Tuesday, January 05, 2010

How much is that doggy in the window?

I don't understand why people bring their dogs to a tennis court when they can't bring them into the courts OR why they think this is of any enjoyment to the dogs. Now granted, they could run around the courts as long as they didn't affect the play but what really would be the point?

This is a picture of a guy's truck who "plays"* tennis at the same place I do. He used to have just one dog (you might be able to see its ear in the passenger-side window. It's a pit bull mix breed and is sweet as can be and seemingly decently behaved. He would bring her to the courts and she would stay along the fence line mainly lying down. She would switch sides every time he would switch (you know, on the odd numbered games like 1-0, 1-2, 2-3, etc.). Anyway, the one in the window is some Chihuahua mix. I thought it was funny, cute...cruel to see it standing on the seat.

The campus where we play put up signs "ABSOLUTELY NO DOGS ALLOWED" on bright, laminated, florescent yellow paper. They posted four signs on the only two entry gates (2 per gate) and then another couple over each sitting area on the courts closest to the entry gates (only two). The reason for this is someone let their dog shit on the courts in a few different places. These weren't little dogs either because the shit piles were the size of a Chihuahua!

Anyway, this guy's dogs now spend anywhere from one hour to three hours in this little truck while their ignorant and thoughtless "master" hits the tennis ball. They bark and howl just wanting attention and to get out and run around but they can't. He does take them out when he's done and allows them to run around and stretch but for those hours they are stuck, yearning to be able to roam...something they could do in their home if they were left there. They aren't suffocating, yet, as it is the winter and they are probably just slightly cold. I may have to make a secret call to animal control or whoever if he maintains this m.o. in the summertime.

So, to all you dog owners out there, I will speak ill of you if you do this with your pets. I know you are afraid....vailwy, vailwy afraid!

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