[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

And I think there is something very odd about people who don't like dogs.
Just one humble opinion.

I think our daughter is following the family tradition.
Meet our Granddog.



Lou

[tainsley]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

Guilty. My dog treats me better than most people.

Mine too!

[tainsley]

Originally Posted by DougB

I'm with you! No telling what kind of disease a dog can get by drinking out of a people water fountain!

Funny!

[graciegirl]

Sometimes it needs to be pointed out that we focus on something odd that doesn't happen often to use it as a way to argue. An isolated and very rare instance. How many have ever seen a person lift their dog to a water fountain? How frequently do we use water fountains? And if WE DID follow a dog to the fountain it wouldn't kill us or even sicken us, it offends many and rightfully so. But what does Rubicon call the debate term where we use a miniscule ugly thing to make a point?


We know that the animal folks, the dog and cat owners FAR outnumber the others both here and in the whole of the United States and Europe. That says something about the human race and their instinctive need and enjoyment of little furry friends.


And just for argument, how many in their lifetimes have become wet all over in a swimming pool. Swimming pool water that touches our lips also swishes in and around other body parts.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by Happinow

I don't drink from public water fountains, swim in public pools or get on any of the hot tubs. People, in general are gross. And it has become apparent that many people do treat dogs better than humans. I give up.

I tend to agree . Yuck!


What if someone had visiting toddler grandchildren, who always need a sip or two from the water fountains..............?????
(That's if their personal sippy cups went dry after touring around TV in their strollers; it happens).


People should be more considerate of humans and particularly children.


I could write a book about neighbors up here who treat their pooches like children/babies and let them run free without cleaning up after them....but have never seen one drinking out of a water fountain (for people). Double yuck.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Sometimes it needs to be pointed out that we focus on something odd that doesn't happen often to use it as a way to argue. An isolated and very rare instance. How many have ever seen a person lift their dog to a water fountain? How frequently do we use water fountains? And if WE DID follow a dog to the fountain it wouldn't kill us or even sicken us, it offends many and rightfully so. But what does Rubicon call the debate term where we use a miniscule ugly thing to make a point?


We know that the animal folks, the dog and cat owners FAR outnumber the others both here and in the whole of the United States and Europe. That says something about the human race and their instinctive need and enjoyment of little furry friends.





And just for argument, how many in their lifetimes have become wet all over in a swimming pool. Swimming pool water that touches our lips also swishes in and around other body parts.

If the worst contact with germs is being kissed by a dog, Thank God for it.


Bump

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

If the worst contact with germs is being kissed by a dog, Thank God for it.


Bump

Wasn't there a saying about a dogs mouth being cleaner than a man due to the enzymes in there saliva?

[shcisamax]

Well

[senior citizen]

"A dog's mouth contains a lot of bacteria," confirms Dr. Gary Clemons, a veterinarian in Milford, Ohio. "Remember, a dog's tongue is not only his wash cloth but also his toilet paper."


'''If you don't mind my falling back on a gut feeling, I'll conclude by reiterating that I have personally witnessed a human being allowing a dog to lick the inside of his mouth, and it was... unpleasant to behold. Say what you will about the relative cleanliness of the canine mouth vs. the human, I'd rather be French-kissed by a human being than a dog any day. I'm just fussy that way'''


http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/dogs/a/dog_breath.htm
Is a dog's Mouth Cleaner than a Human's?
Very interesting reading.....esp for a rainy day.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

"A dog's mouth contains a lot of bacteria," confirms Dr. Gary Clemons, a veterinarian in Milford, Ohio. "Remember, a dog's tongue is not only his wash cloth but also his toilet paper."


'''If you don't mind my falling back on a gut feeling, I'll conclude by reiterating that I have personally witnessed a human being allowing a dog to lick the inside of his mouth, and it was... unpleasant to behold. Say what you will about the relative cleanliness of the canine mouth vs. the human, I'd rather be French-kissed by a human being than a dog any day. I'm just fussy that way'''


http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/dogs/a/dog_breath.htm

Is a dog's Mouth Cleaner than a Human's?
Very interesting reading.....esp for a rainy day.

Yikes. I am going to give Mr. Buster some list ermine.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

Yikes. I am going to give Mr. Buster some list ermine.

Please give Mr. Buster a big sloppy kiss--from me. He's the king of the seniors.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Please give Mr. Buster a big sloppy kiss--from me. He's the king of the seniors.

I will. He is having his morning egg. One fried with just a little butter for flavor.

Hope no one notices he is licking my breakfast plate.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

I will. He is having his morning egg. One fried with just a little butter for flavor. Hope no one notices he is licking my breakfast plate.

I love your Mr. Buster stories and pictures.

[Taltarzac725]

Investigation finds filthy spouts on public drinking fountains | Toronto Star

I usually carry a clean bowl for my dog to drink from after I get some water from a drinking fountain stream without touching anything else.

“You’re increasing your likelihood of a harmful exposure,” water expert Marc Edwards of Virginia Tech told the Star. Pregnant women, children and people who are sick would be most vulnerable, he said. Harmful pathogens that could live on fountain and cooler spouts include e-coli and legionella, which can cause gastrointestinal problems and pneumonia-like symptoms.


Edwards is hailed across North America for his work in ensuring the safety of public drinking water. His research linked several cases of lead poisoning in the Washington, D.C. area, thought to be caused by paint, to local tap water. Lead service lines throughout the district were replaced because of his findings.


Half of the drinking water spouts tested in the Star’s survey — including the Royal Ontario Museum and the Eaton Centre — showed bacteria levels researchers said were “too high to count.”

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by KathieI

I like dogs, and LOVE my dogs, but I would never have them drinking out of a water fountain that was meant for humans. Yuck is right!!

I've also never seen anyone lift their dog up to do this, but the OP did and we're all commenting on it... Us animal lovers really need to use common sense.

You just said it all. Common sense in raising and training a family pet and they will be welcome visitors and wonderful companions. We have friends who have the cutest pooches who are always welcome as they are well behaved and treated like the dogs that they are......not like babies or children or wild animals.

Even children have to have rules, limits and learn appropriate behavior to grow up to be loving, considerate, compassionate people.

Below this "beginning explanation" is an ONLINE BLOG. NOT MY WORDS. But I can relate.


However, it does express what an awful lot of folks feel....or the dismay they experience when people treat their pets like children. Animals need boundaries. We've been to homes where there literally was no place to sit. The huge pooches claimed every sofa in the place and sprawled out for their "naps", shedding dog hair and all. We've had visiting dogs who drink out of our toilets as "that's the only way they've ever done it"......so the visiting adult takes out my "toilet deoderant" so the dog has fresh water. What?


I can laugh now, really. Also, huge dogs that sprawl across a door's thresh hold and very elderly people (my mom) who can't lift their legs very high due to lack of mobility, are stranded with no way to pass. Rude behaviour on the part of the pet owner......we've seen dogs knock over my husband while on a hike. and on and on, with no apology by the pet owner.


Pets should have limits and should be trained.....to be a welcome guest in people's homes and not drink out of the toilet.............or, my worst pet peeve, eat off the dinner plates. So much for the sterile tongue (read my earlier post). Eating off the dinner plates is not very appealing at all.


************************************************** **********************

FROM ONLINE BLOG:

"""A dog is not a child. A child is that tiny human being that lives in my house. It walks and talks and poops in a toilet (finally!). It cannot be left alone for the day chained in the yard with a bowl of water and a rawhide bone. It doesn't sleep in a cage or in my bed. It has never chewed up my shoes or drank out of the toilet.

I love when we go to a party and we meet "dog parents." We make small talk and it finally comes up: "Do you have kids?" I'll ask.

"No. But we have a dog."

"Oh...that's nice."

"Yes. It's just like having a child. She's our baby. Would you like to see a picture of her?"

At this point they are met with an awkward silence from the Hubs and myself, because we truly do not know how to respond. If we open our mouths, we will surely say something rude like, "Hell no. It's a dog. I'd barely be interested in seeing a picture of a real baby if you actually had one so I definitely don't want to see a picture of your dog."

Or I might say to them, "Oh your dog is like a baby? Oh really? Do you prefer Pampers or Huggies? Are you nursing? Isn't pumping a bitch? Who is your daycare provider or are you home with the little darling? Is she talking yet? Is she eating solids yet? Who is your pediatrician? Where do you do Mommy & Me classes? Does she sleep through the night?"

And then I'd just go on my rant:

Yeah, your dog is nothing like a baby.

You can knit sweaters for it and put bows in its hair and push it around in those weird doggie strollers or carry it in your Prada bag but it's still a dog. You can talk to it in baby talk and cuddle it like a baby - but it's not a baby.

Your dog is not a person.

Your dogs licks its own b___s. I don't know any people who do that. You don't need to leave the TV on for it when you leave the house to run errands. Your dog does not like CSI. (And BTW you can't have it both ways. If your dog is like a baby then CSI is completely inappropriate. Real babies don't watch CSI. Better try Dora instead - then maybe your dog could learn Spanish.) You don't need to take your dog to see a shrink when it seems sad and get some Puppy Prozac or a medium so it can communicate with you. ("Your dog is telling me how much she loves you and wishes you'd rub her belly more often. That'll be fifty bucks.")

I will never go to a memorial service for a dog. (These exist, people. I've heard about them. Slide shows set to music and eulogies for Pepper the Best Dog in the World.)

I know that your dog is nothing like my kids because I'll feel bad when your dog dies. I will. (I'm not heartless!) But losing a dog is nothing like losing a child. If you lost a child, I'd be heartbroken for you. I wouldn't be able to fathom the absolute unbearable pain you would have - because that was your child.

That was the little person whose first word was "Mommy" and draws "foldable hugs" for you to carry around in your pocket so you can have a hug anytime you need one. Does your baby want Shape Ups? Or an iTouch? Or a DS? I doubt it - because he's a dog.

OK dog lovers, let me know what a jerk I am. I can take it."""""""



Again, the above is from a BLOG which has a lot of humor involved.....................