Lots of kids are nervous around dogs or allergic. I really don't think dogs belong at an area with lots of unknown and unpredictable kids.

It makes sense for a person to walk a child and get the dog's walk out of the way as well. But don't let your dog out on its retractable leash to wander and tie up and bother everyone standing there. Be respectful and keep yourself and/or dog spaced from others if it doesn't know how to heel.

Whether you are walking by the bus stop or bringing your dog to the bus stop, you are wllfully taking the chance that your dog might bite another person's child. If the bite is serious enough or if you are showing that you are not taking it seriously, the parents' child will likely call Animal Control and an investigation will be started. If deemed serious enough, Animal Control will start a file on your dog and that will begin the process of putting it on a dangerous dog registry, an internet-based map much like a sex offender. which will show his photo, address, and what he did to get on the registry. If he has bitten more than once, he will be deemed dangerous and either you will be required to muzzle him or have him destroyed. At least that's how it works where I live (NoVa). I learned all this when it happened to my child.

I encourage anyone who plans to bring a dog to the bus stop to a) make sure that your dog is fully trained to be around children, to have control of your dog at all times and out of biting/lunging distance and b) make sure that parents are ok with you bringing the dog. Note: if your dog does bite a child despite the precautions, that will not prevent a parent from still calling animal control. I have NO idea how strict Animal Control is in DC or the close-in suburbs, but that is how it works in my municipality.

Anonymous wrote:Do you think it's reasonable to bad all dog walking during the hours of bus operation? No that is not reasonable.

Banning a dog that a parent walks to a bus stop will not prevent another dog owner from walking past you with their dog.

Yes, that is true. But asking a parent not to bring a dog to the bus stop will stop that dog from being at the bus stop, if the parent agrees.

Anonymous wrote:Is it typical for adults congregating at the bus stop (parents of bus riders and neighbors without kids on bus) to bring their dog(s)?

I don't know if it's typical OP, but it's common enough. I bring my not-yet-school age child along to the bus stop, where there are often dogs. The exposure is helping him to overcome his fear of dogs. Our bus stop is friendly and happy. Parents and kids watch out for each other.

Do you think it's reasonable to bad all dog walking during the hours of bus operation? No that is not reasonable.

Banning a dog that a parent walks to a bus stop will not prevent another dog owner from walking past you with their dog.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dogs don't belong at a bus stop, unless it is a service animal. Bus stops are for people.

To those of you who can predict what dogs can do, you are wrong. A mom thought it was safe to bring her dog to the bus stop. These folks lived accross the street from the bus stop. No need whatsoever to bring the dog. Well, one day, several of the kids at the bus stop started taunting the dog while the clueless owner chatted away. When my daughter arrived at the bus stop, the dog was so riled up, he lunged at something dangling from her backpack and missed and bit her on the arm. She landed flat on her butt on the concrete sidewalk. I also had another child who was terrified of dogs. Rightfully so, she had been bitten by one as a toddler. I was so scared that if she saw this dog again, she would launch into panic mode and race out into the street and I let the owner know that. The owner promised that she would not bring the dog to the bus stop after that and promised to get obedience training. She did neither and her husband was a real you know what to me. I called animal control and that put an end to it. It is NOT cute to bring your dog to the bus stop. It is dangerous. Kids wear dangly things on their backpacks that can attract dogs and they shouldn't have to adjust for a dog owner.

This story is ridiculous and made up. I've had dogs my entire life and none of them give two shits about dangly things on backpacks.

Um, no. I have everything documented, including witness accounts of other parents and the report to animal control. This is not made up at all. So sorry you love dogs better than children.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dogs don't belong at a bus stop, unless it is a service animal. Bus stops are for people.

To those of you who can predict what dogs can do, you are wrong. A mom thought it was safe to bring her dog to the bus stop. These folks lived accross the street from the bus stop. No need whatsoever to bring the dog. Well, one day, several of the kids at the bus stop started taunting the dog while the clueless owner chatted away. When my daughter arrived at the bus stop, the dog was so riled up, he lunged at something dangling from her backpack and missed and bit her on the arm. She landed flat on her butt on the concrete sidewalk. I also had another child who was terrified of dogs. Rightfully so, she had been bitten by one as a toddler. I was so scared that if she saw this dog again, she would launch into panic mode and race out into the street and I let the owner know that. The owner promised that she would not bring the dog to the bus stop after that and promised to get obedience training. She did neither and her husband was a real you know what to me. I called animal control and that put an end to it. It is NOT cute to bring your dog to the bus stop. It is dangerous. Kids wear dangly things on their backpacks that can attract dogs and they shouldn't have to adjust for a dog owner.

This story is ridiculous and made up. I've had dogs my entire life and none of them give two shits about dangly things on backpacks.

Anonymous wrote:Another DCUM hateful post about dogs....

My impression is that this post is about the appropriateness of bringing dogs to the school bus stop. What's hateful about it?

A couple of dogs showing up at a school bus stop is one thing, but when you aggregate more and more dogs to the group, it's another. First, the folks that that don't want to be near dogs need to stand farther from where the bus stops. Second, the noise level increases.

Our school bus stop group is very respectful, so I can't see this happening on our street. If it did, I know that more than a few of us would be uncomfortable with having some people have to stand on the next block to avoid the dogs. Also, we'd be embarrassed by the increased noise (barking, talking over the barking) we would be inflicting on nearby households.

Another invented problem.

Anonymous wrote:Dogs don't belong at a bus stop, unless it is a service animal. Bus stops are for people.

A school bus stop is not usually any more than an address. You can't ban dogs, illegal immigrants, transsexuals, or Donald Trump.

Anonymous wrote:Dogs don't belong at a bus stop, unless it is a service animal. Bus stops are for people.

To those of you who can predict what dogs can do, you are wrong. A mom thought it was safe to bring her dog to the bus stop. These folks lived accross the street from the bus stop. No need whatsoever to bring the dog. Well, one day, several of the kids at the bus stop started taunting the dog while the clueless owner chatted away. When my daughter arrived at the bus stop, the dog was so riled up, he lunged at something dangling from her backpack and missed and bit her on the arm. She landed flat on her butt on the concrete sidewalk. I also had another child who was terrified of dogs. Rightfully so, she had been bitten by one as a toddler. I was so scared that if she saw this dog again, she would launch into panic mode and race out into the street and I let the owner know that. The owner promised that she would not bring the dog to the bus stop after that and promised to get obedience training. She did neither and her husband was a real you know what to me. I called animal control and that put an end to it. It is NOT cute to bring your dog to the bus stop. It is dangerous. Kids wear dangly things on their backpacks that can attract dogs and they shouldn't have to adjust for a dog owner.

I think you can only complain about the dog if the dog does something offensive. If the dog is just standing there, you can't complain. If it's barking or jumping on you, you have a right to be upset.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if there is a dog at the bus stop, and it bothers you or your child, say something to the person with the dog.

Like what would you say? Please don't bring your dog on public property? Ridiculous.

You could say something like, "Unfortunately, I have/my child has a phobia about dogs. Would it be possible for you to leave your dog at home instead of bringing your dog to the bus stop?"

Then the other person could respond with, "No, your phobia is your problem, and it's my right to bring my dog to the bus stop, so if you don't like it, you stay home." In my opinion, that would make the other person a real jerk, but then there are people who are real jerks.

Dogs don't belong at a bus stop, unless it is a service animal. Bus stops are for people.