Bus stop and dogs

[java]

Our school bus stop has about 25 kids getting on at the stop. There is one special needs child as well. Why do people bring dogs to the bus stop? One neighbor insists on bringing her big dog (pit bull) to the bus stop every day and the special needs girl is clearly upset and afraid. And her aid that meets her at the bus is dressed all nicely and this dog always jumps on her.

Would you continue to bring your dog? Personally, I have 2 dogs and never bring them to the bus. It's chaos there and I worry about the dogs as well as the kids.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I think there are 2 different issues here. One is whether one brings one's dog to the bus stop, and the other is whether one controls one's dog in public.

I bring my dog when I walk my son to the bus in the morning. I don't do this everyday because my son's old enough to walk by himself, but about 80% of the time we head out at the same time and it's nice to walk together and talk a little, and then I go back, put the dog away and head out to work. Why do I do this? Well, because my mornings are already tight, and the idea of walking out with my son, going back the 4 flights of stairs to my apartment, getting the dog, and going out AGAIN so the dog can pee (having already been out with him once, because he seems to need to go to the bathroom before and after breakfast) would be the straw the broke the schedule's back. I'm already functioning on about 6 hours of sleep, so the idea of adding 20 minutes to the schedule does not appeal.

However, my dog is not allowed to jump on strangers, or to crowd up to a bus door, or to be near people who are clearly afraid. Since DS is in middle school, I usually don't even cross the last street to the stop, but if he were in say Kindergarten, and I needed to be on the same side of the street, we'd hold back so the dog wasn't in the group of children, and let my child come to me. Undoubtedly many children would come over and say hi to my cute dog (who would be sitting if they pet him, no jumping on children!) but any who were afraid would have plenty of opportunity to stay away.

I agree with you that this person is not doing the right thing, but the bigger issues seems to me to be that they aren't controlling their dog in public. I'm betting that there are issues with this dog in lots of settings, not just the bus stop.

 

[Hoodie]

I don't have dogs, but I'd guess that it's part of the morning walk?

I'd worry about the dog as well. I've seen that dogs and school bus tires don't mix well.

 

[Ceila]

As long as the dog is well controlled, I'd have no problem with it. In the OP's situation, however, the dog owner is clearly in the wrong.

 

[kamik86]

As a pp said I'm not sure bringing a dog to a bus stop is so odd. It makes sense to walk the dog at the same time you walk to the child to the bus stop. Teh problem seems to be not controlling the dog and be understanding of someone who is afraid of the dog. When I was little we owned two husky-mix dogs and I was still afraid of many other dogs becuase they would bark or try to jump on me... My dogs didn't bark at me or try to pull on their leash to run at me (unless I was holding their food but they still wouldn't jump on me... just try to get the food). Ironically one dog I was afraid of was the neighbors little dog (the breed of the one in the taco bell commerical which I can't spell)

 

[MichelleVW]

I would take my dogs to the bus stop, but they are well behaved and I wouldn't allow them to jump on people or scare children. The dog isn't the problem here...it's the idiotic owner.

 

[tlbwriter]

I agree with the above posters... the dog's presence isn't inappropriate, but its behavior is.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I also walk my dog at the same time I walk my daughter to the bus. As she is older, I don't always walk her all the way but every once in a while I do.

My dog is a pug and is a big hit with the kids. She is well behaved though so no jumping! And if I knew someone was afraid, I would not go near the kids.

I agree with most here, it's the owner. I think the Aide should really make it clear that the dog should not be jumping on her. I would also request that since the child has a real fear the dog be kept back from the area right outside the bus. I think that is reasonable.

 

[shortbun]

If I were the aid or the bus driver, I'd report it and ask security to come to the stop. Here, security will come to the stop, observe and take action if there is danger or interference by an animal or another person. For that matter, you could call as a concerned citizen.

 

[HelenePA]

a few other parents take their dogs to the bus stop and its not a problem because they are very well behaved. My dog on the other hand... is a springer.. he jumps A LOT! Me and Anthony come back to get him after the kids are gone on the bus and we take our walk then.

 

[shortbun]

I would take my dogs to the bus stop, but they are well behaved and I wouldn't allow them to jump on people or scare children. The dog isn't the problem here...it's the idiotic owner.

Many people are afraid of dogs. Those who are afraid do not know that your dogs are well behaved.

 

[mhsjax]

We pretty much have had dogs at our bus stop for years. When I went out with my kids I would sometimes bring mine. The big difference is that all of the kids at the bus stop love dogs. I and I think most of my neighbors that have dogs, would never bring a dog if a child was afraid of them. Why is the world would you start a child's day off like that.

Also, the dogs at our bus stop have never jumped up on anyone. This isn't acceptable either.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Many people are afraid of dogs. Those who are afraid do not know that your dogs are well behaved.

I don't know that the owner isn't carrying a gun and ready to shoot me either, but I give my neighbors the benefit of the doubt. People should not be prohibited from walking their well behaved dogs in public because a certain segment of the population might be afriad of canines.

 

[MushyMushy]

I don't know that the owner isn't carrying a gun and ready to shoot me either, but I give my neighbors the benefit of the doubt. People should not be prohibited from walking their well behaved dogs in public because a certain segment of the population might be afriad of canines.

I'm not a big fan of dogs in public places like stores and such, but I agree with you.

 

[Ceila]

Many people are afraid of dogs. Those who are afraid do not know that your dogs are well behaved.

So? They ask, the dog owner answers, done.

No reason to keep a family pet indoors just because someone *might* be afraid of animals. Again, a responsible dog owner will keep his or her dog away from anyone who seems afraid around dogs, both for the person's sake as well as the dog's sake. If an owner isn't responsible, then the other parent would need to talk to them or the school if necessary.

 

[luvmy3]

No, I don't take my dog to the bus stop. I take her out in the yard when my dses walk down and I stay in the yard with her and watch them from there. If I have to go down, I put her in the house.
She isn't well behaved (yet ) which is why I don't bring her, she gets so excited near kids that it can get a little crazy. If after my appt with our local dog whisperer she is behaving better I would take her, however if there was a child there who was clearly afraid of her I would never. Why would someone continue to do that

 

[C.Ann]

Our school bus stop has about 25 kids getting on at the stop. There is one special needs child as well. Why do people bring dogs to the bus stop? One neighbor insists on bringing her big dog (pit bull) to the bus stop every day and the special needs girl is clearly upset and afraid. And her aid that meets her at the bus is dressed all nicely and this dog always jumps on her.

Would you continue to bring your dog? Personally, I have 2 dogs and never bring them to the bus. It's chaos there and I worry about the dogs as well as the kids.

No, I would not.. In this case it seems it would be common courtesy - but then again, that's something that some people just don't have..

 

[jrmasm]

I see nothing wrong with a well behaved dog at a bus stop.

 

[tiggger1]

I don't know that the owner isn't carrying a gun and ready to shoot me either, but I give my neighbors the benefit of the doubt. People should not be prohibited from walking their well behaved dogs in public because a certain segment of the population might be afriad of canines.

 

[sunnyday123]

I would take my dogs to the bus stop, but they are well behaved and I wouldn't allow them to jump on people or scare children. The dog isn't the problem here...it's the idiotic owner.

I agree totally. If DD had a bus stop, I would take our dog on the walk.

Many people are afraid of dogs. Those who are afraid do not know that your dogs are well behaved.

They would clearly be able to see the well behaved dog. Should no one ever walk their dog because they may encounter someone who might be afraid? We walk at our local park-and more people either pick up their dogs, walk the opposite way, or walk around us when they see us coming. If someone walks by, my dog will sit and wait for them to pet her. ( very few do ) I'm not going to not walk her because someone might be afraid.