Yume+D’s+2016+OpEd+Article

= = ====I have lost my faith in humanity. It may never be recovered. While volunteering, I had the displeasure of meeting one of the world's most foulest creatures. A creature weaned on toxic waste, raised by ogres, and so full of spite and hatred for others, when the only person that it should be hating is itself. Its loathsome looks are enough to make one recoil in horror. Beady black eyes, wiry dyed brown hair, and an entire face full of furrows and wrinkles created from a lifetime of plastering contemptuous expressions on its face, that range from complacent smiles to disdainful scowls. This creature can be often seen traveling with its presumed mate, a gray haired greasy hobgoblin with moldy callused toes, as well as a paunchy flat-footed troll in a tight pink tank top. The creature owns about 5 or more grimy uncared for little dogs who look as if they have never been bathed or brushed in their entire life. The long haired dachshunds coat is matted and flecked with macroscopic chunks of dandruff. The pomeranian has without a doubt never visited a proper respectable groomer. Now before I divulge into the story of my encounter with this creature, allow me to give you some background information to understand where I am coming from. ====

====Every week, I volunteer in Carpenteria at the Seal Rookery. For the most part my responsibilities are quite enjoyable. I count the seals every half hour, I record any disturbances that may occur, and I count the number of visitors who come to watch the seals from the viewing cliff above the beach. I also answer any questions that the visitors may have, and hand out brochures. My father volunteers with me, however most of the time he is off in his own world watching birds or searching for whales and dolphins. The majority of my job consists of sitting on a bench on a cliff overlooking the water, as I watch seals through my binoculars. It is the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon. ==== ====However there is one thing about my job that I dread. In the past I have dreaded performing this task so much that I turned a blind eye and refrained from doing it as much as I possibly could. It is one of the most inconvenient and mentally strenuous tasks, and I find it much harder that school. The task I speak of is my job to tell visitors that they are not allowed to bring their dog into the viewing point of the sanctuary. Even though I am cordial, even though I am amiable, even though I have a smile on my face, and even though I offer to hold their dog for them or tell them that they are able to tie their dogs on the little poles and ropes around the sanctuary, there are always individuals who cannot comprehend why I am asking them to not bring their dog into the viewing point of the sanctuary. ====

====Some begin to say that their dog doesn’t bark and so it is capable of watching the seals quietly without causing a disturbance, however what they often do not realize is I cannot pick and choose between the dogs I let into the sanctuary and the dogs who are not allowed. The only dogs who are allowed are service dogs, period. I do not wish to bicker. I have not created the rules, I am only there to enforce them. Does their pea-sized brain not have the capacity to understand that if I begin letting certain dogs in based on what the owner claims about the dog, then everybody would bring their dogs in and chaos will unfold. Others believe that I have something personal against them and shoot me stern looks as they leave in a huff, sighing loudly and obnoxiously. Many often whine and selfishly say that their dog really wants to see the seals, without even considering if the seals would like a visit from a dog. If they are in groups, as they walk away they talk loudly about the injustices that have been committed against them, what good obedient dogs they have, and of course me. The refer to me as “she” and “that girl”, and discuss about how they believe I have malicious intentions. Now I have concluded that individuals react this way, for it is not often that a seventeen year old girl tells an adult how to behave. They are offended for they do not believe that a seventeen year old girl has the authority to tell an older individual what to do. They perceive it to be disrespectful. I understand that it is important to respect your elders for they have been on the Earth for a longer period of time, however I dislike it when individuals demand respect just because of their age. I cannot grant you my respect, it must be earned. It is very difficult to earn my respect if you question my position of authority as a volunteer at the Carpinteria Seal Rookery, and act in an arrogant manner, when I politely explain to you that dogs are not allowed. Some look at me in disbelief, when it says so boldly and clearly on the sign at the entrance, that I had witnessed them reading just before they came in. Hmmmm, maybe they skipped over that part. Has it not occurred to them that these rules exist for a reason? Or has that simple thought just soared right over their swollen heads? ====

List of Reasons Why Dogs Are Not Allowed on the Viewing Point.

 * 1) ====Although it does not seem so, the seals have a clear view of those viewing them. They can clearly see all those who are watching them from above. ====
 * 2) ====Coyotes are natural predators of seals. Yes, domestic dogs are not coyotes, however they do have similar features. ====
 * 3) ====Dogs are unpredictable. Those who have read the Life of Pi may probably already know this from the scene where Pi tries to touch the tiger and his father teaches him a life lesson by feeding the tiger a goat. Now matter how domesticated or how much you think you have a connection with your animal, you are separate. It is an animal and you are a human, and you never have a complete idea of how exactly your dog may react to environmental factors like other humans, birds, or seeing the seals down bellow. ====
 * 4) ====Seals are very sensitive to certain pitches. This includes human voices, as well as dog barks. I have witnessed seals fleeing into the water due to loud uncontrollable children with uneducated and uncivilized parents who do not have the decency to tell their kids to behave or read a sign before they come in. I have also witnessed seals fleeing from hearing a dog barking far away. ====
 * 5) ====When seals begin to flee into the water, it creates quite a panic for they are timid animals and often follow the actions of one another during times of perceived danger. This commotion often leads to pups being separated from their mothers which is never a good thing. ====
 * 6) ====When pups are separated from their mothers, sometimes they are able to find their way back and reunite, however more often than not the pup may end up lost. It may starve, or be attacked by predators for it has lost its protection from its mother. ====
 * 7) ====The whole point of the seal sanctuary and the closing off of the portion of the beach is so that the seals can haul out, give birth, and raise their pups with the least disturbances. ====

====Now let's get back to my encounter I had with the filthy demonic creature. It all began when I saw a little dirty dachshund running excitedly from the path, while I was volunteering. There is a long trail that goes past the side of the sanctuary. The dog had not yet entered the sanctuary, and when I glanced around to wonder where it's irresponsible owner was I saw the grotesque little gang of the creature, the hobgoblin, and the troll heading my way. In addition to the little dachshund their were 4 or so other dogs all miniature breeds with cruddy fur, leading me to the conclusion that the creature was indeed selfish, taking “responsibility” for things it could clearly not afford. I believe that it is greedy to have so many pets, when you are unable to care for each one properly. If you do not have the physical ability or financial ability to look after things then you should not, for it is another life you are taking care of, and every animal deserves better than substandard poor quality care. Now all of the dogs were not leashed which is acceptable if your dog is well trained and knows the area well, however in this case the dogs clearly were not, and the gang was having a hard time keeping track of them. As they approached the entrance of the sanctuary, the troll with the floppy belly obtruding out of her pink tank top stopped to read the sign, which I did appreciate, and proceeded to tell the creature and the hobgoblin that no dogs were allowed in the sanctuary, so they best take their dogs and go on, while it viewed the seals by herself. Upon hearing this, I was instantly relieved, however my feeling of relief was soon replaced with terror. The bellicose creature, picked up one of its dogs, the little pomeranian, and said to the troll, “It’s fine. I’ll handle this. We can go in”, and they all proceeded to enter the sanctuary. The creature gave me a hideous smile as it passed dogs, trailing behind it, as I watched frozen, for I had never had an encounter with an individual so recalcitrant before. I soon regained my courage, and approached it. I said, “Hello, excuse me, I’m very sorry but dogs are not allowed in the sanctuary, so I’m sorry but you are going have to take them out. You can tie them on the rope over their if you would like”, and it curtly said “I KNOW”. I stood there for a few seconds waiting for it to remove its dogs from the premises how ever it instead stepped further into the sanctuary, thinking that it mistakenly thought the exit was that way I rushed over and said, “I’m sorry but you’re not allowed there, that is a continuation of the sanctuary”. It responded to me very loudly, almost yelling, in a harsh, earsplitting tone. It said, “MISS, I heard you the first time, but I can DO what I WANT. My dogs don’t bark. I can take them WHEREVER I want, and you cannot stop me”. With that it proceeded to lift arms and its little pomeranian high up into the air, on the edge of the cliff, as if to show the seals, while shooting me intimidating looks. I, however was not about to give up. I approached it once again and pleaded, “Again, I’m very sorry but I cannot choose between the dogs that go in and out of the sanctuary. Can you at least put your other dogs on leashes please?”. The creature snapped at me and said, “NO. STOP telling me what to do. I TOLD you my dogs don’t BARK. I TOLD you they are FINE. I TOLD you they won’t cause TROUBLE.”. My father went to the creature and asked it those were service dogs, which clearly they were not, and explained to it why dogs were not allowed. I noticed that it was not as rude to my father as it was to me. I had never been spoken to so rudely by an adult that way before, and I could not handle it. I was always courteous, and I was just trying to do my job. I did not have the slightest clue how to react. So I cried. I went back to the parking lot and sat there and cried my eyes out. I cried for myself and I cried for the seals. That day the seal count after the lady had arrived and left showed a significantly lower number of seals, showing how both dogs and humans can contribute to problems for the seals at the sanctuary. Even though I despised the creature, I was more astonished at the number of people who noticed the scene unfolding, but did not do anything. I understand that I am the volunteer docent and I’m supposed to have everything under control, but it would have been nice if someone would have stuck up for me, and I wasn’t dealing with the creature alone. There were many individuals there who had come to watch the seals, but not a single one of them, backed me up, or told the creature that it shouldn’t be yelling at a seventeen year old kid who's just trying to do her job, so she won’t look bad if her boss came in for a surprise check up like he sometimes does. Everyone just turned a blind eye. I feel like my reputation has been tarnished, or maybe it has always been. Maybe people hate the fact that I tell them to keep their dogs out. That would explain my binocular case that was stolen a few weeks ago. How can I protect the seals when I am not safe myself. ====

====Now it took me days to get over this nightmarish experience of my encounter with the nauseating creature. However I have found peace within myself. Even though I was angry at it, even though I wanted to cuss it out, even though I wanted to give it the bird, and even though I wanted to beat it up, I pitied it because it was an imbecilic, inconsiderate, pretentious, piece of trash, who had no regard for other life forms other than itself, and that would probably never change. What hurt me the most out of this experience was that no one, not a single person, except for my father (kinda), supported me. My father did explain to it why dogs were not allowed, however never did he once say, hey don’t speak to my daughter that way. I despise those who feel that they are entitled, superior, and falsely believe they don’t have to follow rules that have been established for a reason, however I hate those who sit back and allow it to happen more. I felt let down by the world. ====