[pct-l] PCT for Pets

[m.karon at comcast.net (Marshall Karon)]

I believe the PCT is no place to bring awareness for pets and pet shelters.
This is a hiking trail and a horse trail.  This should be a quest for you as
a human to view the incredible nature and to challenge your body and mind.
Quite honestly, I am appalled at your intent. Hiking the trail with your dog
may be OK (although I think it could border on cruelty to animals unless
your pet is very well trained and accustomed to trails). To me, your intent
is a turn off.

And, I love dogs, have a dog, hike with a dog, etc. For me, hiking with my
dog enhances my experience - but I would never expect him to do the trail. I
guess I think the trail is a personal experience - I believe that any
commercialism detracts from the experience.

Just my opinion.


Marshall Karon
Portland, OR
m.karon@comcast.net


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "JD Schaefer" <jdrows@comcast.net>
To: "J. Bradley Materick" <jbmaterick@stanfordalumni.org>;
<pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 1:24 PM
Subject: RE: [pct-l] PCT for Pets


> 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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