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!
Apparently the local economy is so bad that people have plenty of time on their hands to get worked up over petty bull...dog.
THE HOUND SEZ: You are so correct, Gus!
I applaud WHS for having something to lift up their school spirit and in return have a playful pup who probably needed to be rescued. Would you rather have the bulldog be stuck in adoption limbo? Waukegan high students and their principal are doing a very good thing and it's something they can all take a part of and be proud of. I loved the idea since I read about it and continue to support their actions. Where is the love?? Go Mighty Bulldogs!!!
THE HOUND SAYS: Sis, boom, bah! Rah, rah, rah!
Many animal abuse cases I have seen come from the Waukegan area. Quite a few are pretty horrific. If this dog could be used in a kind way to promote humane education in the schools and general public as far as owner responsibility and the importance of spaying and neutering your pets ( I certainly hope this bulldog will be neutered!) then perphaps some good may come from this. I hope the dog is treated well. Animals have feelings. They feel happiness, fear, hunger, cold and sadness just like people do. The puppy should be at least eight weeks old before being taken from it's mother, otherwise, it could become very stressed and may have some psychological issues. If this mascot does come to be, hopefully it will be a success story for Waukegan and not another sad story of animal exploitation.
THE HOUND SAYS: Anita, you're painting a pretty broad brush here. What do you mean "many animal abuse cases" you've seen have been in Waukegan. There haven't been any more than in any other place in Lake County. Besides, you're making The Hound lachrymose with your description of "animals have feelings." It brings back the days of youth when The Hound was taken at six weeks and placed with a loving family. The Hound never had it so good. The Hound also thinks, Anita, that you're stressing on this topic.
Before you cast bones at those who are protesting the mascot, perhaps you can try to understand their reasons regarding the mental state of the dog. Dogs are social animals and will bond with those who raise them. However, the mascot will not have a single, stable home, but will be passed along from year to year between two or more caretakers. This causes the dog distress in being uprooted from one family to another, over and over the course of its life. This trauma can cause the animal to become less social, withdrawn and even hostile to others: Mix in crowds of loud and scary strangers, and you risk a chance of the dog retaliating against a perceived threat. If the dog bites a student or parent, then you have a situation where the animal through no fault of its own, may face being 'put down' by those fearful of another incident. Some breeds may be able to adapt quickly, but some like the bulldog may not. Those who protest the use of a real dog mascot are doing so out of concern for both the animal and for the safety of those who come in contact with it.
THE HOUND SAYS: Hermie, you're being quite contumacious in your defense of the PETA crowd. How social do you want this bulldog to be? He'll be surrounded by thousands of adoring fans. Several colleges have live bulldogs as mascots. Heck, some even have goats --- like the Navy. You sound like an insurance agent worrying about risk.
Approximately 20 years ago I took my kids to watch the Waukegan East homecoming parade. The parade was traveling West on Washington St. Included in the lineup was a convertible loaded with cheerleaders with others walking behind. With the walkers was the "unofficial" real live Bulldog mascot on a leash.
Suddenly a commotion erupted near the car and it was then that I noticed that the dog had collapsed. It was carried to the car and quickly whisked away.
Sadly, I later learned that the dog had died of either a heart attack or heat exhaustion.
Hopefully WHS's new mascot won't suffer a similar fate.
THE HOUND SEZ: Well, Bob what was it? A heart attack or heat exhaustion? Did you ask for an autopsy? How old was the dog? Obviously, this turmoil left a scar you have yet to get over.
I went to Ferris State University, and their mascot is also the Bulldogs. The mascot, a live bulldog named Governor, was always at our athletic events (and parades) and we loved him. Lighten up!!! Worry about your kids and NOT a dog!
THE HOUND SAYS: Ah, a voice of reason in the wilderness. These are the same folks worried about this benign bulldog, who leave their pets home most of the day while they're at work. How lonely is that, friend?
It would seem to me that they should be worrying about how to keep DRUGS & GUNS out of the high school, NOT a bulldog.......
There's far more pressing issues than that to worry about....
Besides, their team IS the bulldogs, isn't it???
Be glad you don't live in Mundelein....Then you'd have to worry about MUSTANG poop on the gym floor....
Let em' have the dog....Lighten up a little, and don't sweat the small stuff......
THE HOUND SAYS: Humpy, you are a cur after The Hound's own heart. You are correct that there are more pressing issues. These opponents are people who treat their pets like their kids because they usually don't have any kids. Mundelein has a real live mustang as a mascot? Or are you pulling The Hound's paw?
This bulldog will not come from a shelter, but from a breeder. That is pretty expensive! Also, what about the cost of food, vet bills, shots etc. .In this bad economy do the tax payers want to foot the bill? What if the dog becomes ill?That could run in the thousands of dollars for tests, surgery etc..Six weeks is too young for a dog to leave it's mother , check with any reputable breeder. Waukegan does have a high rate of animal abuse compared to other areas in lake county (check out data from animal control) and the point made about the dog being used to teach humane education to teenagers should not be overlooked.I am tired of hearing comments about what does this matter there are so many other problems in Waukegan.There is a direct link between animal abuse and other crimes. I am not suggesting this animal will be abused, but rather is this something Waukegan really needs and if so can the dog be put to more use than just being a mascot.The dog should be used to teach owner responsibility and empathy for all creatures. The tax payers should look into this more and make sure they are getting their money's worth.
THE HOUND SAYS: There's an awful lot of what ifs, maybes and how comes. Perhaps this great debate over a mascot will be the centerpiece of the school board election in April, overlooking all other problems Waukegan schools face.
HOUND,
Sorry for the 2 1/2 month hiatus, but there were some issues with e-mail delivery that Still haven't been straightened out....
Last I remember, the mascot for the Mundelein athletic teams was a mustang, but that's what it was when I went to Waukegan.....YEARS AGO...........
Fred, Barney, Wilma, Betty & me made quite a sight running the halls of WTHS, back in the day.
In light of the recent developements in the IHSA 4A Boys B-Ball tournament, just be very glad you don't go to Whitney Young. (Dolphins) I don't know about YOU, but the sight of a Dolphin on a leash just doesn't strike too much fear into ME....
Personally, I'm a DAWG & ALWAYS will be....
THE HOUND SAYS: Humpy, we don't care about your delivery issues. Of course Mundelein is the Mustangs. Funny that all you Dawgs out there don't remember Waukegan's other team, the Raiders.