My husband and I travel the country a lot during the summers in our RV.  We come to cities all over the country that are 'dog  friendly', meaning they have dog parks where dogs and their responsible dog owners can play off leash.  They have shops and restaruants where dogs are not only welcome, they are catered to.  We sat in an outside cafe in Aspen recently where the waiters brought bowls of ice-water for our two boxers.  Another shop owner almost demanded that we bring the dogs in so both of us could shop together (I was staying outside to hold the dogs).  A new mall opened in Richmond, Va. that caters to dogs;  having water bowls near fountains and all the shops asking the dogs to come in.  What's up with Tulsa?  We don't have dog parks, we have very few stores that allow dogs and they sell stuff for them.  Lowe's and Home Depot used to allow them in and they quit!  Why?  My dogs used to love going to the hardware store.  It was their favorite place because all the construction guys loved them.

There are developers around the country incorporating off leash dog parks into planned housing communities.......but alas, not in Tulsa.  I have talked w/ my councilman till I'm blue in the face.  He's too interested in his corupt 'good ol' boys' network to care about it.  I've even contacted a lobbiest who gave me a contact to call.  He never called back.

And while my brain has 'gone to the dogs'........Why doesn't Fox News ask the Right questions on their poll?  Instead of asking if certain strong breeds should be banned in Oklahoma, ask if certain types of owners should be made to take proper dog training classes and get a license to own certain types of breeds?  I can promise that the problem is not in the breed of dog.  The problem is in the owner of the breed.  If you don't know what you are doing, a butter knife can be dangerous, if you get my drift.

Thank you for providing this forum.  Maybe you will even read it.

Brenda Haggai

Tulsa, OK

While I would always love the opportunity to visit more businesses with my dog, I do want to point out that we have a fair amount of pet superstores compared to some other cities.  We have PetCo, Petsmart and Southern Agriculture, all of which are dog-friendly.  And I know we have other small pet stores that allow dogs to visit, like the Dog Dish.  Do we have a Three Dog Bakery?  I've always wanted to visit one of those. 

I personally would not use an off-leash dog park for my own goobers, but it surely wouldn't hurt our city to have one.  We have a glut of golf courses -- someone said we have 9? -- but nowhere to let the doggies run.  I remember when I first moved down here, I saw LaFortune park and got so excited by what a big, beautiful park it was.  Then when I visited, I realized that 90% of it was a golf course, and I haven't been back since.  (No offense to any golfers, but I think its the biggest waste of open space to put a fence around it so that only an exclusive group can enjoy it.)

As for the news asking loaded questions like that, I really do feel what you're saying.  My stomach acids boil like crazy whenever the term "pit bull" is in the news.  But that's what the media does.  They get the most mileage they can out of an emotional topic.  I'm just happy we've got a state law forbidding breed-specific legislation.  My own home state of Missouri has become highly dog-unfriendly: at least a dozen cities have passed new breed bans since I moved down here in 2005.  At least in Oklahoma, you can't walk into a city and be ordered to muzzle your dog because of its breed.  That earns it some points in my book.

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Lindsay and the red dogs

This is a major pet peeve of mine:  people who think their dogs are "little people" and should be treated as such.  Its a dog..........get over it.  I don't want to eat in the same restaurant as a dog and the idea of an off-leash park in a housing community is absurd.  I take my kids to the parks in Tulsa on the weekend to bike ride and play and get tired of dodging dog crap all over the place.  Every weekend I see people walking their dogs and letting them do their business and walk on.  They don't pick it up and if you confront them about it they get very hateful.  What would they say if I let my child do their business in a park or on their front lawn and leave it?  But its ok to let Fido crap all over and then walk on.  When you are in your RV and stop to let your dog out to do his business at a rest stop, gas station, or whereever do you always clean up your dogs "presents"?  Of course you'll say yes but I can say most rarely do.  Dogs are dogs and should be treated as such.  Yes, we love them and some are cute but a lot of people go overboard and if they took all the time and energy and money that they spend on making sure Fido is comfie and happy and direct that toward making sure that the kids in the less-well-to-do part of town are fed and clothed or that the seniors in the community are taken care of then they might not have to look to a little animal for love.

Mrywilley, while I do see what you are saying, it is unfair to suggest that dog owners don't deserve any opportunities to enjoy things with their dogs in tow, just because some are irresponsible.  A lot of the people who are leaving dog doo in public aren't even "dog people" per se; they're more of the mindset you project that "its just a dog."  All the dog people I know are very conscientious and considerate of their neighbors.  Contrast with folks who have dogs out of a sense of entitlement, which makes them very unpleasant neighbors.

A thought:  Maybe if we had more facilities and events for dogs, Tulsa would attract more responsible dog owners, which would be good for all of us.

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Lindsay and the red dogs

There is a point when pet lovers go way off the handle. There are places dogs just don't belong. I hate seeing an animal in a restraunt (unless it's a service animal) Once I saw a lady letting her tiny little dog eat off the table at Olive Garden! I understand loving your pet and feeling like it's a member of the family. My dog Sid is like an extra kid. BUT... there is a limit. Some people are nuts. The ones you see in the news that get tossed in jail for having 50-60 cats in a house etc. My father once dated a woman who decided to move to another house. She dug up her two dead dogs and moved them with her! I told him he should run as fast as he could! That's not wrapped tight at all.

Dogs in public do need to be on a leash and there really shouldn't be any way around that. It means safety for the dog and the public as well.

An off-leash dog park would involve a fenced area for the dogs to be loose in.  Its not as though they'd be running amok in public.  And I don't think the OP is asking for dogs to be allowed in restaurants, but it would be nice if there were more of the dog-friendly businesses that other cities have.  Having places be open to dogs gives them more opportunities for important socialization.  I don't see anything crazy about it.  :)

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Lindsay and the red dogs

It's only crazy because people aren't responsible.

That's very true.  But look at how many people aren't responsible, but have a license to drive a car that could kill a dozen people in one wreck.  Dogs are far less harmful by comparison.  We just tend to fear them more because they have pointy teeth.  Even though death-by-dog is statistically less likely than death-by-lightning-strike.  If people want to have more places to take their dogs, I don't see the harm.  But then again, I'm a dog person.  ;)

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Lindsay and the red dogs

I'm one that thinks dogs need banned from all city parks. For some reason the owners of these dogs think parks are one giant outhouse for their precious mutts. It's almost like these dog owners take pride when their mutt runs out in the middle of a Frisbee Golf game and unloads it's morning consumption of Dog Chow.

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http://sportstoday.proboards58.com

I heard that the owners of the Dog Dish are trying to work with some people to start a dog park. I even have heard that they will go as far as to actually fund the park but I'm not sure if that is true.

I spoke with someone today actually that said the reason they are not getting anywhere? NEIGHBORS!! Nobody wants to live near a dog park because they think it will be too loud.

What people don't understand is that a dog park would be good for you who hate dogs in the "people park" Because if we had one we would stop going to parks where everybody looks at my dogs like they are going to eat their children. (I have two very large labs)

Responsible owners DO pick up after their dogs. Personally, I carry a little bone filled with poop bags. I know they sell these the pet stores and even Target. If you're tired of stepping in poo at the park maybe there is someway to get little stands with poop bags and trash cans so that the other owners can get a hint.

I like the poo bag dispensers that are along the Riverwalk.  If there were more of those, people would have no reason not to pick up poo.  But honestly, with the kinds of messes humans make of our parks, dog poo is the last thing I'm worried about.  Poo biodegrades and absorbs into the soil.  Chewing gum, trash, needles, cigarette butts, car tires... those things take a lot longer, and are arguably just as nasty as what comes out of a dog's butt.  And considering that the person who leaves their dog's poo is probably the same person who'd stick their gum to the picnic table, I don't think we're going to make much improvement by banning dogs.

(I don't know why, but I always think of Dubya when I see Marlin's avatar.  That's bad.)

WalktheDog:

I spoke with someone today actually that said the reason they are not getting anywhere? NEIGHBORS!! Nobody wants to live near a dog park because they think it will be too loud.

ROTF!  Again with perspective I suppose.  I lived in an area where all you ever heard were trains coming through, bad latino-type music (whatever you call that crap), and loud exhausts.  I'd take some dogs barking once in a while over that other stuff anytime. 

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Lindsay and the red dogs

bahamutt99:

 

(I don't know why, but I always think of Dubya when I see Marlin's avatar.  That's bad.)

Ok now, that hurt....that really hurt. And everytime I see your avatar I think of D ick Cheney standing by Hillary Clinton. lol

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http://sportstoday.proboards58.com

When I think of a dog park I think of a city block full of poop. LOL I know there are a lot of responsible pet owners out there but there are also LOTS that aren't. The poo bag dispensers are a good idea if they keep them full. (My apartment comlex has empty ones) My neighbor has a small yappy type dog that he won't put on a leash or pick up his doodles. I thought about handing him a poo bag the next time we are out there at the same time to see if he gets the hint.

Tega, pick up the poo yourself and put it on his doorstep.  Stick an note on there that says "Excuse me, but you dropped this."  Or better yet, light it on fire, ring the doorbell, and run.  LOL

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Lindsay and the red dogs

LMAO light it on fire! LOL I choked on my water when I read that!