Wh**ever happened to natural se******n and survival of the fittest? Didn't Darwin tell us that after all the genetic deficiencies were "evolved" out a particular species that the result would be a strong, fit, intelligent specimen that would adapt perfectly to wh**ever environment and climate it was born it? What happened to the dogs? Didn't they make the grade during the long evolutionary struggle?

Best I can tell, dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals, and others of the canine species, and all other species in the animal kingdom, are well equipped to survive in the great outdoors. They are capable of finding shelter or even building their own--wolves are particularly adept at this. How about those polar bears? What the hell are they doing up there in the frigid regions of earth, sleeping on ice and diving into cold water to snag a seal?

The question is, what did we do to the dogs to make them so timid, so dependent, so weak and vulnerable to the elements that we have to pamper them, mollycoddle them, primp them, and protect them alla time like liberalism has done to so many humans?

I was born and raised among animals, domestic and wild, they outnumbered the humans 1000 to 1. Most everyone had a dog or dogs. But, of course, we lived in rugged, mountainous country where horses were more numerous than vehicles, and we didn't go in for Chihuahuas or toy poodles or those little mouse-like yappers, ours were shepherds, h****rs, pointers, setters, all the big guys.

As a young firefighter, I paid $500 for a pedigreed Malamute pup. He grew to a powerful 130 pound brute who had a natural relationship with snow. In fact, he seemed to feel he was in charge when winter came and did everything he could to make the snow behave. He was hell on icicles, snapped those babies off their perches and chewed them up like a lion eating a gazelle. Juneau was his name, he was intelligent, affectionate, playful, and comported himself like the soldier he was. Wrestling with him in the snow was a challenge and one helluva lot of fun. Juneau had no desire to be in the house, the only time we brought him in was to pull a thorn out of a paw and treat the wound. He wasn't much of a barker, he was a howler, a growler, a mid-night prowler.

Pulling a sleigh was his favorite gig. I had a tow harness made for him.

I had borrowed a VW bug from a friend and was driving home from a winter outing with Juneau. He took up the entire back seat. Hit a patch of ice and the rear of the car slid off into the snow packed ditch. With the old bug's engine in the rear and drive wheels up front, I had a problem. The left front wheel was at least six inches off the ground. I tried the standard drill, rocked it back and forth, but the thing wouldn't budge. Then it dawned on me. I had help sitting the back seat. I harnessed the Commander of Winter, the captain of cold weather, to the front bumper, and he was pulling before I got back to the cab. When I got in and gunned the engine, out we rolled. When I got out to unhook him, I heard the clapping of hands. A woman across the street saw the whole thing, and she stood on her porch applauding.

I have had many animals in my care throughout my life, and none of them were pussies.

Wh**ever happened to natural se******n and survival of the fittest? Didn't Darwin tell us that after all the genetic deficiencies were "evolved" out a particular species that the result would be a strong, fit, intelligent specimen that would adapt perfectly to wh**ever environment and climate it was born it? What happened to the dogs? Didn't they make the grade during the long evolutionary struggle?

Best I can tell, dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals, and others of the canine species, and all other species in the animal kingdom, are well equipped to survive in the great outdoors. They are capable of finding shelter or even building their own--wolves are particularly adept at this. How about those polar bears? What the hell are they doing up there in the frigid regions of earth, sleeping on ice and diving into cold water to snag a seal?

The question is, what did we do to the dogs to make them so timid, so dependent, so weak and vulnerable to the elements that we have to pamper them, mollycoddle them, primp them, and protect them alla time like liberalism has done to so many humans?

I was born and raised among animals, domestic and wild, they outnumbered the humans 1000 to 1. Most everyone had a dog or dogs. But, of course, we lived in rugged, mountainous country where horses were more numerous than vehicles, and we didn't go in for Chihuahuas or toy poodles or those little mouse-like yappers, ours were shepherds, h****rs, pointers, setters, all the big guys.

As a young firefighter, I paid $500 for a pedigreed Malamute pup. He grew to a powerful 130 pound brute who had a natural relationship with snow. In fact, he seemed to feel he was in charge when winter came and did everything he could to make the snow behave. He was hell on icicles, snapped those babies off their perches and chewed them up like a lion eating a gazelle. Juneau was his name, he was intelligent, affectionate, playful, and comported himself like the soldier he was. Wrestling with him in the snow was a challenge and one helluva lot of fun. Juneau had no desire to be in the house, the only times we brought him in was to treat a wound or keep him out of a screaming, low temp blizzard. He wasn't much of a barker, he was a howler, a growler, a mid-night prowler.

I never chained him to anything or put him on a leash.

Pulling a sleigh was his favorite gig. I had a tow harness made for him.

I had borrowed a VW bug from a friend and was driving home from a winter outing with Juneau. He took up the entire back seat. Hit a patch of ice and the rear of the car slid off into the snow packed ditch. With the old bug's engine in the rear and drive wheels up front, I had a problem. The left front wheel was at least six inches off the ground. I tried the standard drill, rocked it back and forth, but the thing wouldn't budge. Then it dawned on me. I had help sitting the back seat. I harnessed the Commander of Winter, the captain of cold weather, to the front bumper, and he was pulling before I got back to the cab. When I got in and gunned the engine, out we rolled. When I got out to unhook him, I heard the clapping of hands. A woman across the street saw the whole thing, and she stood on her porch applauding.

I have had many animals in my care throughout my life, and none of them were pussies.

Absolutely, Wolf. Juneau was a magnificent animal. I have pics of him stowed somewhere. Old glossy prints. I could did them out and scan them to post.

Juneau got along famously with our mother's two Irish setters, and what those three dogs did the night our mother died is one for the story books. She died in a hospital 5 miles away from them, and they all knew it. I wasn't there at the time, but what those dogs did freaked out my sister totally.

Animals are God's gift to us in many more ways than one.

Yes it is. Its none of your business how I care for my dogs. Absolutely none. They are well cared for, trained and healthier than most. I know what I'm doing.

And its none of my business if you don't want to bring your dogs inside though many would skewer you for that.

Its not your business if an apartment dweller wants a German Shepherd or anything else either. I know this breed and I know they can be well cared for by someone living in an apartment.

My dogs can clear a 10 foot wall with no problem but only a 6 foot fence is allowed. Penning creates more behavior issues than chaining out so I don't do it.

I'm well aware of how some people treat their chained out dogs. I'm also very well aware of how some h****rs treat their dogs. Not saying you treat yours badly but I know what goes on. Yet I would never advocate for laws regulating it. That is madness.

I would caution you to support anything that further restricts animal owners. It has no effect on the i***ts who shouldn't have an animal and only hurts responsible owners. This is how rights are taken away inch by inch. Think it doesn't affect you in the long run? Oh yes it does.

Wh**ever happened to natural se******n and survival of the fittest? Didn't Darwin tell us that after all the genetic deficiencies were "evolved" out a particular species that the result would be a strong, fit, intelligent specimen that would adapt perfectly to wh**ever environment and climate it was born it? What happened to the dogs? Didn't they make the grade during the long evolutionary struggle?

Best I can tell, dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals, and others of the canine species, and all other species in the animal kingdom, are well equipped to survive in the great outdoors. They are capable of finding shelter or even building their own--wolves are particularly adept at this. How about those polar bears? What the hell are they doing up there in the frigid regions of earth, sleeping on ice and diving into cold water to snag a seal?

The question is, what did we do to the dogs to make them so timid, so dependent, so weak and vulnerable to the elements that we have to pamper them, mollycoddle them, primp them, and protect them alla time like liberalism has done to so many humans?

I was born and raised among animals, domestic and wild, they outnumbered the humans 1000 to 1. Most everyone had a dog or dogs. But, of course, we lived in rugged, mountainous country where horses were more numerous than vehicles, and we didn't go in for Chihuahuas or toy poodles or those little mouse-like yappers, ours were shepherds, h****rs, pointers, setters, all the big guys.

As a young firefighter, I paid $500 for a pedigreed Malamute pup. He grew to a powerful 130 pound brute who had a natural relationship with snow. In fact, he seemed to feel he was in charge when winter came and did everything he could to make the snow behave. He was hell on icicles, snapped those babies off their perches and chewed them up like a lion eating a gazelle. Juneau was his name, he was intelligent, affectionate, playful, and comported himself like the soldier he was. Wrestling with him in the snow was a challenge and one helluva lot of fun. Juneau had no desire to be in the house, the only times we brought him in was to treat a wound or keep him out of a screaming, low temp blizzard. He wasn't much of a barker, he was a howler, a growler, a mid-night prowler.

I never chained him to anything or put him on a leash.

Pulling a sleigh was his favorite gig. I had a tow harness made for him.

I had borrowed a VW bug from a friend and was driving home from a winter outing with Juneau. He took up the entire back seat. Hit a patch of ice and the rear of the car slid off into the snow packed ditch. With the old bug's engine in the rear and drive wheels up front, I had a problem. The left front wheel was at least six inches off the ground. I tried the standard drill, rocked it back and forth, but the thing wouldn't budge. Then it dawned on me. I had help sitting the back seat. I harnessed the Commander of Winter, the captain of cold weather, to the front bumper, and he was pulling before I got back to the cab. When I got in and gunned the engine, out we rolled. When I got out to unhook him, I heard the clapping of hands. A woman across the street saw the whole thing, and she stood on her porch applauding.

I have had many animals in my care throughout my life, and none of them were pussies.