DADO - what does that mean?

It stands for "Dumb Ass Dog Owner," the subject of today's blog hop.  This blog hop was created for everyone to write about their experiences with dumb dog owners.  It was created/hosted by Heart like a dog and Tales from the backroad.


So what makes a person a dumb dog owner?  I think it is someone who deliberately allows bad behavior in their dogs, or someone who chooses to remain ignorant on how to properly care for and train their dogs.  And sometimes, a dumb dog owner, is just someone who is a lazy pet owner.


I have been a little unfocused while trying to decide what to write for this post.  There are just so many stories to choose from, I am having trouble narrowing it down!  There are the stories I could share from my time working at a veterinary hospital.  There are the stories about people I have met in my own neighborhood.  There are stories from my experiences at dog shows.  And finally, there are stories from people I have had arguments with on Facebook.  So which do I choose?

I guess I will share the stories that bothered me the most.  For instance, while I was working at an animal hospital, a black Labrador was brought in to the hospital by the police.  He was accompanying his owner on a quick trip to run errands around town.  While they were out driving around the owner’s truck was hit by another car, in a pretty bad motor vehicle accident.  I don’t know who was at fault for the accident…but I do know that most of the dog’s injuries were caused by his dumb owner.  Why?  Because his owner had this sweet, beautiful dog riding in the back of his pick-up truck unsecured.  Dogs do not belong in the backs of trucks, ever.  Not only are they in danger because of possible accidents, they could also injure themselves by jumping out of the truck.  Because no matter how well trained you think your dog is, if he sees two dogs running and playing alongside the road, he may jump out to join them.   Or he may see something that just excites him so much, he forgets everything you have taught him and just reacts by leaping out of your truck and into the path of oncoming traffic.  Why do people still think this is ok? 

Or how about the dog owner on one of the collie groups on Facebook who posts about breeding her collies?  Now, I am not saying that breeding your dogs makes you a DADO.  Without reputable, knowledgeable dog breeders, we wouldn’t have all the wonderful dog breeds we all love so much.  But when you adopt two collies without registration papers off of Craig’s List, and then breed them without doing any health testing what so ever, and then try to sell them on Facebook to strangers…well, that makes you an extreme DADO.  You don’t know what kind of health problems those puppies might develop, you don’t know what kind of temperaments they may have, and you do not know if those random strangers you met on the internet are going to provide loving, caring homes for those puppies.  And then when you fight with the people who try to educate you, because you announce “you are going to breed another litter because rescues charge too much money,” you are showing that not only are you ignorant, you are choosing to remain that way.


And how about the friend, from my past, who posts online to ask “does anyone know anyone giving away kittens?”  Because he will not get one from a shelter or rescue, because they charge exorbitant fees for mutilated animals!  (He thinks they are mutilated by being spayed or neutered, as he actually believes that all animals should be free to reproduce at least once.  Can you imagine the animal overpopulation we would be facing if everyone shared his views?) And I guess this makes him a DACO, Dumb Ass Cat Owner, technically speaking...


There are just too many stories, and that is just sad.