Slog
News & ArtsSunday, February 5, 2012
Animals Bad Dog
Posted by Goldy on Sun, Feb 5, 2012 at 9:40 AM
You know all those heartwarming stories about the loyal family dog that saves its owners from a house fire? This isn't one of them.
A dog inadvertently started a fire that destroyed a house early Saturday morning in Vancouver’s Sunnyside neighborhood, according to the Vancouver Fire Department.
... [Vancouver Fire Department Capt. David] James said the renter had left the dog alone in the house for the first time, and investigators believe the dog jumped up looking for food on the stove and inadvertently turned the stove on, which caused items on the stove to catch fire.
It turns out, according to the American Kennel Club, that "nearly 1,000 house fires each year are accidentally started by the homeowners’ pets." Who knew? Though I'm not really sure why everybody is so convinced that these fires are "accidental."
Either way, this particular dog didn't survive the fire, so it ain't talking.
4
Why were there flammable items left on the stove? The only items I leave on my stove when its not in use are the griddle and the tea kettle. I can understand that the owner simply didn't anticipate this - it's not something you expect to happen - but it seems stupid to blame the dog. It didn't know any better, and clearly hadn't yet been properly trained.
5
@3, Well, when I bought a new stove some years back, knowing I had a small child in the house, I bought one with the controls at the back, rather than the front, so as to prevent someone accidentally turning it on.
6
Dogs are pack animals, not meant to be left alone.
It's like putting a human in solitary confinement, with no hope or end in sight for the end of the sentence. Or even assurance that meals will be delivered, ever.
A dog left alone doesn't know when -- or if -- the humans will return. So it makes perfect sense for it to search for food.
It's like putting a human in solitary confinement, with no hope or end in sight for the end of the sentence. Or even assurance that meals will be delivered, ever.
A dog left alone doesn't know when -- or if -- the humans will return. So it makes perfect sense for it to search for food.
7
Just have to keep an eye on the precious little bastards. Our puppy jumped on the counter and ate an entire cake yesterday. Bad dog. >:(
10
We used to have a cat that used the stove burners as a latrine to pee, so when we turned on the stove on ....
11
I was thrilled to read yesterday in the Times that the 154,000 dogs in Seattle shit out 18.5 million pounds of poop, while the 174,000 cats add 5.6 million pounds. EVERY YEAR. Lovely.
But glory be, the neighbors with the shitting cat next door moved out last month. Free at last!
But glory be, the neighbors with the shitting cat next door moved out last month. Free at last!
12
Burners have been known to spontaneously turn on. There have been recalls over this. My stove did that after 8 years and it's darn unnerving.
14
1000 fires per year out of about 115,000,000 households?
Yeah, I'm OK with those odds. The dog stays.
Yeah, I'm OK with those odds. The dog stays.
15
As a former traveling electrical hostess for your local utility, I can vouch that this is a big deal. We won't hook up a house if there's no one there and the main breaker is on, because you just never know.
But I feel sorry for poor Mr. (or Ms.) dog. A dear friend's house burnt down because of oily rags (yes, that really does happen) and took all four of their little dogs with it.
But I feel sorry for poor Mr. (or Ms.) dog. A dear friend's house burnt down because of oily rags (yes, that really does happen) and took all four of their little dogs with it.
16
@ 11, did that article say how much people shit? Or birds? Or opossums, rats, and foxes?
Actually, is there any point at all to knowing any of that?
Actually, is there any point at all to knowing any of that?
17
People, what's with the victim-blaming here (of the humans)? Is it really so hard to believe that the dog knocked a roll of paper towels or whatever up onto the stove while it was up there? Perhaps ripped some curtains down onto it? Even if the owners did leave something on the stove, well, I hardly think that deserves a "reap what you sow" response. Sheesh.
18
@6: It's certainly not good to leave a dog that needs exercise home for 8-10 hours every workday, but you've gone way over the top.
I work at home, so my dog isn't left alone a whole bunch, but depending on where she is in her nap, she often prefers to stay home alone. And staying home to watch over the den and litter is very much a pack behavior.
If your dog freaks out every time you leave, then it has an anxiety problem and you need the help of someone who understands dogs.
I work at home, so my dog isn't left alone a whole bunch, but depending on where she is in her nap, she often prefers to stay home alone. And staying home to watch over the den and litter is very much a pack behavior.
If your dog freaks out every time you leave, then it has an anxiety problem and you need the help of someone who understands dogs.
20
A pit bull....... FUCK YOU! Best Dogs ever, Bad Owners Douche bag
I'd like to slam you in the nuts...... oh wait, you don't have any..........
Man up! Educate yourself!
I'd like to slam you in the nuts...... oh wait, you don't have any..........
Man up! Educate yourself!
24
@19, pet shit is full of parasites and dangerous bacteria and viruses. Toxoplasmosis isn't a joke. If your neighbor's cat shits in your yard, you can get it even if you don't have an animal yourself.
25
@24: Indeed, it's a miracle that more people don't immediately die upon bringing a puppy into their homes.
26
Don't own a dog, and one of the reasons is I'd hafta leave it alone too much.
Dogs guarding litters obviously aren't alone, dogs guarding dens alone a lot, probably not.
Dogs are pack animals and unlike you, without the comfort of whiling away their time to write a novel, watch HBO or read a book.
I come across too many people who leave their dogs alone for 8-10 hours a day, without the companionship of other dogs or pets. I think that's criminal, and yes, the equivalent of solitary confinement.
Dogs guarding litters obviously aren't alone, dogs guarding dens alone a lot, probably not.
Dogs are pack animals and unlike you, without the comfort of whiling away their time to write a novel, watch HBO or read a book.
I come across too many people who leave their dogs alone for 8-10 hours a day, without the companionship of other dogs or pets. I think that's criminal, and yes, the equivalent of solitary confinement.
27
@26
I've got two dogs (does that constitute a pack?) and they are left home for 8-10 hours a day all the time. Sometimes, when I work from home I get to observe their normal daytime activities, which usually go something like this:
1. Sleep on the couch
2. Bark at the mailman
3. Chew on a bone
4. Repeat #1
5. Around 4:30 start pacing around and looking out the window anticipating the arrival of "mom".
If dogs get plenty of exercise and quality human interaction and are on a fairly regular schedule, 8-10 hrs is not too long to be left alone. That said, this is the main reason we have two dogs.
I've got two dogs (does that constitute a pack?) and they are left home for 8-10 hours a day all the time. Sometimes, when I work from home I get to observe their normal daytime activities, which usually go something like this:
1. Sleep on the couch
2. Bark at the mailman
3. Chew on a bone
4. Repeat #1
5. Around 4:30 start pacing around and looking out the window anticipating the arrival of "mom".
If dogs get plenty of exercise and quality human interaction and are on a fairly regular schedule, 8-10 hrs is not too long to be left alone. That said, this is the main reason we have two dogs.
28
@ 24, wash your hand frequently, and don't wear your shoes indoors.
Not saying cat owners who let their cats out AT ALL, let alone because they don't want to clean a litter box, aren't assholes of the first magnitude, but bad shit is literally everywhere.
I suspect this particular thing of yours is because you hate cats so much that you'll give any excuse whatsoever to make it look rational. But I ain't buying it.
Not saying cat owners who let their cats out AT ALL, let alone because they don't want to clean a litter box, aren't assholes of the first magnitude, but bad shit is literally everywhere.
I suspect this particular thing of yours is because you hate cats so much that you'll give any excuse whatsoever to make it look rational. But I ain't buying it.
29
#27 Your dogs are left "alone" -- they obviously HAVE EACH OTHER.
THEY'RE NOT IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, LOCKED ALONE FOR 8-10 HOURS A DAY, THEY HAVE EACH OTHER.
Zeesh, this isn't rocket science.
THEY'RE NOT IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, LOCKED ALONE FOR 8-10 HOURS A DAY, THEY HAVE EACH OTHER.
Zeesh, this isn't rocket science.
31
@29, ok, so if I'm understanding you correctly then as long as we have more than one dog we can leave them in the house as long as we want?
Thanks for straightening this out, I dropped out of school before I finished my degree in rocket science. Sheesh.
Thanks for straightening this out, I dropped out of school before I finished my degree in rocket science. Sheesh.
34
@11 - Queue the new neighbors to move in who have 2 cats and 1 dog...
(at least that is usually how life likes to mock people!)
=:D
(at least that is usually how life likes to mock people!)
=:D
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