Just about time for lunch:
"Service dogs barred, doubted, and deeply treasured" by Beth Teitell | Globe Staff, September 18, 2013
Kevin Lambert suffers mostly from wounds people can’t see — he returned from Iraq in 2006 with PTSD, a brain injury, and fibromyalgia — but the growing number of service dogs accompanying people with less-than-obvious medical conditions — think psychiatric problems or diabetes — is sparking skepticism and, in some cases, confrontation.
And a sad paradox is emerging: the very animals intended to make things better can actually trigger problems when restaurant owners or salespeople challenge the animal’s right to accompany its owner.
The issue erupted in a Worcester suburb in August, when the owner of a diner in Oxford turned away an Iraq war veteran who has PTSD, and his service dog, a Jack Russell terrier. More than 33,000 people supported a Facebook page calling for a boycott.
The diner owner, who said he didn’t believe the dog was a trained service animal, later apologized, and the boycott was called off, but a remark he made shortly after the incident at Big I’s reflects the lingering doubt over service dogs for those without obvious disabilities. “How much emotional support do you need when you’re eating breakfast?” Russell Ireland asked.
A service dog can alert a diabetic that her sugar levels are not normal; lie next to an epileptic having a seizure to prevent injury; stop children with autism from ingesting things they should not; and help a person with PTSD by turning on lights in a darkened room, or model calm behavior in a crowd. Service dogs do not have to wear a vest, but many do to inform the general public.
Statistics on confrontations overassistance service animals aren’t tracked, and only a few reach the level of police action or a discrimination complaint. But Julian Tynes, chairman of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, says the number of incidents is growing....
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Related: Sunday Globe Special: Diner Discriminates Against Dogs
Also see:
Raining Cats and Dogs in New York and New Jersey
Detroit Gone to the Dogs
Praying For Prairie Dogs
Time to go for a walk.
"Hundreds gather, with dogs, at memorial for Quincy dog" by Derek J. Anderson | Globe Correspondent, September 29, 2013
QUINCY — More than 250 people, accompanied by countless dogs, gathered in Pageant Field early Saturday evening for a tearful vigil in remembrance of Puppy Doe, a pit bull who had to be euthanized after it was found tortured a few weeks ago....
The capacity of the human mind to inflict cruelness always shocks me.
Mary Nee, president of the Animal Rescue League of Boston, spoke to the group. “Animal cruelty is reprehensible and cannot be tolerated in a humane and civil society,” she said, receiving applause as several dogs barked.
“I want to thank the organizers of this vigil for bringing us here together so that we can share our collective grief and come together to commit ourselves to seek justice for Puppy Doe and for all the animals that are neglected and abused.”
Nee said the rescue league had never seen such a horrific case of abuse. Many in the audience wept quietly and signs with photos of Puppy Doe and other dogs were waved in support throughout the crowd....
Which I'm all for; however, why are there no protests against the torture of people? I'm not for animal cruelty of any sort against any species.
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Related:
Quincy police search for person who tortured pit bull
Quincy vigil to highlight animal abuse
No vigil for this guy:
"Wandering bear is found in Athol, but had to be euthanized" Worcester Telegram & Gazette, September 27, 2013
ATHOL — A bear that had been wandering around downtown Athol since Wednesday night was tranquilized and then euthanized later on Thursday, officials said.
Lieutenant Charles Ziemba and Officer William Woytek of the Environmental Police shot the bear with a tranquilizing dart as it perched in a tree next to the Athol Daily News parking lot, off Exchange Street. The bear fell, but appeared unhurt.
Any padding, or was he just allowed to slam into the ground?
The animal, which the officer said weighed about 250 pounds, was breathing comfortably as it was loaded into a truck. But because it is active hunting season in New Hampshire and Vermont, the bear had to be euthanized.
The Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Division of Fish and Wildlife have a joint memorandum that calls for any animal that has been chemically immobilized within 45 days of hunting season to be put down, according to a statement from Environmental Police.
Oh, so just putting him to sleep means you had to put him to sleep.
Ever notice it is a kill-first policy when it comes to authority?
Immobilization drugs in an animal’s system are potentially lethal to humans if the animal is shot and consumed. Black bear hunting season is open again in Massachusetts on Nov. 4, the statement said.
Athol police had been tracking the bear since Wednesday night. Police Sergeant Christopher Casella said the animal was first reported in the downtown area about 9 p.m. and remained nearby all night.
“It was at a [loading] dock at Starrett’s [a tool manufacturer] and then in the Lake, Fish, and Crescent street areas,” he said.
The bear eventually made its way to Exchange Street, where it climbed a small tree and later moved to a larger one not far from the Athol police station. It was in the larger tree when it was tranquilized.
Downtown Athol has had several visits in recent years by bears and moose. One of the bear visits proved fatal for the bear, which was shot after authorities became concerned that it was too close to people.
In the past, moose in downtown Athol have been successfully tranquilized and moved to safety.
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Do you really know what is in that can of dog food?
Related: Bear With Me, Please
I thank you in advance.