[pct-l] PCT for Pets

[jdrows at comcast.net (JD Schaefer)]

JB
You may very well be successful bringing your dog all the way because you've
put so much energy into finding solutions.  However that, in my mind,
exacerbates a bad decision on your part.

While I support your charity (off-trail), if people see your success
(assumption on my part), it will encourage the less well-planned to bring
bowser along.  Such individuals could very well cause extreme discomfort if
not permanent damage to their dog (to say nothing of scaring wildlife who
have a greater right to be in the wilderness than any domestic dog).

If you do end up being the exception to the rule, you're telling others it's
a good idea.  It isn't.

Good luck on a hike in which I hope all your social interaction is only with
humans,
JD Schaefer


-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net]On Behalf Of J. Bradley
Materick
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 8:37 AM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] PCT for Pets


Greetings once again,

www.pctforpets.org

I want to thank you all for your questions and concerns about my plans to
hike the PCT with my dog, Banner, as a way to raise awareness and donations
to benefit animal shelters.  I would love to reply to each individual
concern that was raised to me, both publicly and privately, but this would
require an email many pages in length that I do not have the luxury of time
to write.  I can only say that I love my dog very much, that I have already
spent several months seriously considering all of the concerns that were
raised, and that I believe there are creative solutions to these issues
which will allow Banner and I to travel the PCT safely and with relative
comfort.  If you would like to send me a personal email with specific
questions, I will try to respond to them, unless my inbox gets flooded, in
which case I might not be able to.

The general question of whether or not dogs belong in the wilderness is a
different subject altogether.  My personal opinion is that dogs (responsibly
managed by their owners) do belong in the wilderness, at least as much as we
humans do.  I completely respect the opinions of those who believe
differently than me, which is why I do try so hard to minimize my dog's
social and environmental impacts in the wilderness, but I think it would be
futile to engage in a debate on this question since we all have our own
positions on this, strongly held...

In any case, there seems to be no objection from list members or
administration to posting the URL for my PCT for Pets website.  If you find
the idea of our adventure intriguing (be it in a positive way or a diturbing
way), perhaps you will consider exploring this site:

www.pctforpets.org

Thanks once again for your concerns and opinions,
J. Bradley

--------------------------------
J. Bradley Materick
jbmaterick@stanfordalumni.org

Field Naturalist Program
Department of Botany
120 Marsh Life Science Building
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405

(802) 578-3050 (cell)
(802) 656-0423 (work)
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