Letters to the Editor
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'Alpha' theory outdated
As someone who does canine rehabilitation for rescues and shelters, I’d like tooffer a different opinion to “Your DogWants Out.”
My first point is to understand your goals when walking a dog. We know that dogs need and often enjoy exercise.While we may get some exercise from the walk, our bigger goal is the dog’s walking. At the same time, we need enough control for safety, especially with multiple dogs, and for the walk to be a pleasant experience for all.
There is an “old school” that believes you must always control and decide for your dog. That their DNA programs certain behaviors, they work in a pack and always need a leader. That dogs must always be walked at your side and only stop to sniff when you permit, or you’re not the “leader” and will strengthen his dominance. None of this is either necessary, nor has any direct connection with the goals I gave above.
Further, the last few decades of study have found no basis for that “old school” theory. The focus now is on effective communication and a beneficial partnership,and understanding the dog’s needs. As for all the old alpha/dominance/pack theory stuff, the scientist who actually started all of that several decades ago made a recent argument against it.
As far as dominance, I don’t really seea pack of dogs, but a gaggle of them, as the social structure is closer to geese. There’s no set alpha, as canine leadership is “situationally fluid” and can easily change in different situations.
When I am walking dogs, they are rarely at my side. That would not only be physically difficult with three or more dogs, but they’re on the walk to have some fun and enjoy themselves. I’m walking three dogs in front of me through Lowe’s, and we come to the end of the aisle. If they’re watching me, I turn. If they’re busy sniffing something, I’ll say “left” or “right.” Same with the walk. If one dog wants to stop and sniff, I may signal the others to wait. That is communication and partnership. Everybody gets to make some decisions, although I have the veto power. And that’s what determines the leader, not just whoever is in front.
Gerry Glauser
Rio Rancho
Helpers need help
Last December, tragedy struck New Mexico’s most unique no-kill animal shelter, on 90 remote acres in Pie Town in Catron County. Brad and Laurie Beauchamp, owners of Fur and Feather Animal Assistance, were both badly mauled by a resident dog and airlifted
to UNM Hospital’s trauma unit. After multiple surgeries and rehab, this caring couple is not yet strong enough to help the many animals who depend on them. They desperately need our help.
Since 2003, Brad and Laurie have rescued more than 1,500 injured, sick, and abandoned dogs and cats. Hundreds of these animals have been placed in loving homes because of their efforts. Animals who cannot be adopted out remain at the mountain facility, where they spend their days roaming free in pastures instead of in kennels.
The Beauchamps remain incapacitated
and unable to tend to the needs of all the animals. Laurie is further handicapped by cancer and continues to make the trek to UNM Hospital every other week for chemotherapy. Along with their outstanding hospital bills, they have had to pay workers to supplement their limited volunteer help. Other shelters have helped by taking in some 60 dogs for re-homing, but 100 cats and 40 dogs remain.
Please help this couple who have done
so much for the state’s thrown-away pets. Tax-deductible gifts can be made online at furandfeather.org or by sending a check to P.O. Box 555, Pie Town, NM 87828.
Kate Kuligowski
Albuquerque
Cat story was off
I am writing in response to Kat Brown’s column “Trap-neuter defeats legal challenge” (Dec/Jan 2015). Ms. Brown’s interpretation of Judge Malott’s ruling in Marcy Britton’s suit against the City of Albuquerque was factually inaccurate. I attended the hearing on October 9th: Judge Malott found that the City of Albuquerque’s TNR program did in fact violate animal cruelty laws. Although Judge Malott found that this violation was not significant enough to warrant further action by the court, his ruling was that TNR is a form of abandonment and animal cruelty. The case has already been appealed and is not concluded, as Brown would have readers believe.
It’s disappointing to find incomplete reporting on such an important topic in The Bosque Beast, especially when there are groups in the Albuquerque area like CARMA that find no-kill solutions for feral cat populations that don’t involve either abandonment or harm to native wildlife. I hope that The Bosque Beast can present a more complete picture of the feral cat question in future issues.
Erin Radcliffe
Albuquerque
Kat Brown responds:
As reported in the Best Friends Animal Society newsletter by Gregory Castle, the organization’s co -founder and CEO, the case in question was dismissed. That does not preclude appeals or additional action. I was told by Melissa Miller, the New Media Coordinator at Best Friends, “The only issue before the court was whether the court should use the power of mandamus to halt the TNR program. The court ruled that a ‘writ of mandamus or alternative writ is inappropriate in this case,’ but abuse was not an issue. This case is being appealed, but thus far it’s not clear on what grounds.”
In other words, the court found the request was not justified, and dismissed the case. This happened six months ago, and there have been further developments since, but the statement was accurate at the time the column was written.
I agree wholeheartedly that there are many excellent no-kill shelters—though unfortunately never enough. Many do support some form of TNR program. Admittedly, problems exist. But they are still an improvement over the former solution of euthanasia for a multitude of animals that might otherwise have enjoyed good lives as part of a managed community.
It is my hope that all animal-lovers and rescuers, at some point, can stop taxing each other’s resources and work together on coexisting not just with animals, but with each other.
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