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So You Want a
Dog. Why? |
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When you have answered that question how
about taking
on a few more? What can you offer a
dog? Do you have time? Space?
Money? Dogs have become very disposable items,
it seems. Acquisition of a dog is all
too often an emotional decision based on seeing some pups being sold on the
street, at a pet store, or even at the shelter. Then, not long afterwards, reality sets
in. Dogs chew, dig, bark, jump, even
bite. They are most nondiscriminating where they defecate and urinate unless
properly trained. Actually, they often
choose the worst (as you see it!) places to urinate, for example, because a
good dog would certainly not want to splash herself so a rug is a really good
place to prevent that nasty result! Non-purebreds pups have ways of
surprising people with how they turn out (not so cute, much bigger than hoped
for, serious health problems, etc.) and purebreds, unless purchased from
responsible breeders can and definitely do all too often suffer serious
health problems= physical and beyond that into behavior issues. Not nice stuff. “Free Dogs” are never free. They require veterinary care ranging from
spaying and neutering to vaccinations, medical care for diseases, flea
allergies, accidents, infections from one of many causes, etc. They also have to eat! If you cannot afford the best food
available nor the medical costs you have no business
owning a dog. Then there are those who "just want
a dog for the yard" meaning some kind of guard dog. Dogs are social creatures and to put them
out in the yard with little or no contact is cruel. San Miguel has what must be a rather unique
dog owner - the one who simply visits their San Miguel "home" a few
times a year but insists on having a dog!
Housesitters come and go and the dog has no
"pack" to call its own. Such
dogs very often cause lots of problems because of their lonely lives. Such dogs often suffer sad fates at the
hands of non-caring staff. Doors are
left open and they escape. Sickness or
injury is not noticed until too late.
Food is often left out for free feeding resulting is serious weight
gain - or the opposite! A dog is not a sometime thing. Anyone who owns a dog has the
responsibility to learn what that dog's needs are whether it was specially
bred for some activity (herding, hunting, killing vermin, etc.) or is a mixed
breed who reveals over time what tendencies it has. The dog deserves training so that it can be
socially integrated in the family's activities. And, of course, there are the needs for medical
care, proper nutrition, grooming and exercise. The most likely dog to find its way to
the animal shelter, a "nice home in the country", or "free to
a good home" is one purchased or
acquired on a whim and then left to
its own ways once the novelty has worn off. The Disposable Dog! And for those whose owners feel too guilty
to do that, the dogs often live out their dreary days relegated to some
version of isolation. Be fair. Be just.
Be humane. Before acquiring a
dog be sure that you think of more than yourself! M |