Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Most dogs do not like to wear people clothes.... trust me, some get down right agitated. Case in point:

"A dog attack sent two people to the hospital in Tampa.

According to Tampa Police, a pit bull mix named Scarface bit its owner and two other family members.

Police said Brenda Guerrero, 52, tried to put a sweater on the dog when it attacked. Her husband, 46-year-old Ismael Guerrero, attempted to pull the dog off his wife when the dog began attacking him.

Police said the couple's 22-year-old son then got a knife and stabbed the dog in the head and neck to try to stop the attack. The dog then began attacking Harris. All three were able to escape into the house, leaving the dog in the backyard.

"Officers responding said the dog was pretty aggressive," Eddy Durkin with Tampa police said. "When they tazed the dog the dog was still pulling away and was able to release the prongs from the tazer."

When Animal Control and Tampa Police arrived to the home, the dog was shot with a tranquilizer gun. After the dog got into the house, where there were two children in the back room, TPD officers deployed a bean bag gun and taser to subdue the dog. Eventually, the dog was captured by Animal Control by using a "catch pole."

Both Mr. and Mrs. Guerrero were taken to the hospital to be treated for their injuries. Mrs. Guerrero's injuries are believed to be serious, though not life threatening.

WFTS reports that at this point it is unclear if the dog will have to be euthanized."

So, think twice before you decide to put an ugly sweater on your best friend.

http://abc7ny.com/pets/dog-attacks-owners-after-they-tried-to-put-sweater-on-him/1681586/

Alicia Loc: NYC

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I do hope that many will take your advice regarding dressing up pets. I respect animals for being themselves. They are most comfortable in their own skins. Dressing them in people clothes is belittling to the animal. I find it disgusting that there exists a rather large industry that caters to such idiots. I had a friend who, after my tending to the fish in my aquarium said, "Mommy will take care of you." I made it very clear to him that I was not a fish nor were the fish human. Therefore I could not be a mommy to them.

I must agree with some that tending to the needs and appreciating pets is natural but some take it too far when they adopt a pet as being one of the family. Being "like a member of the family" does not justify believing that the pet actually IS a family member.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

I totally agree with you, pets are important members of our society and can be a surrogate for people who have lost loved ones or were never blessed with having children. They are valuable in treating those with memory issues, depression, and are invaluable when used in court rooms to comfort children who must testify. But, they are animals and should be afforded the respect for their breed along with shelter from the elements, and proper nutrition. This means they should not have "human" foods, be dressed up like a child or for that matter be taken for walks in strollers. I have actually seen people who put shoes on their dogs and nail tips on cats claws.... that is way over the top!

I do not blame the dog in the story I posted, I do feel anger toward the son who stabbed the dog..... and pity the woman who could find no other outlet for her nurturing than treat her dog as a child. They created a very unnatural and disturbing environment for this dog.... and of course they would never recognize what they did wrong. The dog will probably be put down, because it bit two people and if the dog is not, then it should be removed from that home immediately and placed in a pack of canines who are well adjusted so it can be rehabilitated.

Oldsalt

I tried to put a coat on one of my dogs once. He thrrew himself on his back and put all four feet in the air. He let me know his displeasure and I never tried it again. If he got cold we went in the house.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

While I do believe that most dogs do not need a sweater just to go outside, I think you are misinterpreting the dog's behavior. Chances are that the person putting on the sweater leaned over the dog and forced his head in the sweater Most dogs, particularly a nonsubmissive breed like a "pit bull" will consider that an aggressive move and a threat to them. If you must put a sweater on the dog, use a horse blanket style coat so you can calmly sit beside the dog and gently put it over his back from the side, then tighten the strap. Train the dog to tolerate this move by starting with the coat placed on him for ten seconds while feeding him a dog treat, gradually increasing the time before actually fastening the strap. If you have a Mexican hairless, Xoloitzculinti or Chinese Crested (all are hairless dogs) and you live in a cold place they will need coats. Otherwise don't dress up the dog. People go so far as Halloween costumes for dogs, mine would be embarrassed but yours may not be. I know a woman who dresses her iguana in a dragon costume she made for it for Halloween. Animals need to be allowed to be themselves animals, and should be respected for what they are, not for what you pretend they are. If people spent as much time properly training their dogs as they do dressing them up both the owner and the dog would be better off