What makes them growl
OVER THE YEARS EDITING this letters page, one thing still surprises me: Sometimes, the shortest, least-serious letters prompt the most indignant reactions from readers. In this case, I concede I should have seen it coming, since the offending letter involved the beings universally adored by people in Los Angeles: their dogs.
On Sunday, in response to an op-ed article on developing an enduring connection to one’s neighborhood by walking a dog, a letter was printed that posed a simple question: Why is it perfectly acceptable for a dog to urinate in public, but it isn’t for humans? The writer signed off with, “Just asking,” a statement that more than a dozen irritated readers took as an invitation to submit an answer.
— PAUL THORNTON, letters editor
Ellen Chris of West Hills speculated that we would get “interesting feedback” after providing her own:
I don’t even know where to start with this comment.
First, dogs do not have the capability to sit on or use a toilet. Second, animals cannot search for restrooms.
From the beginning of time, dogs have urinated outdoors. That is one of the
reasons that we walk our dogs.
I don’t know if she is trying to make a statement about homeless people. I simply don’t understand her point. My mouth was open until I shut it and wrote these words.
What an absurd letter. I am sure you will get some interesting feedback.
Barb Kaplan of Palm Springs says her dog’s talents are in the kitchen, not the bathroom:
The writer opens her letter by saying she is neither a lover nor hater of dogs. I must disagree. Clearly, the letter shows that the writer is in the latter camp.
I’ve had some incredibly intuitive large dogs in my life, including my current standard poodle, and none of them ever learned to use a toilet. The current one, however, has almost perfected a great cheese omelet.
Jay Choi of Anaheim Hills suggests something better than “just asking”:
Some of your readers can write English with acceptable syntax and compose grammatically correct questions.
Yet one letter writer fails to understand that dogs cannot build and utilize sanitation infrastructure and that humans have not built any on their behalf. So, we understand and accept dogs’ behavior as that of being natural to their existence.
Instead of “just asking,” “some thinking” should be applied.
Eileen Barish of Santa Monica questions the “pet neutral” assertion:
After reading Carol Mithers’ piece about walking her dog in her neighborhood, I was very touched. However, after reading the response by one of your letter writers, I felt I had to write.
The writer claims to be “pet neutral.” Anyone reading the letter would more than likely come away with a different opinion. Where would the writer expect dogs to relieve themselves? In the toilet?
The letter writer should take a more truthful look at her “pet neutral” attitude. Just saying.