handlers why their dogs won’t listen to them when they are off leash. The usual comments I hear are that their dog will ‘bolt’ when off leash or never come to them or just generally show no interest in the owners - preferring to do what dogs usually do and that is wander off, ignore the repeated calling of their name or chase after small animals and other prey (or skateboarders, or cars - you name it, they do it!).
Having originated in the ‘big city’ (Toronto) prior to moving to our paradise in the country, I was clearly unaccustomed to being repeatedly asked why this occurs with their dogs. No one in their right mind would allow their dogs off leash in a city (other than in leash free parks which I am firmly opposed to or in their fenced backyards). As soon, however, as city folk move to the country, they believe their dogs have a god given right to roam freely and be off leash without any regard to their safety. Furthermore, it is expected that their dogs will obey and listen to their every command - as if by magic - just because they are off leash!
I have decided to offer this write-up to both clients and other interested parties because I truly need to set the record straight and explain why this is so patently unfair and, indeed, an exercise in futility (not to mention a dangerous one for the dog itself).
http://www.spiritridge.net/Off%20leash%20fascination.htm
Gee, when I saw Del Mar and Track in the same headline, I thought it had something to do with horseracing.
That is a very sad story. RIP poor fellow.
Up the coast in Bodega Bay an entire family was wiped out because a dog was in distress in the surf.
The dog survived.
Geez, no dog is worth dodging a train.
Like grabbing a football “fumble”, I raced to scoop up my dachshund puppy from being run over. It was close, but I’d do it again.
Retired Political Science Professor Louis Terrell:
http://www.neontommy.com/news/2013/11/obama-in-la-speech-dreamworks-highlights-economy-creativity
“...San Diego State University Professor Emeritus Dr. Louis Terrell, however, said he thought Obama would say something like, “We are moving forward: Less unemployment, stock market up to new peaks. Republicans have only been a negative force.”
Dr. Terrell said Obama is speaking about the economy in a state with and 8.3 percent unemployment rate, Dr. Terrell said, “Biggest State in the Union—California unemployment rate not an outlier. Very appropriate to use California as a launching pad for discussing the state of our country’s economy.””
Here spot. Here spot. SPOT!
Maybe the dog was using the tracks to find the polar axis for his next poop.
RIP
RIP.
The 75-year-old man, whose name has not been released,
This media stunt just hacks me off. How many 75 year old former mayors of Del Mar, CA would anyone know? They've ID'd the victim and yet REFUSE to name the victim because of some stupid journalist rule that says you can't announce the name of a dead person before the authorities do.
If you're going to report the story, either tell us his name or omit that he was a former mayor so that everyone with a 75-year-old family member in Del Mar can be worried about their loved one.
Or maybe it makes more sense to just hold off reporting this for a short time until the identity can be confirmed and then you can do an obit on the mayor.
So sad. Sorry such an awful thing happened. I’ve been 3rd party to such a nasty thing. But not a passenger train! How awful for all the passengers to have this on their minds.
Now I’ll start on my rambling.
Never, ever mess with trains. Especially for a dog. They are much, much bigger and powerful than mere semi-trailers, but you wouldn’t mess with that, would you?
Now, what is it with Labs? Why does everyone think they have a Lab so can let it run free? This infuriates me to no end. Loose dog? It’s a Lab.
No dog should be off lead, especially in reasonably populated areas.
What a shame. RIP.