What? That story can't be accurate. I mean, the dog was a Pit Bull (mix), right? Are we sure the dog didn't chew up all the seats on the bus, bite the driver's hands off, and run off with the front axle in his mouth, chasing an old lady and her cat?

:P

I can see the new posters now: Pay up or DIE!

Y'know...Dogs off-leash like that always cheese me. Usually, there's some human with a plastic bag in hand within close proximity, acting as if they'd actually take responsibility....as if we'd believe that they'd observe one city ordinance when they flagrantly ignore another.

So ya think the bag is just for show???
I never thought of that but you're probably right on the money.

I imagine if you ever questioned one of them they'd ask you why you hate dogs. no?

Species-ist!

...he could be euthanized. A heavy penalty for taking public transportation.

They'd call it Tri-Met assisted suicide - I've considered it on some MAX and bus rides.

Seriously, a mascot would be great idea to help humanize Tri-Met's image. For that very reason I doubt it would even be considered these days. You know some group would be offended and there'd be a hundred other reasons why it wouldn't be feasible.

Maybe they could hire someone to come up with a virtual mascot and pay a zillion bucks to write the software and then hire a few dozen more folks to maintain and promote it.

Pits are strong dogs, but, not all are vicious. They can be smart, loyal pets if properly socialized. This guy seems pretty social.

rr asks: I imagine if you ever questioned one of them they'd ask you why you hate dogs. no?

No. I generally question them as to their literacy skills, as they are generally running their dog where it is clearly posted as an on-leash area.

From my experience, all too many dog-owners are just plain ignorant. I think there must be a correlation between illiteracy and dog-ownership. But then, maybe it's just basic stupidity.

And... I don't hate dogs, but I have a healthy distain for all too many dog-owners.

"From my experience, all too many dog-owners are just plain ignorant. I think there must be a correlation between illiteracy and dog-ownership."

Illiterate "dog-hyphen-owners"?!

Anyway, I guess the powers-that-be at Google would disagree. (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/03/technology/03google.html?_r=1&oref=slogin)

"So Google set out to find out if there were any bits of life experience or personality it could use to spot future stars.

Last summer, Google asked every employee who had been working at the company for at least five months to fill out a 300-question survey.

Some questions were factual: What programming languages are you familiar with? What Internet mailing lists do you subscribe to?

Some looked for behavior: Is your work space messy or neat?

And some looked at personality: Are you an extrovert or an introvert?

And some fell into no traditional category in the human resources world: What magazines do you subscribe to? What pets do you have?

"We wanted to cast a very wide net," Mr. Bock said. "It is not unusual to walk the halls here and bump into dogs. Maybe people who own dogs have some personality trait that is useful."

Madam Hatter: Manure is useful.

"Maybe people who own dogs have some personality trait that is useful," is not a useful statement.

If they are all gullible, illiterate spendthrifts, then most marketing people would be more than happy to call them "useful".

now, now, godfry,

At least the good Madam didn't call you on "distain".

Obviously you DO hate dogs...

...AND their owners.

As for those owners, many, if not most of them, arrogantly expect us to indulge them their little foibles (such as allowing off-leash activity, interminable barking, etc.). If we're offended, WE have a problem.

Godfrey - If you had read the article, you would have seen that Google is using this data to refine their hiring practices - to spot their "future stars" - not identify "gullible, illiterate spendthrifts" for marketing purposes.

rr - I don't expect anyone to indulge me or my dogs' "little foibles" any more than I expect anyone to indulge me and my children's. My dogs are never off leash, poop only in my back yard, and aren't allowed to bark incessantly.

I'm only offended by those who leap to rash, unequivocal condemnations of a whole group of people (or dogs).

MadHat,

Bravo!

I hope you don't lump me in with that latter group as I haven't you with my example. Obviously, you get it. Just as obviously, many dog owners don't.

Go, and preach some of that old-time religion to them.

Amen

...and, if the foo don't sh**, don't take it personally.

Love ya, babe,

rr

Madam Hatter,

I don't read articles for which the intro effectively states that correlation is directly related to causation. It's flawed already, why bother?

I'm offended by those who ignore basic city ordinances passed for the protection and safety of city residents and allow their animals to run and crap at will...of which there are all too many of in the city.

I'm offended by those who, when faced with another citizen who points out that they are in violation of the law in their behavior with their animal, respond with intimidation and threats of physical violence (their big and potentially vicious dog). This has actually happened to me. Twice. In Portland Parks. Of course, they were nowhere to be seen by the time the police arrived.

That you personally take responsibility for your animal is laudable. However, you have no place acting as an apologist for those with whom you obviously have not met, nor would even recognize as menaces to the public safety, had you met them. Believe me, they are out there. I've personally met them and I frequently and regularly see evidence of their presence on my walks through the neighborhood. I try not to step in it.

Lastly, if you learned to read correctly, you would see that I did not condemn an entire group of people (or dogs)...I condemned that part of a group of people who are irresponsible in their behavior with their animals. Those who ignore the laws which apply to their animals in the city. Just as I would condemn those who would neglect or abuse said animals.