Household dream? Or canine nightmare?

Speaking of catching up with the times, I often rely on Glenn Reynolds to clue me in on the latest developments in gadgetry, and today’s link to an Evolution Robotics floor cleaner was no exception. I’d kind of enjoy having a robot clean the floors, and it looks tantalizing, except there is one problem.

Coco.

As things stand now, she hates almost all gadgets. Vacuuming is always problematic, because she sees anything making noise and movements seemingly on its own as a dire threat — to be met with lethal force. She hates vacuum cleaners, and always has, so she has to be put outside or locked up whenever one is used.

Coco’s canine Luddism goes back to her puppyhood, when she viciously attacked my paper shredder:

So I’m afraid that if I bought one of these slick new robots and let it loose in the house, her reaction might be so extreme that she would either break it, have a nervous breakdown, drive me to a nervous breakdown, or all three.

I guess I could make a Youtube video of Coco’s encounter.

A Dachshund named “Nathan” has already beaten her to it, though:

But I think Coco’s reaction would provide quite a show.

Does anyone know whether these things are designed to resist attacks by riled-up pit bulls? I don’t. I’m just not familiar with the technology. However, there was one thing Glenn said that also got my attention:

I don’t know how these stack up compared to a Roomba.

Until today, I had never heard of a Roomba. (Other than the dance with the similar name.) But I did think it might be worth a search, and I found something directly on point, at least as the point might pertain to Coco.

These Roomba machines have actually been used by cats to terrorize dogs, including at least one very exasperated pit bull!

I kid you not. Just watch.

Oh. My. Gawd.

Isn’t having to deal with an invasion of your master’s house by vacuum cleaner robots bad enough without having the evil devices commandeered by savage cats who slash and then ride away? I sincerely hope Coco never sees that video. They really ought to have warnings or ratings to protect canine sensibilities. Where are the animal rights activists when you need them?