Elections are a time when we see citizens band together with others who share a common view and lobby for their interest. As candidates may pander to such lobby groups, out comes the squeaky wheels. Citizen groups are an important part of our public discourse, but some particular groups are just delusional.
It’s still early in the Winnipeg election campaign, and one such group who calls themselves “WINDOG” has gotten a bit of coverage the past few days. WINDOG, or the Winnipeg Network of Dog Owner Groups, are essentially exactly what you may think: a group of suburbanites with sheltered and dull lives who feel a special privilege, have entitlement issues, and can’t see the bigger picture. For them, their Precious Fido is what will determine their vote.
WINDOG and its supporters want a substantial increase in off-leash dog parks to be created in Winnipeg. Currently, there are either 11 or 13 in Winnipeg (depending on the source) and they seem to be dispersed well enough that none are too far away from any place in the city. 11 dog parks are far short of what they want (it was pointed out that Calgary has about 150). WINDOG basically would like to see a special off-leash park within walking distance of every home. They demand that many current parks for people be converted to dog parks. Fido has rights, don’t you know!
Donna Henry, the group’s delusional spokesperson, went so far as to say “Dog parks are a core service just like any other core service in the city.” Seriously, that is a quote. You can’t make up such nonsense! A core service! You know, right up there with the other core services the city delivers such as water and sewer, first responders (firefighters, police, and paramedics), public transit, and garbage collection.
Winnipeg is a city that has its share of very serious problems. In terms of municipal issues, take your pick: crumbling infrastructure, rampant crime in the Fear Zones, mismanagement and cronyism at City Hall, inadequate public transportation… I could go on and on. These are the types of issues that a responsible and thoughtful citizen should consider at that ballot box. But for the WINDOG mentality, Precious Fido is Issue #1.
How nice it must be in their part of town where this is their top and seemingly only concern. The entitlement they feel is appalling, in short: because they have dogs, parks (for people) and other green spaces should be converted and designated as an off-leash dog park. It really reflects how something must be missing in their lives that they value the happiness of a canine to the same (or greater) degree as that of actual human beings. Voting on issues that would improve the city and the lives Winnipeggers (the human kind) is not a concern for this flawed mentality. They chose to live in a city, that means having a dog on a leash… this is not the farm where Fido can run around to his hearts content. Be grateful for the 11 off-leash parks that currently exist. And don’t even get me started on a rant about the overwhelming amount of irresponsible dog owners there are.
Herr Doktor has previously written a great post in his Woodlot series about this twisted mentality of treating dogs as people, I encourage you to read it as it sheds a great deal of light on the ‘my dog has special status and is just as important as a person’ mentality (click here).
Anyway, ‘be a good citizen and vote,’ as they say… but if you can’t see past yourself (or your dog) and can’t comprehend the truly important issues, please stay home on Election Day.
The Midtown Troll
It’s still early in the Winnipeg election campaign, and one such group who calls themselves “WINDOG” has gotten a bit of coverage the past few days. WINDOG, or the Winnipeg Network of Dog Owner Groups, are essentially exactly what you may think: a group of suburbanites with sheltered and dull lives who feel a special privilege, have entitlement issues, and can’t see the bigger picture. For them, their Precious Fido is what will determine their vote.
WINDOG and its supporters want a substantial increase in off-leash dog parks to be created in Winnipeg. Currently, there are either 11 or 13 in Winnipeg (depending on the source) and they seem to be dispersed well enough that none are too far away from any place in the city. 11 dog parks are far short of what they want (it was pointed out that Calgary has about 150). WINDOG basically would like to see a special off-leash park within walking distance of every home. They demand that many current parks for people be converted to dog parks. Fido has rights, don’t you know!
Donna Henry, the group’s delusional spokesperson, went so far as to say “Dog parks are a core service just like any other core service in the city.” Seriously, that is a quote. You can’t make up such nonsense! A core service! You know, right up there with the other core services the city delivers such as water and sewer, first responders (firefighters, police, and paramedics), public transit, and garbage collection.
Winnipeg is a city that has its share of very serious problems. In terms of municipal issues, take your pick: crumbling infrastructure, rampant crime in the Fear Zones, mismanagement and cronyism at City Hall, inadequate public transportation… I could go on and on. These are the types of issues that a responsible and thoughtful citizen should consider at that ballot box. But for the WINDOG mentality, Precious Fido is Issue #1.
How nice it must be in their part of town where this is their top and seemingly only concern. The entitlement they feel is appalling, in short: because they have dogs, parks (for people) and other green spaces should be converted and designated as an off-leash dog park. It really reflects how something must be missing in their lives that they value the happiness of a canine to the same (or greater) degree as that of actual human beings. Voting on issues that would improve the city and the lives Winnipeggers (the human kind) is not a concern for this flawed mentality. They chose to live in a city, that means having a dog on a leash… this is not the farm where Fido can run around to his hearts content. Be grateful for the 11 off-leash parks that currently exist. And don’t even get me started on a rant about the overwhelming amount of irresponsible dog owners there are.
Herr Doktor has previously written a great post in his Woodlot series about this twisted mentality of treating dogs as people, I encourage you to read it as it sheds a great deal of light on the ‘my dog has special status and is just as important as a person’ mentality (click here).
Anyway, ‘be a good citizen and vote,’ as they say… but if you can’t see past yourself (or your dog) and can’t comprehend the truly important issues, please stay home on Election Day.
The Midtown Troll