What to Do If You Meet a Racist Dog: Make a Joke About It!
LatestYou know when you’re walking with your dog and you get to the dog park and he’s barking at another dog’s owner and you feel super embarrassed because you’re just trying to take a fucking walk in the park? And then you realize that…oh…that dude/woman he’s barking at is not Caucasian and it slowly dawns on you that your dog might be just a little bit racist? Well, one dog owner has had this experience and she wants to know how to deal with you and your racist dog.
“Needing a Doggie Olive Branch” wrote in to Jenée Desmond-Harris‘ “Race Matters” column at The Root to ask how to handle dogs that are racist to her husband:
“We live in a diverse urban city. I am white and my husband is Filipino and white, but he’s often mistaken for Indian or black/mixed because of his dark complexion. He is great with animals in general and is a supersweet, calm, gentle person; we foster rescue dogs that are really sensitive, and they love him! But on several occasions when we’re meeting with co-workers and friends, their dogs will bark and act aggressively toward him, yet not toward the other white people who are also present.
…Is there a polite thing that we can do or say to alleviate this socially?”
NDOB (not a Dan Savage-worthy acronym, but it’ll do in a pinch) clarifies that once the dog spends a little time with her husband, it gets used to him. Sort of like with human animals and other human animals who are gay.