Puppy Mascot for WHS

[Daisy Chain]

After re-reading this article, I came away with the overwhelming opinion that this is a really, really bad idea.

American Bulldogs need a strong "pack leader" and don't do well when a consistent one is not in its life; they also form deep bonds with their families, as just about any dog will do, not just this particular breed. So to uproot this dog from family to family year after year as is being proposed is a form of cruelty and is asking for trouble.

What a goofy, half-baked idea. Thanks, Dr. Hamlin.


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BTW - the WHS mascot is an English bulldog. Not that getting one would make this idea any more tolerable.

And this from the American Bulldog Association Web site:




"Now as the bloody shows of bull bating is left in the past these dogs are used as guards and as show dogs though they are very aggressive and it is not recommended to leave these dogs with children alone and other animals alone. American bulldog association is formed to setup standards for this dog breed and guidelines for their training."

[justwondering]

Daisy, you are so right. What is going on with this principal? He seems to have a very strange sense of reality. Obviously, his doctorate degree required no research since it appears he forgot a few minor details such as wrong breed, the personality and needs of the dog and the fact that the breed's association finds the dog to be aggressive. Looks like a plan gone wrong.

Anyone who is an animal lover should make their displeasure known to board members and to the administration. Hope if it goes through the school does not find itself in a world of problems. Wait a doggone minute, if the dog displeases this man...he will just hit it with a hammer to make his point. Lord, help the children under his care.

[Daisy Chain]

Contacting the board and the administration is a great idea. Way better than the idea of having a "school" dog. This is a lousy idea.

I'm all for school spirit, so don't get me wrong. But the last live bulldog mascot (an English Bulldog) that used to make special appearances was the personal pet of a staff member who kept it from the puppy stage to the end of its life. They are not talking about doing something equivalent here - the proposed plan is to have a different family "host" the dog each year. Bad idea.....cruel, actually.

And liability issues....whew, don't even get me started. And while they mentioned that it could hang out with the special ed. kids, it's not going to be a dedicated service animal or therapy dog, which requires special training. Actually, they are high-energy dogs with huge exercise needs. Without that, it will become destructive and a distraction in class. Again, why would you bring a breed with aggressive tendencies in with strange kids? Or what about the kids at sporting events who just can't resist the urge to pet a strange dog.....horrible idea! Dr. Hamlin will be long gone and this dog and the school will be suffering the consequences of this stupid, ill-conceived decision.

[curious]

The ASPCA should get involved in this! Any ethical breeder would refuse to sell a puppy into a situation like this. This may be a well intentioned idea, but it clearly shows multiple errors in judgement. How did it get this far without common sense prevailing?

[Daisy Chain]

Dr. Batiste announced at last night's school board meeting that the puppy mascot for the high school has been tabled indefinitely.

[Eastsidejohn]

Great!

[Daisy Chain]

Unfortunately, we may not have heard the last of this issue. Keep your eyes and ears open.

[Batman]

Let's stop this now

[Danno]

Dr. Batiste announced at last night's school board meeting that the puppy mascot for the high school has been tabled indefinitely.

This story by the News-sun news hound seems to contradict that.

"So-called dog lovers certainly have their leashes all wrapped up in a knot over plans to have a real bulldog be the mascot for Waukegan High School in the very near future.

Waukegan Unit School District 60 has been bombarded with e-mails from "outraged citizens", as has The News-Sun, The Hound has been told. Most of them don't live here and are concerned about the dog's mental state.

The Hound says: Chew on a Milk Bone for awhile, will you.

Waukegan High students voted for a flesh-and-blood mascot, an American, not an English bulldog, and picked a brindle-colored puppy. School officials have high hopes for the so-far-unnamed mascot. Besides being paraded around at various sporting events, it will be used as a partner dog in special ed classes. During the day it will have a dog house at the school being built by woodshop classes and at night go home with a faculty member.

The anti-mascot patrol believes this is a bad thing because? How many of these so-called dog lovers leave their dogs home all day when they're at work or put them in a kennel when they vacation?

He without sin shouldn't cast the first kibbles at this mascot plan, which The Hound, who should know about such things, heartily endorses. Arff!"

[Penguin40]

So what happened to the money that the students had to give to vote? I heard they were told they had to give $1.00 to vote, and that money would be used to help with getting the dog shots and stuff? Anyone know anything about this?