[pct-l] dogs

[dsaufley at sprynet.com (dsaufley@sprynet.com)]

Thanks for supporting the pint-size entrepreneurs of our neighborhood.

Sorry about the pack.  We lost our beloved Lucky this past Friday, most tragically.  He was probably the pee culprit.  He will be sorely missed for his many antics with the hikers, and the joy he brought to our family.

I was thinking that you somehow must have escaped wearing a Saufley Electric t-shirt when your laundry was getting done, but then I remember that I didn't have any until very late in the season this year.  Just don't tell Jeff about me and the plumber, okay? 

-=Donna Saufley=-

-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Niemiec <whitethunder10@hotmail.com>
Sent: Dec 15, 2004 7:28 PM
To: dsaufley@sprynet.com, kellyandhank@hotmail.com, 
	pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] dogs

I'm with the plumber's wife on this one!

So is that why there are sooo many dogs piled up at your house?  One peed on 
my backpack! Seriously! LOL

Did I mention that I miss the trail? Pee dogs and all.

And another question... Those little kids down the street are making a 
killing off of thru-hikers on cool-aid (and she didn't even fill up my cup!) 
Genius! I need to hire some cute little kids to sell some top dollar 
cool-aid to the folks who walk in '05... Yeah, that's the ticket. And I'm 
going to put my stand a mile before their stand and charge 5 cents less!

Mouse



>From: dsaufley@sprynet.com
>Reply-To: dsaufley@sprynet.com
>To: kelly jackson 
<kellyandhank@hotmail.com>,pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] dogs
>Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 16:45:02 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
>
>This message is not about permissibility, but of whether it is a wise 
choice.  We have hosted many (about two dozen) dogs along with their masters 
at Hiker Heaven in Agua Dulce (mile 464).
>
>I have seen a few dogs that were doing GREAT, rarin' to go and adapting 
well.  Some dogs, like people, are well suited to big miles and traversing 
rough terrain.  It seems that the bigger the dog, the bigger the problems, 
but that doesn't always apply either.
>
>I have been deeply disturbed by seeing dogs with bloody feet that looked 
like hamburger because their pads were rubbed raw, both by the ground and by 
the booties their owners thought would prevent that problem (the booties 
themselves caused chafing that became raw and bled).  Many of these owners 
claimed to have conditioned their dog and their pads before the trip, but 
nothing could prepare them for the ardors of the trail.
>
>I've seen dogs come in and lay down and look like they never wanted to 
get up again.  But they do, and will follow you, even when it's killing 
them.  I have begged some owners to leave their dogs to rest and heal, and 
that I would bring the dog to meet them up the trail somewhere, to no avail. 
  It broke my heart.  I wanted to ask, "you love that dog how 
much???" But I bite my lip; it's HYOH, right?  Too bad the dogs can't 
HYOH -- I think it would involve many more lazy afternoons in the shade of 
the chaparral than their owners can allow them.
>
>A little (true) story about a dog I knew (not a PCT dog).  He was a 
German Weinmariner, young, athletic, with lots of "go" in him.  
His owner took him out for a run with her in Towsley Canyon (near Santa 
Clarita, CA) one warm afternoon.  Midway through the run, the dog collapsed 
and died from the heat.  Dogs can't perspire and cool themselves, and their 
systems simply shut down.  They can't tell you they're not feeling well, and 
they will keep following you, no matter what.  To this day, the owner has 
not forgiven herself.
>
>So, even if they're allowed, it may not always be the wisest choice, and 
you won't know until you get out there whether it was a good choice or not.  
Ask yourself whether it's worth taking the chance, allowed or not.
>
>-=Donna Saufley=-
>
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>-----Original Message-----
>From: kelly jackson <kellyandhank@hotmail.com>
>Sent: Dec 15, 2004 1:26 PM
>To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
>Subject: [pct-l] dogs
>
>Are dogs allowed on the trail ?
>
>
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