h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"and of little value to urban man"


Oh, and I'll be sure to let all the Rescue Dogs, Seeing-Eye Dogs, Personal Assistance Dogs, Sled Dogs, Hunting Dogs, and Navy Seal Dogs know you said that.

Truffle-hunting dogs - don't forget those! Society would collapse.

Bomb Disposal Dogs, Police Dogs, Guard Dogs, Attack Dogs, Farm Dogs, Sheep-Herd Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Fundraiser Dogs, Actor Dogs, Fireman Dogs...



...little value to modern man, bah...

I think we could manage without the attack dogs.

Dogs are the noblest animals in all of creation!

While we're debating the merits of dogs, how much value does your average pet cat add to nature (apart from decreasing the mouse/bird/whatever population and pooping in other people's gardens )?

Deb

Dogs are already training birds to do their bidding...

http://youtu.be/TN9PfDuAfpw

>>I think we could manage without the attack dogs.


They're useful against the crims, though.

I've changed the subject line to best represent the way the topic seems to have evolved.

The view is admittedly a British one, Sled Dogs, Hunting Dogs, Navy Seal Dogs and Rescue Dogs. Are not urban animals. And the British public don't like Hunting Dogs as they hurt furry things.

Seeing-Eye Dogs, Personal Assistance Dogs are for the disabled and are mostly bread for the job and thus are chosen to work that is their value.

The vale of pets to nature and thus to urban man is very doubtful the dog rescue societies are overworked and cruelty case numbers grow almost daily.

Most pets are over fed and under exercised and many are neurotic and most Pedigree breeds are approaching sever malformation.

The Chinese I believe eat dogs and have a festival for the K9 consumption, a long and ancient tradition. Man bites dog but only in a bun.

The most noble of all animals that serve man, that is the horse and always will be the history of the USA (and the world) was built with the aid of the horse, dogs don't even get a footnote.

The horse was a badge of nobility and rank, dog and cur are words used as terms of derision.

I explain rather than withdraw the comments

"The Chinese I believe eat dogs and have a festival for the K9 consumption, a long and ancient tradition."

A tradition that includes torturing the dogs in truly horrific ways to make them "taste better".

>> Seeing-Eye Dogs, Personal Assistance Dogs are for the disabled and are mostly bread

No wonder some cultures eat them then.

Not a lot Deb generally speaking apart from being mousers or ratters and bed warmers they are pretty useless. But they don't need (wo)man to get along and are not desperate for human approval.

But less of an urban blight they are less problems than dogs.
They don't (with the aid of irresponsible owners) foul or spoil parks and open spaces, frighten/bite children, chase other animals or birds. Or keep folk awake at night barking for hours.

Oh there is no dangerous cats act (UK) or cat catchers.

Bloody spell check

Still I hope you got the idea

"While we're debating the merits of dogs, how much value does your average pet cat add to nature (apart from decreasing the mouse/bird/whatever population and pooping in other people's gardens"


Isn't that enough?

I shouldn't need to point this out, but lower populations of mice and rats also means fewer fleas, which means less plague.

Ironically -- during the plague outbreaks in Europe -- witches were often blamed for the trouble and cats, the familiars of witches, were hunted down and killed. Thus removing the only thing holding rat populations in check, thus making the problem worse.



You can see why I so strongly oppose propoganda and superstition.

Its not the dogs as such it is the owners as well and their lack of concern, a little like smokers in that respect.

And I have had dogs where space and circumstances are appropriate. Not as a status symbol and all rescue;

"Or keep folk awake at night barking for hours."

I woke up the other night with my heart thumping - two cats going at each other in the street outside. To give my dog his due, he only growled rather than outright barked, which he would have been justified in doing. He does seem to understand that dark = quiet time

Ah, dog v cat. Ever were people divided on that one

Deb

Propaganda and superstition? where?

cats have very colorful language especially in the wee small hours.

"The view is admittedly a British one, Sled Dogs, Hunting Dogs, Navy Seal Dogs and Rescue Dogs. Are not urban animals."

Earthquake / construction accidents = collapsed buildings = people buried under rubble = using Rescue Dogs to find them = Your argument is invalid.

Commando units performing operations in urban environments = the use of Navy Seal Dogs = Your argument is invalid.



"And the British public don't like Hunting Dogs as they hurt furry things."

Fox hunting = Your argument is invalid.



"Seeing-Eye Dogs, Personal Assistance Dogs are for the disabled and are mostly bred for the job and thus are chosen to work that is their value."



...

*Pokes out bobstafford's eyes.*

Oh, I'm sorry, it appears our Seeing-Eye Dogs aren't willing to work for someone who things they're of no benefit to urban man. I guess you'll just have to make do on your own.



"The vale of pets to nature and thus to urban man is very doubtful the dog rescue societies are overworked and cruelty case numbers grow almost daily."

That's not the dogs' fault!

You're victim-blaming.



"Most pets are over fed and under exercised and many are neurotic and most Pedigree breeds are approaching sever malformation."

Now, here, you're absolutely right. That Pedigree stuff is nonsense and should be done away with. Still not the dogs' fault.



"The Chinese I believe eat dogs and have a festival for the K9 consumption, a long and ancient tradition. Man bites dog but only in a bun."

And Spain has a long and ancient tradition of running in front of angry, rampaging bulls. That doesn't mean it's a smart thing to do and appeals to tradition aren't going to convince me of anything.



"The most noble of all animals that serve man, that is the horse and always will be the history of the USA (and the world) was built with the aid of the horse, dogs don't even get a footnote."

I like horses too.

But the importance of dogs to hunter-gatherer societies, the precursors of our entire civilization = Your argument is invalid.



"The horse was a badge of nobility and rank,"

Whooptie-freakin'-doo...

The color purple used to be a badge of nobility and rank too. Am I to elevate it above all other colors simply because once-upon-a-time it's what rich people wore?



To quote Mark Twain: "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principle difference between a dog and a man."