SO....this past Saturday as my son and I were coming up the BA, we had just started up that first formation past Indian Gardens and to my total shock comes a couple abound with their puppy Akita in tow!!! Whaaaattttttttt!!!! Ahhh.. tourists of course and apparently oblivious about the "No Dogs below the Rim" policy!!! Of course, I am baffled how they could have missed the ginormous sign at the trailhead but I digress. I've been here six months and I'm below the rim a minimum of twice a week and this is the first pup I've seen down there. I was super nice and let them know that what they are doing is illegal and COMPLETELY UNSAFE FOR EVERYONE!!! They seemed genuinely horrified about their ignorance but still guys...come on...it's the Grand Canyon--USE YOUR NOGGIN!!!
Don't get me wrong, I'm a doggie fanatic! I love my pup but I would never bring her down there even if it was allowed. She's hyper and I don't trust her or any other dog for that matter not to A. Get too excited and accidentally knock someone into the Abysss and/or B. Go sailing off the canyon wall herself!!! Dogs below Rim = Bad Idea.
"Not all those who wander are lost" --J.R.R. Tolkien
@treknjen
You should have pulled a Jack Black from anchor man and punted that dog off the side of trail, to teach them a lesson, and then said "that's how I roll!"
I've seen dogs below the rim twice - both times they claimed it was a "service dog", but they weren't wearing any type of official vest or anything.
One was a pitbull with a rope leash, hiking down the BA with two dreadlocked hippies ... I told a Ranger about it on the trail and she said they were aware and the IG Ranger was going to intercept them.
The other was coming up Hermit with his person - the guy called out "service dog coming your way!" ... that one wasn't even on a leash - and seemed pretty pooped.
Service dogs are not legally "in service" if they aren't marked as such and the owners have to have paperwork--people are so scandalous!! I was at a restaurant in Okla City last year and a lady was sitting there with her chow mix and was upset because they wouldn't let it sit in the chair...at the table as if were a person!!! I have to be grateful for people like this because it's free and endless entertainment!!!
"Not all those who wander are lost" --J.R.R. Tolkien
They bring on planes now, right into the cabin. I'm not kidding when I say that flying on a plane now resembles riding on a {3rd World Country of Choice} cattle car ...
http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored.
Wow...I was being tongue and cheek when I said punt the dog of the canyon, but looks like we have some anti-dog people on HAZ thought someone would object to comment..lol..being a dog lover that is very alarming..but I am a rationale dog lover, and see why they should not be below rim, and in restaurants for that matter..
although, I will take a dog on plane any day over crying baby..
@friendofThundergod
Just remember that there are lots of us that love to see the adventures of Cup, Blanco, Bruno and Daisy and all the other furry friends enjoying Hiking Arizona! Don't stop posting those!
Not anti-dog. But there is a time and place for everything, and other people's feelings need to come before one's own, especially in tight confines. ;)
http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored.
slowandsteady wrote:@friendofThundergod
Just remember that there are lots of us that love to see the adventures of Cup, Blanco, Bruno and Daisy and all the other furry friends enjoying Hiking Arizona! Don't stop posting those!
Speaking of Bruno, he hasn't posted in quite a while! I wonder what happened. BTW, reading his posts were the funniest things I've read in quite a while. Love 'em!
Definitely NOT ANTI DOG!!! I LOVE MY PUPPY!! I certainly would never punt a dog off of anything! I wish I could take my pup down there but it's just not safe--for anyone and since I drag my 8 year old around the canyon depths all the time, it frustrating to me that people disregard common sense so freely but then again....common sense is not something everyone was blessed with. That said, there are plenty of trail options outside the canyon for the 4 leggers....FS lands are a GREAT CHOICE! Out by Red Butte is one of my favorites b/c there's never anyone out there!
Who remembers "SOAP AND SALT"!!!! it's like my son's favorite book ever of all time!!
"Not all those who wander are lost" --J.R.R. Tolkien
Oh...about service dogs on planes, etc. My ex husband is a military K9 handler so Im a big fan of service animals as I spent over a decade with them but there's etiquette involved with it and sadly, people are either clueless or don't care about said etiquette. I have no issue with pups on the planes or even in a restaurant as long as it's not like "Lady and the Tramp" where I'm sharing a plate of spaghetti with a cockerspaniel ..lol!! :FG:
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"Not all those who wander are lost" --J.R.R. Tolkien
garyc57 wrote:Speaking of Bruno, he hasn't posted in quite a while! I wonder what happened. BTW, reading his posts were the funniest things I've read in quite a while. Love 'em!
He's a lazy sack these days....but to be fair he did get bitten on his nose by something unknow last time we were out. He had to get shots and antibiotics and take benedryll for 2 weeks. He will be back out hiking the week after next.
@treknjen
I know you are not anti-dog lol..you are right, rules are rules for reasons, and who could pretend to not notice the numerous signs and FAQs on website regarding no dogs below rim??
my turn for shameless promotion now..although, I think we are not suppose to post pics to message board, so wont do it again Joe..
here is Blanco in Afghanistan literally the day I found him...he has really benefited from an American diet I told everyone when I found him, or he found us, that I was going to turn him into my hiking buddy...
Oops...I didn't realize I wasn't supposed to post pics in threads...."Joe"--I won't do it again, sorry about that!
friendofthundergod---you're a Handler!!!! ROCKSTAR!!! Where all were you at? My ex and I were AF...he was a handler and I was just plain SF. He's actually in Baghdad at the Embassy now working as a kennel master (contractor) for the Department of State.
"Not all those who wander are lost" --J.R.R. Tolkien
thought someone would object to comment..lol..being a dog lover that is very alarming..but I am a rationale dog lover, and see why they should not be below rim, and in restaurants for that matter..
But there is a time and place for everything, and other people's feelings need to come before one's own, especially in tight confines. ;)
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