On Should city allow dogs in parks?

Posted on April 11 at 10:52 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Gwendt ... I live with my certified therapy dog on the east side of Janesville.

On Should city allow dogs in parks?

Posted on April 11 at 10:49 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

There is a leash law in the City of Janesville which should be followed in public unless in a designated area set aside for dogs to run. I do not believe any dog should be allowed in the parks and trails from May - September. Wislady ... for your information, my certified therapy dog is, also, considered my service dog where I live for medical reasons. Also, a certified therapy dog has very strict veterinary care required, stringent testing for certification and, in many instances, more training than many service dogs. She is certified by the largest and oldest therapy dog organization in the country, TDI and has a $3,000,000 insurance policy on her through TDI. She, also, has three formal obedience titles. Anyone can purchase a service dog vest, put it on a dog and take a dog into stores, etc. without being part of an official organization and cannot be legally questioned as to why the person requires a service dog. I could purchase a service vest for her and take her anywhere I chose as she qualifies as a service dog but don't feel it's necessary. Her therapy dog/tail waggin' tutor work is much more valuable to this community for which she has received national recognition.

On Should city allow dogs in parks?

Posted on April 10 at 4:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

If every owner with a dog using the parks and trails would pick up after their dog, if every owner had a well trained and obedient dog who was well socialized and kept their dog on a 6 foot leash, if every owner had their dog up-to-date on vaccinations ... then possibly yes. That will never be the case. I have a certified therapy dog who has three formal obedience titles, has been socialized, walks beautifully on leash and I pick up after her. But I wouldn't walk her on the trails or in the park because of the people that don't have control of their dogs or because of the breeds of dogs they might have. Keep the law as it is.

On Janesville City Council to consider allowing dogs in parks, trails all year long

Posted on March 25 at 1:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

As a responsible dog owner (Lhasa Apso that is a certified therapy dog and tail waggin' tutor), I believe that dogs should be allowed on trails and parks year round provided they are on a 6' leash and the owner picks up after the dog. I use a flex leash at home but believe the leash law states 6' or less when on public property and follow this law when walking her. Also, specific dogs are allowed on school grounds. Maggie May visits Jefferson Elementary School every Tuesday morning where she tutors first grade children in reading. She's, also, been invited to several other elementary schools in the area to visit.

I agree with several other comments that an obedience trained dog is often times better behaved than many children. If dogs were allowed during warmer months, I think the parks and trails would be better utilized as most dog owners do enjoy taking their dogs on walks.

On Angela Rhodes out as humane society director

Posted on February 12 at 8:55 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

What a cruel comment concerning putting the dogs and cats at RCHS to sleep. A rescued dog can be your best friend, as is mine. I adopted Maggie May in May, 2009. She was owner released as unfriendly and untrainable. Also, RCHS charged her previous owner $50 to take her. I paid $125 to adopt her.

She is a certified therapy dog/tail waggin' tutor who works with children at Jefferson Grade School as well as the Milton Public Library and Hedberg Public Library. She's a valuable member of our community and is working with her students to improve their reading, grades and self-esteem.

On Angela Rhodes out as humane society director

Posted on February 11 at 10:22 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

With being an active volunteer with another rescue in Rock County, I know there are many cats and dogs that need help. RCHS stopped picking up strays in Rock County and animals are being taken to Dane County by local municipalities because of the excessive amount RCHS was going to charge, there aren't many cats and dogs available for adoption locally. People interested would have to go to Dane County to adopt. Currently 14 cats and 5 dogs up for adoption on RCHS's web page. I've adopted twice from RCHS (one when Chris was the director; the second time shortly after Angela became director).

On Angela Rhodes out as humane society director

Posted on February 11 at 6:38 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Did you see Channel 3 television at 6 pm. Interviewed someone at RCHS who was standing in front of all empty cat cages in the lobby area. How terrible and how sad. Don't know if RCHS can be saved or not. The board needs to take responsibility for what's happened. According to news release on RCHS web site, the board is going to take an "active" roll ... isn't that what they should have been doing? Maybe they could bring Chris back who was executive director before Angela Rhodes. She was well liked and did a good job.

On From pets to 'recess': High school stress relief

Posted on January 31 at 6:38 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

It's amazing to see how a therapy dog can affect a student's well being. I see it every week when Maggie May visits Jefferson Grade School and is a tail waggin' tutor for one of their first grade classes. Watching her students read and interact with Maggie shows the incredible affect she has on them.

On What to do with all those cats, dogs?

Posted on January 20 at 3:11 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Spaying or neutering cannot be done on dogs that are being shown in AKC conformation competition as the AKC will not allow them to compete. I do agree that if you have a dog for a pet, that dog should be fixed.

But as others have mentioned, look at the problems the RCHS has and who has caused them ... the executive director and the board of directors that support her.

On Communities, groups struggle with how to deal humanely with animals

Posted on January 15 at 4:23 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

I adopted a very special little dog a few years ago from RCHS. After having her a week, I went back to RCHS to donate an additional $100. Angela was in her office with the door shut. I had to force her to come out of her office to accept my donation by threatening not to give it to RCHS unless she did. Reluctantly, she came out to accept the $100 donation.