[Dailydrool] No dogs allowed: feeling weary and frustrated

[Val Brewer]

I am feeling weary and frustrated tonight. Since moving to our current location 
(Big Island of Hawaii), I have enjoyed occasionally walking the hounds through 
our little tourist town and stopping at an outdoor coffee kiosk for a cup of 
coffee and water for the boys. The hounds are well loved as we walk through 
town. Tonight I was stopped by a security guard and told "no dogs allowed except 
on the concrete sidewalk next to the road" (away from all the shops--there is a 
boadwalk by the shops which we usually stroll to reach the coffee kiosk and now 
that has been declared off limits to dogs). A similar thing happened to us about 
a month ago when we were strolling along the outside of an open mall on the 
sidewalk (sorry, ma'am, no dogs allowed on the sidewalks near the mall). I have 
been told that dogs are supposed to be in their yards or residential 
neighborhoods only. Dogs are not allowed on any of the beaches on our island 
(except the federal park, which they may frequent if leashed at all times). 
There is only one dog park, which is open six days a week from 9 to 5, but 
rarely frequented. I really miss the more open dog tolerance of the mainland. I 
was shocked and delighted when I visited my son in California to see that a 
number of beaches there are open to dogs after 6 PM. and to see dogs frolicking 
together there at dusk.  I also miss the more frequented dog parks on Oahu. I am 
identifying with my hounds in feeling very much a second class citizen. The 
hounds are my constant companions and it brings me pleasure when our whole 
family is out walking together. I may need to push the limits on this one and 
see how many times I get kicked out of what look like public access places to me 
before some authority issues me a citation. I am not a lawbreaker by nature, but 
I simply fail to understand the justification for banning well behaved and 
controlled dogs from walkng with their families in otherwise open spaces (where 
stray dogs could simply meander along themselves). I do not take the dogs inside 
establishments without permission, I certainly pick up and properly dispose of 
any unanticipated droppings. The dogs are quiet, kindly, and friendly to the 
extreme. I guess if I were running the world, I'd want to allow dogs everywhere 
except perhaps in grocery stores where canine theivery could pose a problem. But 
then I suppose I prefer the company of dogs to that of most humans anymore.


      
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