News From Iran: Islam Is Dogs' Worst Friend
Michael Theodoulou writes in the Daily Mail:
Now, for the first time, Iranian MPs have tabled a motion that criminalises owning dogs in private apartments or exercising them in public places.The bill warns that in addition to posing health hazards, the growing popularity of dog ownership 'poses a cultural problem, a blind imitation of the vulgar Western culture'.
Yes, the "vulgar Western culture" that makes it possible for the Iranians to be more than a bunch of warring goatherds.
Howard Stern was right a few years back: instead of war, they should just bomb these places with billions of porn DVDs, and let the people collect them.
biff at April 21, 2011 7:31 AM
In Islamic society, isn't comparing someone to a dog one of the worst insults you can launch?
Do they have working dogs?
Does the society, in general, value animals as pets at all? Are housecats ok? (I think this may be an ironic question, given that some of the more beautiful exotic cats came out of the region once-upon-a-time, but I really don't know the answer.)
ahw at April 21, 2011 7:33 AM
Cate were domesticated for reilgious purposes, dogs and horses for work, dogs were easy as heir pack animals.
Most other animals were domesticted for food and fur production
lujlp at April 21, 2011 8:25 AM
The loathing for dogs in these countries had a practical origin. There are packs of wild dogs that are filthy and dangerous.
Greyhounds and similar sighthounds for hunting are considered clean and thus not really dogs. Cats are considered clean.
They need a law forbidding anyone from renting or selling a house to any of these religious leaders or members of Parlement.
Jim at April 21, 2011 8:45 AM
Oddly enough, Mohammed had it in for dogs, considered dogs unclean and malicious, especially black dogs. He wrote extensively about black dogs.
Own a large black dog and walk it frequently in your neighborhood, if you get my drift. While dressed in a mini-skirt, if appropriate.
BOTU at April 21, 2011 9:46 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/04/21/dogs_iran.html#comment-2063322">comment from BOTUWhile dressed in a mini-skirt, if appropriate.
Made out of strips of raw bacon.
Amy Alkon at April 21, 2011 9:56 AM
I prefer bacon nearly charred.
BOTU at April 21, 2011 11:25 AM
I had my dog Max, a Newfoundland/Border collie mix for 13 years. He was a huge, black fluffy dog with a grin as wide as Texas, and a heart as great as all outdoors.
He also saved my life.
Anyone who wants to take my dogs away from me is a shiteating, scumsucking, nobrained bastard. So feel free, Mr Imam. I dare ya. My dogs are better people than your 'splody terrorists that kill innocent children.
Kat at April 21, 2011 12:12 PM
How did he save your life?
Eric at April 21, 2011 1:08 PM
I should say we saved each other. Max was a 2 time loser at the shelter, just one week away from being put down when I showed up, looking for a dog. I had one of those " feelings " that My Dog would be there. It was after work, I looked at every dog there almost, and finally, there he was. I told the girl helping me I would understand if she needed to close up, but she said nope, he's getting a home tonight!
As soon as I got Max home he was my best friend, and the most protective dog I have ever known. At 110lbs, he was very intimidating. Thank the gods for that, and for the innate instincts animals have. Max was also the most gentle dog I have ever had, which is why I was surprised by what happed.
I lived on a very busy road, but we did not have sidewalks. So one night, when I wasn't expecting anyone, someone knocking on the door was unusual. Max followed me to the door, I turned on the light and looked out the window, just some non-descript guy. What happened next made it sureal. Max started to growl. Not bark, hey there's someone at the door, but growl like he wanted to tear the guy's throat out. I started to unlock the door, then stopped, and just yelled thru it 'can I help you?'
He said something about looking for someone else, hung around a bit longer, I guess to see if I would open the door, then left.
The next day, I checked the news and noone in my area had been attacked that night, so no, I can't prove it, but Max never again acted that way with a stranger. Til the day he died he was the friendliest dog, kissed everyone he met.
And oh, yes, I do still have him, or at least his ashes, in a beautiful cherrywood urn with his smiling face on the front. I move too often to bury him in one spot, I wouldn't be able to visit him. Couldn't part with the best friend I've ever had.......
Kat at April 21, 2011 2:53 PM
great story kat .... btw, I have 5 dogs right now, dogs truly are man's best friend
ronc at April 21, 2011 3:04 PM
Nice story - I am a big believer that dogs have highly intelligent senses regarding whether another person means you harm or not.
My dog Wally, an 80 pound Great Pyreneese \ Border Collie mix, is my constant companion. He was abused as a puppy, and we rescued him from the animal shelter a little over a year ago. They say dogs have no sense of time, but every day at 3:45 he is at the front door waiting to go meet my son at the schoolbus, and every Saturday and Sunday morning he knows before we do that we are going for a hike around the lake.
If you get a chance look up on youtube videos for Newfoundlands that are used as swimming lifeguards. They have competitions to see how strong the dog is as a swimmer- I think the record holder is a dog that pulled in over 20 people linked in arms.
Eric at April 21, 2011 3:32 PM
Newfies are amazing swimmers, and the herding instincts and intelligence of Border Collies is legendary, so I could not have asked for a better mix in my Maxxie.
Most stubborn dog, tho, he could drag me down the street after the ice cream truck without hardly trying, and if there was a tennis ball within a 3 mile radius it was doomed.
Wally sounds a lot like my boy, Max went thru hell before I found him, but still loved people. Amazing, how loyalty and love is so ingrained into the very dna of our dogs.
I have a golden retriever now. He's very sweet, and very 'blonde', if ya catch my drift.
Kat at April 21, 2011 3:51 PM
I've had my dog 3 weeks now, and am just head over heels. He's a 90 lb Belgian Malinois/Great Dane mix, a little over a year. Whereever I am, he's within 5 ft already. And so gentle with the kids. And boy, when someone was near our fence last week at night, the world knew. he has THE most intimidating bark I've ever heard. I've heard it exactly the once, that night. He was about to be put down at the shelter we got him at, and they were SO happy to see him get a home. They said it's so hard to find big dogs homes. I can't understand why. I've never met a mean really big dog.
Unfortunately, some (smaller) dogs are just mean. I was at the dog park today when 3 unattended pitts pushed their way in with another owner and his dog, and ripped apart a dog right there in front of me. Thank god the kids weren't with me this time. My boy was right on me, growling and circling to keep me behind him and the pitts in front. I don't think I was in danger-they were very occupied-but I was so glad to see the behavior.
Pitts in a pack are a killing waiting to happen. Are all pitts aggressive? No. But he owners who are drawn to them tend to be crappy, and they really can't be allowed in packs (all 3 were owned by a white trash girl who came driving up after the attack, looking for her "nonvicious babies") Also, they're something like 4% of the canine population and 67% of the fatal maulings. That says something.
momof4 at April 21, 2011 6:46 PM
All pitbulls are aggressive towards smaller animals, it's a breed trait same as my boy's herding instinct and your boy's guarding instinct. It is their upbringing and training that makes the difference. (great danes were traditionally guard dogs in keeps, as well as hunting dogs, the girl dane I had years ago was awesome with children, very attentive and patient). As you noted, the people that tend to own them are less than stellar, character-wise, for the most part.
Kat at April 21, 2011 7:13 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/04/21/dogs_iran.html#comment-2064426">comment from momof4Congrats, momof4 - sounds like a great dog. And it's interesting, what you say about big dogs. Perhaps it's because meanness is unnecessary. I find something similar as somebody who drives a dinky car (2004 Honda Insight hybrid - looks like a shoe by Tonka or something out of Tom Swift). Anyway, the Lexus driver is not usually the one who lets me in on the highway -- it's the big rig driver. They're always nicest to me (generally speaking, in terms of who's an asshole on wheels).
Amy Alkon at April 21, 2011 7:47 PM
Well, big rig drivers will do anything for a redhead with lotsa cleavage!
Eric at April 22, 2011 2:34 PM
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