08-11-2012, 06:45 AM
I am very familiar with these nene. We are fortunate to have them on our street and it is always blessing to see them passing over head and making their distinctive calls. Each time they do I get a little thrill. There is a little undeveloped County park cliff-side just a few hundred few down from me. I take my leashed female dalmatian over there a lot. On several occasions I have rounded the corner entering the park to find nene near the cliff edge. They have never fled from us. She can't quite figure out what they are and is a little afraid of them as they are taller than her, but she would investigate, I think, if I gave her the opportunity. I don't. When the nene are there, we turn around and leave. We just leave. We leave for the simple reason that the nene are a protected species and an important vestige of the days when Hawaii was ecologically isolated. The law and my own moral sense keep me from doing anything that would harass the nene.
While it is probably true that they would fly if my dog were unleashed and attacked them, that is no reason to allow your dog to be unleashed in what is in essence an extension of a nene preserve. They are not here for your dog's sport. If I throw a rock at your head (something I would never, of course, actually do or even dream of doing), you are capable of ducking. That doesn't entitle me to throw a rock at your head. I might connect, or scare you. Your dog might also connect, or disturb the nene.
I am always mystified by people who think that they can simply let their dogs run loose without regard to the rights of other creatures (humans, other dogs) not to be placed in fear of what your dog might do. One important aspect of aloha is consideration for others. And if your dog is in the least bit nippy, or inclined to give you a demonstration sufficient for you to form the conclusion that nene routinely flee dogs, all the more reason to leash him when off of your property.
While it is probably true that they would fly if my dog were unleashed and attacked them, that is no reason to allow your dog to be unleashed in what is in essence an extension of a nene preserve. They are not here for your dog's sport. If I throw a rock at your head (something I would never, of course, actually do or even dream of doing), you are capable of ducking. That doesn't entitle me to throw a rock at your head. I might connect, or scare you. Your dog might also connect, or disturb the nene.
I am always mystified by people who think that they can simply let their dogs run loose without regard to the rights of other creatures (humans, other dogs) not to be placed in fear of what your dog might do. One important aspect of aloha is consideration for others. And if your dog is in the least bit nippy, or inclined to give you a demonstration sufficient for you to form the conclusion that nene routinely flee dogs, all the more reason to leash him when off of your property.