There’s lots of dogs in Haines. Not all of them are well behaved.
Here are some tips for proper canine stewardship.
• Before you make that giant leap into dog ownership, make sure you are aware of the responsibility that comes with a serious dependency for a decade or more. Like rearing children, canine ownership requires dedication, work and lots of money.
• Leash your mutt when walking. No one likes dogs marauding around their encampments. It’s not “cute” when your dog runs to people and shoves their snout in their crotches.
• Pick up after your dog. No one likes to see your dog’s fecal depositions marring the natural landscape. Dog dung is a buzzkill, period. NO ONE likes it.
• Do you own a chronic barker? A chronic barker is a dog who barks incessantly for 30 minutes or more. Who wants to listen to a dog bark for hours? No one listens to dogs barking on Spotify or YouTube. A barking dog is a nuisance. Most likely the dog is barking because it is pissed that it can’t run around free like its ancestor the wolf did back in the good ole days. If you own a chronic barker, remedy the problem. Sound proof cages are available online, and/or ask your vet about a debarking procedure. I hear it’s a safe, simple medical procedure no less dangerous than a vasectomy.
Thanks to dog owners who demonstrate proper canine stewardship. For the rest, get with the program.
Tom Faverty