It's like anywhere else... some miserable people scowl at you as you are out walking with your beloved 4 legged companion and others stop, chat, pet, scratch and talk doggie talk... ignore the miserable ones and enjoy the friendly ones.

Rod Serling did a great Twilight Zone episode based on this.... anyone remember it?

Thanks for the encouragement, information and warm welcome to TV! It can't be soon enough for me to pack us all up and get out of the frozen tundra of New England. Chelsea, does your husband practice in TV? Kathy, Ronda, Barefoot, and others....your great! Thanks for putting my concerns to rest. Now, I just need a map of where the dog facilities are. Does such a thing exist? :) Enjoy the sunshine, you lucky "dogs".

How about on your own property?
 

Just asking. If you create a small area where your dog(s) can "go" in your yard, won't that make everybody happy? After Bowser has finished, you can pick up, & walk him. If he gets the "urge" while on the walk, have your baggie ready (of course this doesn't apply to urine) & for gosh sakes, keep him off residential lawns. No problem.
P.S. I have seen dogs "go" on the side of the road, not on peoples' grass.

Dogs rules
 

we have friends who have an electric fence for their dog and love it. Most people do pick up after their dogs. it's the ones that don't that cause the problems and that is when arguments start. You sound considerate and concerned so i'm sure you'll have no problem

He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.) When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog."

- Gene Hill

Sorry, but just because somebody doesn't stop and scratch your pet and "talk doggie talk, does not make them "miserable." When we meet, I will be happy to show you the scars on my right wrist from childhood when I was encouraged to pet a "friendly dog that would never bite anybody." And, perhaps you may meet our daughter who's wears a scar on her upper lip from the dog of her best friend when we lived in Kansas City. The dog was "just playing" when it snarled and leaped at her. Over our protest, the Johnson County Kansas, animal control officers quarantined their dog for 30 days. Not everybody loves your dog like you do. Why do you suppose that nearly every county in the United States has a dog leash law. My guess it is to protect people from "friendly" dogs.

dog talk
 

thank you to the talk host for that post. Yes us non dog owners are NOT miserable. Matter of fact we may are VERY happy. We don't have to run home to let the dog out. We can come and go as we please all the time without worrying oh i can't i have an animal. We don't have to vacuum up hair all the time or worry about the vet bills. We are very happy and very active and love our life in the Villages!!! Finally, someone who has common sense speaks up. All we ask is you respect our rights and keep your animals on YOUR property and off of jumping on us. . I myself as a child was bitten by a dog and never got over it. As much as people love their animals (and i can appreciate that as a previous dog owner) they are still an ANIMAL, NOT a human being. i much prefer the company of another person to chat with over a nice cup of coffee and the free time to spend my retirement running, joining all the clubs and doing everything i never had time to do while working. That to me is my Dream Retirement, not having to walk a dog and picking up dog crap. I have much to many other things to do here in the Villages. That is why i moved here. There is so much to do and frankly i don't have time for a dog. i want to play myself!! ok gotta run. Time to dance!!

Dog Lover Here!
 

While I can appreciate being afraid of a dog if you've been bitten, again, people are usually bitten because of an inattentive owner or misbehaved child. My hubby owned a Veterinarian practice for 35 years and I can tell you more times than not, it's a "human's" fault that they or their child was snapped at.

As far as pets go, yes, they are ours and we love them. But, in the same vain, although I have children, I feel the same way about people shoving their grandkids in my face. No! I don't always think they're cute and NO! I don't always want to hold them or even know them. So, Novelchick, with this in mind, should I ask people to lock up their grandkids when I come over??? :shrug: Should I tell them "not interested" when they drag out the pictures???:shrug: I don't think so. I respect "THEIR" love for that child.

I, personally could not be friendly with a person that does not like animals. I've always been extremely proud of my husband's profession. As much as any doctor or nurse, he heals the sick. Possibly more difficult because the patient can't actually tell you what's wrong!

So, in my opinion, I would not even have people in my home that did not love animals and respect my love for mine. ;)

dog owners vs non dog owners
 

hi chelsea i'll try again to explain my position on this topic. First of all, i have seen through my life experience that most times when someone is bitten it is the dog owners fault. If the dog is properly kept on a lease, not roaming around no one gets bitten. When a child is around a dog (WHICH IS A ANIMAL)the dog should be put away. That's a no-brainer. Children might pull at an animal by mistake and the dog can snap. how many times have people been bitten by pit bulls when the owners says "oh they never bit anyone before. They are still an animal. Take it to court, you lose!! You are responsible for your animal all the time!! Anyway, putting that aside, you quoted you could Never be friends with someone who does not LOVE animals!! Could I be friends with someone who LOVES animals!! YOU BET i could. Why? Because i Love the person for who they are, IF they are thoughtful and kind. Just because you love an animal and i don't doesn't make you better or me worse. I love people!! Would i be there for you (when i'm your friend) and you need me?? I sure will be. i can listen to your broken heart, share stories, help you when your ill, etc... which your doggie can't do. I can take you to the Dr., laugh with you, cry with you and enjoy life together. You compared a dog to a grandchild which really isn't a good paragon but here's the difference. When you visit my home when my grandchild is here, i dont' let my grandchild crawl all over you, spit on you, jump on you, or ask you to hold him. He is not put away (after all he is not an animal ) but we can occupy him with cartoons, coloring books, toys, etc that keep him occupied while you and i chat over coffee. His Mom and Dad take him out or watch him so it's not even an issue!! I raised my children to have respect for others feelings. If you have grandchildren and enjoy talking about them then we may. If you dont' have grandchildren I don't go on and on about mine!! We find other common interests we have and talk about those. I smoke. would i smoke in your home?? absolutely NOT. do i smoke when you visit me?? absolutely NOT If you don't smoke, i'll go outside a few minutes If i just can't wait for another cigarette( but i don't smoke that much that i can't) I usually wait. The bottom line is all non dog owners ask is that you be responsible for your dog. You choose to have an animal and i'm sure you love your animal. But when you have guests is it too much to ask that you put them away so they don't jump on us, sniff our private areas, get hair all over us, and distract us from spending quality time with you (my friend)? If that is too much then i guess we can't be friends. Because that is where i'm respecting you but your not respecting me. And what a loss for you. Because you will never meet someone who would be a better friend than me. I won't bore you with my grandchildren pics if you don't bore me with your doggie pics. I've been there, done that. it's over. Now that we finally retired it's our time to play, join everything, not be tied down to our kids or animals. That is our Dream retirement. Maybe someday when we're home more we'll want animals. But now we are so busy we don't. so if you really read into what i'm trying to explain (instead of getting defensive) you will find i can be a wonderful friend. I love everything about life, the villages, and being retired. I have a million things to share and talk about. But if your life is ONLY your dog then you lose out on so much more in life!! People are wonderful. Dog owners and non-dog owners!! Just respect each other. Stop and think next time you have friends over. say to yourself i wonder if i should put my dog in another room for awhile just in case it bothers suzi. and then we can spend some quality time together and talk about similar interests we share!!!! Give people a chance!! Don't close the door on them because they don't want to hear your doggie stories. They may be the most kind wonderful generous considerate friend you'll ever have!! And if you don't let them in because they don't LOVE animals like you do, you will never know what you lost out on. Because even though your doggie may give you unconditional love, so will a best friend!! And even better, they can hug you, hold you, and listen to you unlike an animal!!! Enjoy your animals but get out there with all kinds of people!!! That is the fun of living here. Learning all about others lives, what they did, what they are like, etc.. and put the judgement aside but most importantly learn to RESPECT others and we all get along!!! Have a Happy Day!! Now i'm off to next a exercise class and then dinner with friends and i can stay out as long as i want. i don't need to worry about getting home to let an animal out!! And i LOVE my Life and could not be happier!!!

Novelchick.

I am trying to think how to begin. I am an animal lover and I also love people very much and am blessed with wonderful friendships. The animals in my life and in my friends lives add a layer of richness to all of our lives. I have friends who fear and as a result dislike dogs and cats intensely and that is a pity. Sometimes that attitude comes from a bad and frightening experience as a child and sometimes it is from their parents fears. I don't think everyone should be a pet owner just as I don't think everyone should be a parent. I have never been bitten, my daughter was when she was at college and went to pet a dog tied to a post outside of a store. She never thought it was anything but her fault for going up to a strange dog and trying to pet it.

Not very often does an animal jump on me or sniff me when I go visiting. None of my friends bore me with their dog tales or their dog pictures. I am a VERY grown up senior and I personally can only think of one person that I knew in my life beside my daughter that was bitten by a dog.

I just want you to know that most of us do have very full lives and do not obsess about our animals, we just love them and they are sweet and giving back.

Part of the joy of the Villages for me is seeing the doggies walking their humans down our street and in the squares. But that is me.

I don't have dogs, just two counter walking cats.

Wow!
 

Novelchick, take a breath! :shocked: I never said I didn't respect your opinion, so please don't take mine as defensive or disrespect it. Where you got the idea that my life revolves around my dog is beyond me??? :shrug: I don't even have a dog!

Again, I will state, that for me and me alone.... I have never trusted anyone that does not like animals. It's that simple. I'm not saying someone has to own one at all to be my friend. That would be ridiculous! And please remember that fear and dislike are two different things. However, you do seem to have a lot of rules for animals, so perhaps it is better that you don't own one.

Good luck to you with your "dream retirement". I hope you enjoy many friends, clubs and happy gatherings as I do. ;)

Hmmmm...If I were an animal, I would certainly choose to live with chelsea where I would feel very welcome and loved.

Advice from my grandmother.
 

On the same subject, kind of.....

My grandmother told me when I was young that when I picked a husband I should chose someone that was kind to old people and to cats.

I did. It worked out well. However we haven't been married that long....only 47 years.

Grace, my boys have used a similar test. Anyone they have dated must pass the "Tucker" (our little Yorkie-Poo) test. They go by "Love me, love my dog" and so far it has worked out well for them!

I have always had pets and can not imagine life without at least one. My Lila, adopted 2 years ago when she was 10 when no one wanted her, including the owners who were tired of caring for her, is such a sweet happy dog. I literally saved her life. She is no hinderance on my active lifestyle, takes me 10 minutes a day to care for, at most, and gives unconditional love. I have a 20 foot lead that I put her on from my lanai. She does her business in my yard and comes right back inside.

A neighbor accused neighborhood dogs of ruining his lawn. Grumbling and complaining to everyone. My dog never went on his lawn. I actually never saw any animal on his lawn. He would shout at people to cross the street and stay away from his yard......Well so much for his theory, his lawn guy told me had GRUBS!!! Grubs killed his lawn!

My parents had pets, my children have pets and my granddaughter knows not to grab, pet, pounce, or poke any animal that we don't know. A provoked animal will react. A loved animal will return that love 10 fold.

If you don't accept my dog, don't come over. My Lila will not be shut in another room. Sorry!

Boy I don't know Blondie. Earlier she said she was thinking of putting a pillow over vetmans head.

I had a whole litany of items written but thought it best to erase.

I will always have an animal. In fact an animal, yellow lab, attended the Presidential Ball tonight for wounded veterans. It seems he was escorting a Marine Master Sergeant.

The Few
The Proud
The United States Marines

Good post F-16....You know Novelchick our little Prancer below is three. She never knew the life of a puppy, in fact a little over 4 months ago she was racing in Alabama. She spent the best part of 20 hours a day, every day, locked in a crate lined with shredded newspaper. Would I or my wife run home to let her out...I would give up a night at the Oscar's to get home and let her out. God gave us Prancer and I won't let God or Prancer down.

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/o...081207_114.jpg

Great neighbor you got there Talk Host!

The s**t on the doorstep may be one way to handle things. And it might even work. But I think getting The Villages involved might be a better way to go, at least to start with.

The Covenants and Restrictions have a restriction on pets that reads, in part:
""Only domestic pets are permitted and they shall not be allowed to make any unreasonable amount of noise or create a nuisance..."

I think it is a monumental nuisance when a pet craps on neighborhood properties and the owner sneers at the rules and the neighbors. If indeed that goes on with regularity it becomes an issue that can harm the image of The Villages, in addition to depriving you and your neighbors of enjoying their property.

How about getting the neighbors to start sending the Deed Compliance people letters every time this happens? If there are enough folks affected, I cannot imagine The Villages sitting on their hands. They have too much at stake here to ignore that kind of thing. It might be worth a try.

I just don't understand a neighbor who has no problem with being the scourge of his neighbors. What a way to live. The jerk needs to be throttled one way or another IMHO!:cus:

I'm not in TV yet, but it seems like allowing your dog to leave its business on someone elses lawn should be littering. If it were considered littering couldn't the person be fined? Is littering illegal in TV?

It seems like a really simple problem to solve if it were against the law.

As far as placing a dog in another room of my house while guests are visiting, there would have to be a legitimate reason, ie. allergies, deathly afraid of dogs, an illness, something good... I respect my dogs WAY too much to leave them cooped up in another room while I'm having friends over. Yes, dogs are not humans, but they deserve to be loved and included in what happens in their homes.

Fences?

Julie .. :agree: ... I totally agree.

Chelsea .. :agree: ... You make some excellent comments.

GGirl .. great way to choose a mate! And it worked for you .. wow .. 47 years! In my humble opinion, an animal lover is usually kind, flexible, patient and has a sense of humour. All excellent traits in a husband!

dog rules
 

Putting your dog in another room of your nice cozy home for awhile is NOT considered "CRUELTY" to the animal, just "CONSIDERATION" for guests visiting!!

"Common sense" isn't common anymore!!!

I don't understand what dogs do that would want you to place them somewhere else when you visit. I visit friends who have a dog named Tucker who now comes up to me and says Hello by looking at me expectantly for a little pat. He wants to sit on my daughters lap, lucky her. I hope that my friends don't read this, but I go to visit Tucker as much as to visit them.

I agree, GG, to me pets are members of the family....I wouldn't put a member of the family in another room....unless...as a responsibile pet owner, you know that the pets don't handle company well....so...they may be put in another room......some kiddos aren't well behaved either, and it is up to the parents to handle that appropriately as well.

Pet Rules
 

Do you live in Villa Alexandria, sounds just like my neighbors. Don't like my dog, my Harley (that's still up north) or my truck! :shrug:

I love animals and expect to interact with my friend's pets when I visit them. Not all guests to a home want animals locked away. So it isn't common sense to do so.

If I have contractors in my home, I ask if they are OK with dogs. If they say no, I would put the dogs outside for a short time in the fenced yard.

Most of my friends are animal lovers, and relaxed people. They know when they visit my home that my animals will be around. They also know they are welcome to bring their doggies for a visit any time.

Everyone has their own style of living. And so it is.

disagree
 

I'm afaraid I have to disagree with you Novelchick. My dog is part of my family unit and I will not ban him to a room when company arrives. He would probably approach for a sniff ,perhaps expect a pat and then ignore the company for the remainder of the visit.
Common sense only applies when someone is afraid of dogs...then I would not have my dog around during a visit...if you simply do not like dogs then it is your choice on whether or not to visit a dog owners home.

dog rules
 

i do live in a villa but not alexandria. Will repeat one more time than i'm done. i don't understand what dog owners do not get. ?? When we visit you your dog jumps up on us first of all, then he rubs all over us, then when we're sitting at table he comes up and sniffs our PRIVATE AREAS and we go home with HAIR all over our outfits. and really i dont' want to be Rude but alot of times dogs smell. i think when owners have them so long they don't smell them anymore. they are so used to the smell. i would not allow my grandchild to jump on you, rub all over you and pull at you etc... That is all i really have to say on topic. Dog owners will never get it. They put their animals ABOVE people !!! And i have to say this, while at square last week i saw an elderly gentlemen walking and he almost tripped over a dog lease!! just wait till that happens. i can see a lawsuit coming. Dogs do not belong at the square - square is for people, dancers, visitors. That's why we have a doggie park. ok gotta run - time for a card game with friends and considerate ones at that.Everyone have a good day. i'm done posting on this topic.

Common sense is not common anymore!!!

:agree::agree:Right on, Girl!

dog rules
 

Well, Novelchick...I guess we will have to agree to disagree...You obviously do not wish to interact with animals and I cannot imagine being without them.

FYI....my dog doesn't jump or sniff in inappropiate places. Like everything else in life there are responsible animal owners and irresponsible same.

Also, consider the many animals that are in service to disabled folks who's lives would be so much more difficult without them.....perhaps a few dog and cat hairs are a small price to pay for independence and freedom. Not to mention the service animals that visit nursing homes and hospitals. Studies show that the positive effect of those visits are immense. All the more reason to love our 4 legged creatures.
Just my opinion.

Rules for dog owners
 

Also the ones serving along side our protectors whether it be a local police man or woman or seving with our military men and women. They too are putting their lives on the line to protect ours

I again remind you all of Rod Serling's commentary on this topic in a Twilight Zone episode about 45 years ago....

dog rules
 

Oh My God thank God for service dogs!! of course they are wonderful!! and our K-9 units. Fabulous. But we're not talking about those cases nor the cases where dog owners ARE Responsible. Only situations where someone may have a Huge dog that does sniff peoples private parts, and those that do jump up on you and scratch your legs. That is all i'm referring to. Being a previous dog owner myself i don't in the least hate dogs or animals. I'm just talking about responsibility that comes with the animals and that means training them to NOT jump on others or just putting them in another room if they do annoy your company - that's all!! Nothing else. Just consideration of others feelings!! Nothing more - nothing less. I loved my previous dogs but always trained them NOT to jump on others nor annoy others but that is just me!! All that training of animals takes time and some aren't willing to put the effort and if that is the case those folks should not own an animal!! someday down the road though when I have time i may own another pet. But now life is too great in the villages and too busy to run home and let a dog out!! Have a wonderful day everyone and it's ok to agree to disagree!! bye bye

My dog
 

Since I have three cats I have only a virtual doggie right now. He is a cutie though and well behaved. Ill share with you:

:click:


http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf


:girlneener:

Omg!
 

VK! I love this pug so much! He looks so much like Earl, the pug I used to have! awwww. I miss him. I have to get another! :laugh:

Three topics are always guaranteed to get people's dander up. Politics, Dogs and the POA! :undecided:

Many of us who own pets consider the animals to be part of the family. Some visitors expect to have pets locked away when they visit, or they feel that their hosts are being inconsiderate.

Just because we have different opinions and values, it doesn't make anyone inconsiderate or lacking in respect.

WELL SAID BAREFOOT. You hit the nail on the head! AVOID getting worked up over PPP. Politics, pups and the POA! Life is way toooooo short!

VK
Can I borrow your pug sometime? He is adorable! Can't believe I'm saying this but after 2 years I guess I've forgotten how much it used to bug me....I kinda miss the slobber all over my front door's sidelight windows that my dog used to leave.

Keep your hose handy and give the delinquent's a squirt when they come by. It worked for me many years ago with my neighbors two barking dogs. She got tired of drying them off. She never said a word.