Asked to leave because our dog was offending the Muslim children?

[anchovies]

We went to watch ds2 play football at a local sports centre yesterday. He was playing on the astroturf which was next to a field. We stood on the field to watch with the dog on a lead. The caretaker came over about 2 minutes later and asked us to leave, not because dogs aren't allowed, but because apparently our black dog was offending the Muslim children in the arts centre next door. We saw some parents dropping children off as we arrived but other than that we were nowhere near any Muslim children. Apparently complaints had been made because we had the dog on the site, we refused to leave at first but the caretaker got the site manager. I am planning on making a complaint but before I send it am I right in thinking this is bonkers? I understand that dogs are unclean but he was on a lead? Seems like a very strange policy, apparently the dog was "worse" because he is black?

My understanding is that in areas where rabies is still a problem, then no, and stray dog (or other wild animal) roaming around would not be approached.

You wouldn't let a dog lick your face either (we all know what dogs like to lick). So it sounds like common sense to me, and not a edict from God. Another case of people making up their own interpretations of religious tects.

Take a pig on a lead next time. Dressed as Santa Claus.

Someone is having a larf!
Black dogs are not offensive to Muslims, some Muslims may find dogs (black or otherwise) offensive but that is the same as some Christians/Hindus/Sikhs/Catholics/etc (you get my drift) finding dogs (black or otherwise) offensive!
God created dogs, pigs as well as all the other animals so anyone finding them offensive needs to speak to Him a bit more.
I'd object if there were big, non guide dogs in a Leisure Centre around my children though. But then I'm not keen on big dogs - not offended though, just scared!

Santa Pig

Some Sunnis believe that black dogs are the devil.

That is a fact.

got to be a 'laugh' surely?

Sounds unlikely to me.

if they're Uk Muslims they must be used to seeing black dogs on a daily basis

I worked with a student once who had AS and was Muslim. This was one of his topics that he would speak about a lot. Black dogs were singled out by the Prophet as being haram, to the best of my knowledge. I'm just not sure that very many British Muslims would be so offended by it as to make a complaint like this so I feel there is some information missing.

There are different strands of islam, just like christianity. So it is perfectly possible to have some muslims believing dogs are unclean and others having them as pets.

IME many muslim children aren't "offended" by dogs, they are scared of dogs - sometimes very scared where there is no practical reason to be so. So caretaker may have asked if you could take your dog away because some children were very scared - and he translated it into muslims being offended.

But by all means write a letter raising your concerns about this - just be prepared to hear that the situation wasn't as described by the caretaker.

Did you know you're not allowed to put up Christmas lights any more? And schools aren't allowed to do nativity plays. Oh, and black coffee is banned. Bananas have to be straight. In shape, not in sexuality- it's actully compulsory to be gay, whether you're a banana or not.

OP. If this happens again ask the caretaker to show you the policy on not permitting black dogs specifically on the grounds that they offend muslims.

If it's a LA leisure centre, they will have one (LAs have policies for Everything!). If not, don't worry about it.

santa smilies! Didn't see them

Ridiculous.

Why would muslim children be offended by seeing a black dog out of a window? Either the caretaker and manager got their wires crossed and had it all wrong or they were winding you up.

Either way, write a letter of complaint requesting written reasons as to why your dog was asked to leave.

It's true that Muslims don't like Dogs and it is based somewhat on their religious belief system. So i'm led to believe.
But the Muslims (Who are heavily the majority) in my neck of the woods love our little dog and greet her every time she goes for a walk.

Christmas is banned seeker. Birmingham council changed the name to Winterval. That is the absolute TRUTH.

I agree that this thread is deliberately inflammatory.

I'm not a banana, seeker! Do I have to be gay? My best friend is gay (actually she is ) am I exempt?

Although, whilst none of the 'bans' are enshrined in law, when a LA/school/whatever decides to impose one for "the benefit of community relations", they may as well be. And they benefit no one .

What probably happened is that they saw the dog through the window and some comments were made along the lines of 'oh no a black dog' and then was forgotten about. Someone in charge heard and decided to act out of excessive PC zeal.

Not saying that is what happened but its likely.

No Birmingham didn't. It is a twisted urban myth.

seeker

Only this morning I was reprimanding some bananas for being bent.

I just did a quick google because I hadn't heard of Muslims being offended by dogs and there is a story (Daily Mail natch) of a Muslim bus driver refusing to allow a guide dog onto the bus. I've not read it - just saw the headline.

I wonder though if the caretaker was uncomfortable about the dog because it's a sports field not a park, and he doesn't want the dogs coming to become a regular thing.

the winterval thing did happen, but (as I understand) so that the celebrations included everyone rather than to exclude anyone.

It's political correctness gorn mad I tells yer!!

Etc etc etc

Maybe people were worried abut dog shit on the astroturf?