It's a Ruff World If You Hate Dogs

Stephen when I read your article tears begin to form
In my eyes and my soul was lifted...finally I have found someone connected to my soul...I am not a bad person because I don't like dogs and I wish people would respect that and keep their pets to themselves...Thank you, Thank you, Thank you...you have freed my soul by your words of wisdom and just down right honesty. You get an A++ for this one dude...Gina

i agree with everything you and gina (above my comment) said about dogs/pets/animals. i will avoid going to friends' apartments because of their energetic, germ-filled dogs and only feel a sense of happiness when they (avid dog lovers) complain about their beloved captive animal chewing up important papers, new shoes, rugs, babies... well, maybe not babies... but they're an uncontrollable variable in life. not to mention how much money is spent on food & vet trips. reading this was the highlight of my morning commute. thank you!!

I too give you thumbs up for having the courage to publish this column. I can only imagine the sheer volume of hate mail you must already be receiving. That said, I'm behind you 100%. Its hard being in the vast minority on this issue, especially on the north side of Chicago where I feel everyone but me owns a dog or wants one (or two, or three..). In the last 10 years the "dog friendly" attitude in this city has become out of hand. Dogs allowed on restaurant patios, dog bakeries, dog parks/beaches, etc. While I may not be entirely anti-dog ownership, people abuse the privledge and everyone pays for it (barking, filth, odor, etc.)Personally, I've never understood dog ownership, except for seeing eye dogs and other cases where they are well trained and perform an actual job. Its so odd to me that seemingly well adjusted adults think its completely acceptable to get up early in the AM before work to pick up piles of warm poop when in the freezing cold, then race home after work to do the same thing. Or better yet, pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars every year for someone to do it for them while they're at work. Please check out my Facebook group: "Common Sense Dog Ownership".

I couldn't wait to get to a computer to comment THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

I too do not like dogs. or cats in particular or birds or any animals inside a house. hair, dander, etc everywhere (including food yuk!!!) the barking, meowing, etc. And they smell.

I don't hate animals believe me. I like looking at PHOTOS of cute little puppies and kittens but really I am not an animal person I don't particularly like them near me.

NO Gina, James and Stephen - we're not bad people because we don't care for animals. I love animals. particularly cows and lobsters. On my plate.

Thank you Stephen Markley ~ I'm glad to know that I'm not alone. I have long referred to dogs as children who never grow up and become independent. Many a great night out has been cut short because "we need to get home and let the dog out". Even worse are those who have to take their dogs EVERYWHERE.

Stephen. You can't post a photo like THAT and not expect to get hate mail for your column. AWWWWW... cute dogggggieeee!

What's funny is, all the things you list about why you hate dogs, are all the reasons I love mine. Not so much the poop part though.

I'm gonna go against the grain here and state that I love dogs, well, all animals in general moreso than most people, BUT you're entitled to your thoughts & opinions and no one should shove their love of anything down your throat (no pun intentended, I think..)

I'm gonna go against the grain here and state that I love dogs, well, all animals in general moreso than most people, BUT you're entitled to your thoughts & opinions and no one should shove their love of anything down your throat (no pun intentended, I think..)

First, off ... cute dog picture. Very cute dog picture.

Second, even though I do like dogs, I totally understand where you are coming from, however, I think you owe it to dogs everywhere to be a little more tolerant. Not every dog falls into your description. Some yes, but not every dog.

And sometimes the dog is better behaved than the owner. You just have to consider that.

Actually, it's not the dogs so much as it's the dog owners. My "pet peeves": 1)owners who fail to get their dogs trained and who are then dismayed when the dogs misbehave. 2)Owners who think their dogs are small four-legged hairy humans and insist on taking them everywhere and imposing them on everyone. Example: the young affluent types who insist on coming to the Green Market to pay double for organic food but also insist on bringing their multiple pets to poop around the chairs where others are sitting and enjoying a cup of coffee or pastry.

Oh, Stephen, what a brave man. But would the city have to impose a fine for obnoxious barking if "dog lovers" controlled their obnoxious little balls of fur. I actually like dogs...have owned them...and am a grandma to three doggies. But, like parents of toddlers and infants, dog owners fail to recognize that their bundles of joy don't belong everywhere, can be annoying to other humans, and are not as cute as they think. You are still a good person even if you don't love animals as pets and any woman who can't see that is probably too stupid to make a good partner for you.

The same can be said about children. For those of you who don't like dogs so be it, but remember I have the same right not to like your loud, untrained, smelly, germ-carrying children. I applaud any business establishment that polices its patrons when they have both untrained animals and children. By the way I actually like dogs, but would prefer that they be an at-home type thing rather than be associated with public eating spaces. I have two dogs but inflict them on no one and have no kids (& will keep it that way).

The absolute worst work day each year is "Bring Your Whining, Mishbehaving, Brats to Work Day." I've never seen this done when the kids actually get anything other than a whopping dose of high sugar treats and way too much free time to wreak havoc on those who are trying to work.

For the record, a potential partner who doesn't like pets is a deal breaker. A partner with kids is a deal breaker. A partner with adult offspring living in their own spaces is definitely the way to go.

Great comment ChicagoGirl. I agree with you totally, some people should just not have dogs (& kids for that matter).

its funny that im reading this 2 days after my boyfriend of 5 years
broke up!! over what, you ask? HIS DOG!!! we moved in together after 5 years of dating september of 2008. after 1 year of putting up with constant barking (the little S.O.B. is a maltese), urine all over the place, crap on my floor and having to move over on the couch to make room for it (not him , IT!) i told my boyfriend he had a choice to make. He made it and i cant say im too broken up about it!!

while it may be the case that markley dislikes dogs, the truth of the matter is that he is allergic to them. everyone has known this to be a fact since the 3rd grade.

I don't mind dogs, as long as they are handled well and not trotted around Toms said; I also totally get what you're talking about. And to JMHO, you're right - that's why we don't have a dog nor kids.

Oh, Stephen, you made me laugh until I cried. Thanks for that.
And to echo Steph, AWWWWW... cute dogggggieeee!!
I actually love dogs, but I know people who don't. I have a next door neighbor dog that will NOT SHUT THE F**K UP. It is annoying and I would LOVE to fine his owners $250/day until they're forced to do something about it.
Oh, and you would love my dog ;-)

Well now I know where i'm going to have my dog poop tonight...AND NOT PICK IT UP.

PLEASE ED DELINE, WE DONT NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO PUT IN YOUR MOUTH.

Well to say I hate dogs or cats is a bit extreme. But I would not ever own either animal again in this life time. A comment I read above says it clearly, they are children who will never grow up and I add, get a job, help pay for their shelter and or food, or fix me an occassional meal or hard drinnk when I come in from slaving all day in the rat race. What they will do is scratch the heck out of the the new couch I just bought, jump on my counter tops in an attempt to eat or open some tasty snack, run back and forth through the dwelling chasing objects not seen by the human eye, or bark at sounds that can't be heard by the human ear(constantly). I wonder if perhaps having pets is some creul and unsual punishment. A constant position as a slave. But dog lovers, I guess the only positive is an unconditional love, but what a price for constantly picking up or scooping poop.

Angie, that is perverse.

I concur with Mr. Markley. Also, why is there a photo of a gerbil attached to this article?

As much as I love both dogs and cats, I'm all with Mr. Markley on this whole "pet-fascism" movement. Everybody in the city has a dog--it's de rigeur to own a dog to be hip now.

And not just any dog--a BIG HORSE of a dog, totally inappropriate for apartment living. What the hell is that all about? Those things shouldn't be indoors--they should be out on a ranch somewhere, where they can chase cows around and bite their legs.

But I've noticed something--sometimes, pets AREN'T just pets. Some people own dogs just so they can walk them and have a reason to talk to other dog-walkers. Because they don't know how to talk to another human being without leaning on their dog.

Then they get together in little dog-loving "clubs," and have "pet play-dates."

Yes, "pet play-dates." DID YOU EVER!!!??? Whatever happened to book clubs?

I like what John Waters said a few weeks ago on Letterman (or Leno, I forget which) when asked why he doesn't have pets: "I don't hate animals. I'm just not lonely."

what an ahole...how can u not like dogs, there is something wrong with people who don't like animals...I would rather have my dogs who love me unconditionally than an idiot like u

Liking dogs, or not liking them, shouldn't really be the issue; many parents don't much like their teenagers, either. The issue is to what extent humans are willing to accommodate the intelligent animals we keep breeding for profit and pleasure. It's an ethical question, not a matter of sentiment.

Its no wonder you weren't popular...not b/c you don't like dogs but that you sound like such a negative person in general. Complain, complain, complain!!!!
I'll just bet you're one of those hypnotized Obama-supporters who chant how much they love the world and such but spend hours upon hours on the computer, especially Facebook complaining not only about dogs but everything else in this world that doesn't suit your negative personality! YOU, honestly, could learn a lot from dogs and all creatures about loving something other than yourself...the same goes for many of the "I-totally-agree-with-you" and the "I-hate-dogs-and-kids-too" fanny kissers who have posted.

That's all well and good for those who are making that burning ethical decision ("to buy a dog, not to buy a dog")...but for the rest of us, who have to live with the consequences of that decision through no fault of our own, liking/not liking is VERY MUCH the issue. I just feel sorry for the dogs sold to unprepared/unintelligent owners. It's an unfortunate pet that's smarter than its master. And it's more common than we'd like to think.

Yeah, I agree about the big dogs in apartments, but I mean "ethical" in ways that are larger than dog poop and local ordinances. Dog poop and barking are annoyance issues that can be taken care of through ordinary channels, like fines and taxation, not to mention better socialization of dog owners. (I've been told that dogs are allowed in some Parisian restaurants but that if the dog once calls attention to itself, both the dog and the owner are banned for life.) What worries me is that some people seem to think that being an animal welfare advocate means liking dogs. It doesn't. I think Stephen's post has drawn so much ire because pet culture--really a giant industry--is what American have instead of a genuine and thoughtful conversation about our relationship to nonhuman animals and the environment, urban or not. For me a more burning question than dog poop is since "yellow dog" is on menu in some Bejing restaurants, should the US allow the export of dogs to China?
I hate the smell of cooked beef, by the way, and genuinely wish I could ban it from public spaces.

I never read this newspaper, nor have I ever heard of this guy until our dog walker left this article on our counter today. In fact, I can't believe I'm replying to this at all.. Well out "columnist" here obviously has issues and as a columnist, he's entitled to his opinion. He's never had the pleasure of having a dog or another pet for that matter and is obviously trying to push some buttons on an issue he has absolutely no knowledge of.
Glad to get confirm that the Redye contains garbage articles from a narcissist> My goodness, if you have a girlfriend or kids, Markley, I feel for their poor souls.

Stephen, I loved your article! It's not even about whether you love dogs or not (I like them) but I wanted to comment on how much you make me laugh. I have wanted to post a comment to one of your articles forever, and I finally did it. Your article on your parents and electronics was a masterpiece! Thank you, Thank you for making me laugh.

Stephen great job on this article! What a nice change to see an article from the other p.o.v. If you love your pet, that's great but why am I forced to love your pet as well? He or she is not cute, appealing or amusing to me in any way.

There are many people like myself who enjoy a life free from pets. If you see me crossing the street,it's because your dog is off the leash; I prefer to be left alone on the street instead of assaulted/annoyed by your pet. I don't care if he's friendly; put a leash on him. What a relief to not have to nod politely through yet another assault of how cute my dog is etc. This genuine smile is for you and for the profile photo that thankfully doesn't have a puppy in it.

I don't think "deep" is how I would describe someone who is only interested in discussing the NBA or ogling women (or dogs) that look like January Jones....more like "shallow even for a 13 year old."

I thought about a few ways to respond and then decided: You simple aren't worth it. What a poor writing, self-centered windbag.

I have a question for you: without having a dog (or cat, or small child) how do you compensate for the lack of wacky, sitcom-style chaos in your life?

Dude, awesome editorial. I think it's terribly sad that 1)these animals exist to be breathing accessories for their socially incompetent owners 2)if you took all the time, money and energy poured into these witless creatures and instead volunteered it to help those among us who cannot help themselves, we would have a startlingly better city to live in.
My third beef is perhaps non sequitur, but it disturbs me that if you call anyone out for their idiocy over their pet, you are told you are a heartless animal-hater, yet how many of these pet owners have ever looked at the ingredient list on pet food? How many of them know that carcasses from kill shelters are among the myriad animals rendered and used in their iams?

I was so happy to read your article. Surrounded at work by animal lovers, I am often cast as less-than-human because I do not. I live in fear of my office becoming one of those bring your pets to work places. It's bad enough that I sneeze all day from the pet dander on people's clothing. Having them run around the office too would be more than I can handle.

Hate to disagree with you, Markley, especially if you take into account how awesome dogs can be when used to your advantage. Dogs can bite pesky neighbors, growl at annoying school children and urinate on other people's stuff. You have to learn to let the pooches do your bidding, Stephen. Unless you do your own bidding, which is, well, kinda boring. You don't want to be boring, do you?

So sad Markley - sad that you haven't experienced the joy and numerous benefits of having a dog in your life....Dogs so much to so many. My reply to you is here
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/steve-dale-pet-world/2009/10/barking-in-defense-of-dogs.html#comments

I actually love dogs, but I think an apartment is a terrible place to have a dog. At least be in a house with some sort of yard to play in. Obviously many Chicagoans disagree. I'm just a bit tired of listening to bored dogs bark all day while they're left alone in nearby apartments. I would never do anything to harm a dog unless it was actually attacking me, but I do enjoy making little noises when I go by an apartment with a barky dog in it, just to make it gasp, snarl, and possibly have a myocardial infarction in the process. Or add a little stress to help shorten its life. Maybe that will hasten the day when I can check my mailbox in peace. (I hasten to add that some neighbors do have dogs I never hear, and I try to remind myself that all the dogwalking puts eyes, paws, and teeth on patrol in the neighborhood, which is a good thing, and if we ever have an intruder, there will be barking, which would also be a good thing.)

I am glad that you realize how you feel about animals because there are way too many bad pet owners that don't feel the compassion and responsibility towards there pets. I hope you also realize this is exactly why you would be a bad parent. Like pets, children are needy and want to follow you everywhere. If this is how you feel about animals, please don't ever become a parent either.

I hate dogs. I can't STAND dogs! Most dog owners are arrogant, inconsiderate, and self centered. I said MOST. Not ALL. When dog owners find out you don't like dogs, they start to analyze you. You must've had a troubled childhood. You had bad experience(s) with dogs when you were a kid. But my dog is this way and my dog is that way. And my dog can stand on his head and sing christmas carols. Well, I don't care even if your dog can whistle and recite the chinese alphabet.

Have you ever noticed that people who own fish, or birds, rabbit, or other non-intrusive type animals, they never force their pet on you. If you express that you don't like fish, or birds, or rabbits, etc, they never analyze you, or make negative, arrogant comments about you. They simply accept the fact that you don't like that type of pet. Period.

Dog owners, however, the opposite. They are at least as vicious as their dog. They verbally attack you, calling you names, carelessly because you don't associate with their animal.

As I said, not all dog owners like that, but I had mostly negative encounters with dog owners that is why I learned to stereotype them, or draw mostly negative conclusion about dog owners and their rats (...I mean pets).

I am already stressed out that my boss is requested an off site meeting with our department and he wants to host it at his property. Yup, you've guessed it. He has 4 golden retrievals.

Yea nosejob. Well said!

ih8dogs.blogspot.com

This is really a question of selfishness - on multiple levels. The dog owner is selfish in owning a dog (the owner needs attention, love, affection, joy, whatever, etc.) and acts selfishly in owning a dog (doesn't clean up the poo, doesn't train the dog, lets the dog jump up on people, thinks kids love his or her dog, doesn't care). Then when people say anything - of course it's the equivalent of insulting the owner's child - they are personally insulted. The animals are nuisances, and have their shortcomings. AND the owners are equally (or greater) nuisances, because they are the ones who have control over, and could mitigate a lot of the problems but fail to do so. Then those who do not appreciate either the owners or their dogs are subject to ridicule, accused of having a dark heart or otherwise considered evil or uncaring, when really they just want to be left alone, free from intrusion, just like a dog owner would like to be.