Hrmph.

So Katherine throws on a Dora the Explorer on TV. And here we have Dora saving a bunch of cute, capering puppies who were obsessively captured by a Javertesque - yet - buffoonish dog catcher.

Ah ... what?

Okay, so this is an old meme that was hoary back when I was a kid. But, as an adult, I realize that:

1. Dog catchers don't just randomly hunt for dogs to snatch away and lock in cages. 
2. Animals captured by animal control officers (as we call them these days) are running loose -- which, in most communities I've ever lived in -- means they are lost, out of control, and/or feral, and are a potential threat.
3. Dog catchers are called out by people who see a loose animal that's a problem. They don't just cruise around, actively hunting animals to lock up.
4. If dogs are licensed and tagged, then if they are caught by the dog catcher, they will be recovered.
5. If there are leash laws in your community, that's not the fault of the dog catchers, but the populace at large.
6. For the most part (presumably they are as human as anyone else), dog catchers are hardworking people who uphold laws/regulations and actually both protect animals and people.
7. If more people bought pound animals -- and spayed/neutered their pets -- the number of animals that get caught by dog catchers (and are then put down when not adopted) would dramatically drop.

I don't know if I'm being politically correct, or incorrect, here, but I think I may have a chat with Katherine about the episode after she's done watching it.

UPDATE: Margie actually said something before the very end of the show, and I echoed it, and Katherine indicated her understanding of what we were saying.

Filed under :: Media - Cartoons :: Pets :: ZT & PC

And you kinda sorta know a Animal Control Officer (only one degree of Seperation even.) if you were looking for some confirmation, but I think you just about got all of it.

Though you may want to add that they also rescue pets from folks that want to hurt them as well.

Good point.