[MR] Dogs at events

[Rachel/Rozsa]

Also as an autocrat I completely back Gise's position on this.  I have autocratted a number of events and am currently autocratting War of the Wings - it never occurred to me to not allow animals on site nor to check for current vaccines, etc.  All animals are expected to be on a leash or in a cage at all times - and that is for everyone, including the animal's, safety.  

I have never had an issue with any animals brought to an event.  My experience is that in general all of our pet owners are responsible owners.  They watch over their animals very carefully, are extra attentive when children or strangers approach and are very cautious when their animals are meeting other animals.  At this time I don't see where this is a problem.  I understand the concern - however, until it should become a problem, I think the options currently available to an autocrat are more than sufficient to deal with anything that may occur.  Should an animal attack another animal or person, it becomes a real-world legal issue and the appropriate real-world authorities will deal with the situation. I'm sure at that point the Seneschallate will deal with that particular owner/animal appropriately with regards to future attendance at SCA events. 

I just see adding proof of vaccines, etc. being a burden added onto those working the Gate - who more often than not are not going to have the experience to determine if the paperwork being submitted is actually real anyhow.   So at that point we are back to being 'on our honor' - which is where we are already.  


YIS,

Rozsa

*************************
www.warofthewings.com
www.ebonwoulfe.com



-----Original Message-----
>From: Scribe0002 at aol.com
>Sent: Sep 26, 2006 9:40 AM
>To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
>Subject: Re: [MR] Dogs at events
>
> 
>Good Ysolt opines: "Rabies certificate should be required for liability  
>purposes. If a dog bites someone or another dog, proof of rabies vaccine is  
>required."
>
>I have to say that as an autocrat I fall into the personal  responsibility 
>camp with Logan, Kari and Takada here. 
> 
>I understand the concern of those who've posted about vaccination  
>requirements. But, as Takada said, if I add check rabies papers to my gate  keepers' 
>check list, I assume all responsibility if one gets through with false  or out of 
>date paperwork or with no paperwork at all. My gals sat gate all  evening 
>Friday and most of Saturday at the last event. They checked in about 230  people, 
>dealt with some short tempers and tight schedules and don't need another  
>thing to do.
> 
>And, honestly, if a person is going to be irresponsible enough to bring an  
>unvaccinated or unpleasant animal to an event, who says they're going to own up 
> to actually having it with them at gate? Do my people now have to inspect 
>every  car, truck, trailer and RV that pulls in? Do I have to provide tokens for 
>the  critters to prove they've been checked at gate? Do I have to staff an 
>animal  services person to randomly check each dog, goat and ferret through the 
>course  of the event? 
> 
>I'm truly not trying to be snarky here but these are the considerations I  
>have to consider as an event steward. If I check rabies vaccinations it is  
>offerring a false sense of security and an added liability that cannot be  
>properly administrated.
> 
>Ysolt further wrote: "It would also be nice to grant hosting groups the  
>authority (if they don't already have it) to ask people who bring nuisance  
>animals to an event to leave with or remove their animals."
> 
>I already have this authority as the event steward/autocrat. I outrank  
>everyone on site. Everyone. If someone causes trouble, creates a danger of any  
>sort and will not cooperate, I ~will~ have them removed from site and, depending  
>upon the nature of the offense, they will not be welcomed back to future  
>events.
> 
>My event announcements include the fact that controlled animals are  welcome. 
>This puts everyone on notice that animals will be present. The  expectation 
>is that each animal owner will be responsible to take care of their  animal, 
>guard the animal's safety and the safety of other animals and all  people. I've 
>never had an issue that would lead me to expect otherwise in the  SCA. Not in 
>Atlantia nor in the East.
> 
>~gise
> 
>
>
> 
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