Hello Vikings!
When we posted about dogs being welcome at Sletten, there were a couple of comments asking to introduce the “red ribbon”. We had some really good talks about the topic, because introducing this kind of rule can be a good thing… If everyone knows about it, understands it, and follows it.
We’re an international event, where we can face language barriers and culture differences. Creating a commonly understood sign that a red ribbon means “give me space”, can take several years to accomplish. Not to mention, in some countries the standard sign is a yellow leash, not a red ribbon. So how do we get this right?
Many members of the Orga Team are animal owners ourselves, and we believe that being safe around animals of all sorts starts with us humans. Wether it’s a dog, a horse, or any other animal on a leash (or in a paddock), you can assume this is a good strategy:
- Give the animal space. Even safe animals can become insecure if they get crowded or rushed.
- Ask the owner for permission before you interact with the animal.
- Most animals prefer to approach you, instead of having you approaching them.
- Don’t feed animals, they can be allergic and sensitive to common food items.
If an animal is wearing a red ribbon, or has a yellow leash, it might signalize that the animal would prefer to not get attention. However, please also remember that not all owners are aware of this visual cue, and some dogs might not be wearing them – and still want space. The safest approach is always to talk with the humans first, and let the owner advice on how their animals prefer to interact with humans.
It is important to have this conversation with your children, and we adults could also do with the casual reminder.
It is important to have this conversation with your children, and we adults could also do with the casual reminder.
To all the animal owners bringing their four legged friends: Please remember that not everyone will recognise a red ribbon or yellow leash as a visual cue of anything. They might just think they are fun and colourful! Educating the public takes time, and requires patience and kind conversations.
And of course course, we ask everyone to reconsider bringing their animal if they are not comfortable in the chaotic enviroment that Sletten can bring. When taking an animal to an event, one is always “on the clock” to ensure that the animal and all the other participants are comfortable, and happy.
The animals in this post are just illustrative photos, we don’t know how much attention these guys want.
All the best!