Today, Sunday, in the short 20 minutes that this editor was at the Farmers Market on Antioch, there were three different families that had dogs whose noses were sniffing various tables.
Thank goodness, none of the people with dogs seemed blind and in need of a service animal.
No one seemed to claim the dogs were emotional support animal, wearing those little fake vests. Although one could argue that to shop in Pacific Palisades with its prices, one might need an emotional support animal.
There were signs before entering the Farmers Market that specifically said that no animals would be allowed, but the signs don’t seem to do any good.
There are also signs at George Wolfberg Park and at the Recreation Center that dogs are allowed but must be on a leash.
Dog owners ignore those signs, too.
Why do people not obey the signs?
Today, it became apparent to me that this is an illiteracy issue – adults can’t read. That’s why dog owners get so upset, even angry, if a person points out no dogs are allowed – it means that person has discovered that the dog owner can’t read and is functionally illiterate.
Time has now come to address the adult illiteracy issue in Pacific Palisades. How sad it must be to be an adult and not know how to read.
How could this happen? The statistics are sobering, six out of 10 children in California can’t read by third grade, according to a 2023 EdVoice Institute study.
Maybe those adults with dogs never had phonics, but instead received whole language classes instead, meaning they memorize whole words and try to make sense of what they read.
According to a May 2024 Ed Source article “In hopes of giving California a comprehensive plan focusing on phonics and other skills like vocabulary and reading comprehension, supporters backed Assembly Bill 2222 authored by Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, D-Baldwin Park. It also had the support of the California State PTA, state NAACP and more than 50 other organizations. But the bill died last month in committee before it could even get a hearing, succumbing to opposition from the state teachers’ union and English language advocates.”
Since these illiterate adults cannot read, it appears their parents did not have enough money to send them to private schools. Not only can’t these Palisadians read, they grew up economically disadvantaged, too.
When you see someone with their dog in a store or other areas that doesn’t allow pets, don’t point out the sign (they can’t read it), don’t tell them about the sign (that would embarrass them because they would realize you know they can’t read). Instead go up to them – hopefully the dog won’t bite – and say, “I’m so sorry.”
There are signs that dogs are supposed to be on leash in local parks.
Why do people not obey the signs?
Oh Sue, don’t be silly — they can read, but this is the Palisades where laws, rules and common courtesy don’t apply to the entitled special people
And in our little corner “No Parking” signs mean nothing too!
I think whatever law exists that an employee of the market, etc. can NOT ask the person holding the leash to please remove the dog from the premises, must be removed. That’s the only sensible way to force offenders to get themselves and their animal out of the market.
Sylvia Boyd
Loved your lesson on literacy! You might add: people can’t read the word “STOP” either. Cars breeze right through all the stop signs on Alma Real regularly.
Hi Sue,
Thank you so much for uncovering the hidden shame of illiteracy rampant in our wonderful town. I can only imagine the disappointment of the parents of those afflicted people. They must be devastated that their progeny are just this side of totally educationally illiterate. Even worse is that now, the neighbors and all who can see this public embarrassment, are aware these pseudo grown-ups have not cleared kindergarten lessons much less attended even a Community College. So sad. I will pity them.
STOP – such an easy word to learn. 1st graders know what it means, but obviously they forget what it means the minute they get behind the wheel. And now we have a whole small city – Pacific Palisades – that except for lots of Seniors – have forgotten how to read STOP – Hopefully they don’t injure their neighbor or their neighbors dog or children before they remember to STOP when they see the word STOP! Are you reading this Alphabet streets, Chautauqua, Marquez, Huntington, and all the rest!?!? STOP means STOP so DO IT! Maybe if they learn STOP they will learn DOG?