SOCIAL COMMENTARY
World Going To The Dogs
The saying "treats me like a dog" has changed from being a negative to a positive in America. It used to be that a good dog owner was a person who fed their animal regularly, made sure they had water, and a place to move around a bit. A pat on the head and an occasional game of fetch was an added benefit.
Today, that won't get a human an acceptable dog adoption.When I tried to adopt a greyhound I was told that the garage wasn't good enough for this precious pooch, and neither would be the indoor laundry room.No, if I wanted to adopt a dog that had been rescued from the racetrack, then I would have to allow the animal into my bedroom, and preferably into my bed.I am not making this up.
My other animals (2 cats and two dogs) either sleep in their designated animal beds (one of my cat's sleeps in a furry pod that says "Paws Off" on it, and the other one prefers to roost on top of the paint cabinet on an old beach towel in the garage).My son created a version of a climbing bed he saw in a pet store.He glued two Costco boxes together, one on top of the other, then made a cardboard roof and tied small kitty toys on top.
Complete with crayoned drawing on cats on the exterior, this seems their favorite place to be when they are allowed inside during the day, although if they new how other cats lived in our neighborhood this would be slumming it.
My dogs sleep outside on the side yard in plastic "igloos."I was told by one shocked visitor that Cocker Spaniels do not have the hardiness to sleep out of doors and that they would suffer.My oldest dog is now twenty-two, and she has been to the vet a whopping three times in her life.She has never told me that she isn't happy in her igloo, although, if given the opportunity to sleep in my bed, I'm, sure she wouldn't dissent.I suppose, at her age, I would have to supply the stair steps now available for dogs to get up into the bed safely and comfortably.
Food for them is also not something they complain about.Far from the pampered pooch that receives either home made cooked meals, or specialty high quality organic food products, our dogs eat brightly colored kibbles that we purchase from the grocery store.They have never gotten sick on this food, and never has the product been recalled.If they are lucky, they get an egg on top of their Friday night kibbles, and on the weekend they receive dog treats for doing clever things like sitting, staying and shaking your hand.
No, we do not have pet insurance, medicate them or offer them the privileges we would offer, say, a houseguest.That is not to say we don't love them, we simply recognize that they are our pets and are not consulted about what we should have for dinner, nor where we should go on vacation.
Excuse me, my cat, who has been patiently sitting on my lap while I write this, informs me by chewing on my shirt cuff that it's time to forgo typing and scratch her under her chin.