 It was a story that would surely make the stomach of certain
feminists turn.
Last week the Sydney
Morning Herald ran a story about a young woman in the UK who is led
around regularly on a leash by her boyfriend and describes herself as a human
pet. Tasha Maltby, 19, told British newspapers she was the ‘pet’ of her
25-year-old fiancé Dani Graves. Apparently Tasha dresses in Goth gear, complete
with silver buckles on a silver chain. But not everyone is enamoured with
Tasha’s choice of attire: a bus driver from the firm Arriva took exception to
Tasha’s leash. According to Tasha she was made to get off the bus and told: “We
don’t let freaks and dogs like you on.” This part of the story will no doubt
make the stomachs of other feminists turn in outrage at the blatant
discrimination hurled at Tasha by the bus driver, due to her lifestyle choices.
Arriva subsequently apologised to Tasha, but denied any
discriminatory behaviour. Instead it tried to paint itself as a responsible
company concerned only for the health and safety of its passengers. “Should she
be attached to a chain and something happens on the bus, that could be
dangerous,” a spokesperson told the press. “All we are saying is that she is
very welcome to use the buses but not when she is on her lead.”
At this point I have to ask why there are no signs on
British buses insisting that dogs be left off their leads due to health and
safety reasons. I mean, if you’re going to have a leash rule, it should apply
to all. Also, it’s not clear what the ‘something’ is that ‘might happen’ on a
bus that ‘could be dangerous’. If the driver crashes or slams on the brakes in
an emergency stop, any standing passengers will go flying and could break their
necks as easily as a person on a leash in the same situation. The leash in some
circumstances could even stop them being hurled across the bus and prevent
injury.
Just for the record, I’m not setting out here to be a leash
advocate for (wo)man or beast. I detested having reins attached to my body as a
toddler and the connotations of slavery disturb me a little, although at least
in the case of adult humans the wearer has consented to being under the control
of another.
Tasha – who reportedly lives off state benefits – told press
her choice of lifestyle was harmless. “I am a pet,” she told the Daily Mail. “I generally act animal-like
and I lead a really easy life. I don’t cook or clean and I don’t go anywhere
without Dani. It might seem strange but it makes us both happy. It’s my culture
and my choice. It isn’t hurting anyone.” Quite right – except for the fact Tasha
appears to expect that the rest of the country should pay for her lifestyle.
For that she should be thrown off the bus.
Katrina Fox
 |
Opinion 
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