Greetings Pet Lovers!
Could there be a better reason to celebrate? National Dog Day is a wonderful time to reflect on how the creature frequently referred to as "Man's Best Friend" has been instrumental in many of human kind's achievements. If you found history class dull as a youth, try picking up a copy of the AKC Complete Dog Book. It is updated about every decade or so and each time new breeds are included with a bit of history on them all. It's fascinating! But, here's the thing: Most of those breeds are not new. They may have just been recently approved for entry into the stud book.
Did you know that each and every breed of dog has served a very specific purpose in human history? Dogs do it all from pulling sleds to retrieving the huntsman's kill. There are dogs for killing rats, guarding the home, serving the blind, sniffing out bombs, and so much more. Humanity would literally still be hunkering down in caves (or perhaps completely extinct) if it were not for domestic canines. In addition, these animal give 100% unconditional emotional support. This is well documented.
So, while we take a day to reflect on where we as a species would be without dogs, maybe we should also ponder how it is that these beings that we've domesticated to be useful for and dependent on humans are so frequently abandoned. It is my opinion that shaming people with the words "Adopt. Don't Shop." is not working. Perhaps, if our society understood the time, expense and immense responsibility that caring for a dog entails, less people would be inclined to bring one home on a whim and then throw the creature out when they cannot afford or no longer enjoy it...And then get another and do the same thing over and over. This happens with dogs purchased from pet stores as well as animals adopted from shelters. Yes, it's true. I have seen it many times in my career.
I don't claim to have all the answers. But, perhaps, if we start educating kids at a very young age that bringing a dog into the family is a serious decision and making sure that the dog is a good fit with the family's current (and possibly future) lifestyle before committing to 10 or more years of care (time, food, vet care, training, ect.) then maybe, just maybe, we could turn the epidemic of abandoned pets around. Kids learn by example. Let's start there.
Dogs make wonderful companions. It is also okay to decide not to commit to one if it's not the right time or the right fit.
For the love of dogs.
(Community Corner will return next week along with new pet photos. Stay tuned!)
Sandy Stutz - owner
PetProductDelivery.com
Could there be a better reason to celebrate? National Dog Day is a wonderful time to reflect on how the creature frequently referred to as "Man's Best Friend" has been instrumental in many of human kind's achievements. If you found history class dull as a youth, try picking up a copy of the AKC Complete Dog Book. It is updated about every decade or so and each time new breeds are included with a bit of history on them all. It's fascinating! But, here's the thing: Most of those breeds are not new. They may have just been recently approved for entry into the stud book.
Did you know that each and every breed of dog has served a very specific purpose in human history? Dogs do it all from pulling sleds to retrieving the huntsman's kill. There are dogs for killing rats, guarding the home, serving the blind, sniffing out bombs, and so much more. Humanity would literally still be hunkering down in caves (or perhaps completely extinct) if it were not for domestic canines. In addition, these animal give 100% unconditional emotional support. This is well documented.
So, while we take a day to reflect on where we as a species would be without dogs, maybe we should also ponder how it is that these beings that we've domesticated to be useful for and dependent on humans are so frequently abandoned. It is my opinion that shaming people with the words "Adopt. Don't Shop." is not working. Perhaps, if our society understood the time, expense and immense responsibility that caring for a dog entails, less people would be inclined to bring one home on a whim and then throw the creature out when they cannot afford or no longer enjoy it...And then get another and do the same thing over and over. This happens with dogs purchased from pet stores as well as animals adopted from shelters. Yes, it's true. I have seen it many times in my career.
I don't claim to have all the answers. But, perhaps, if we start educating kids at a very young age that bringing a dog into the family is a serious decision and making sure that the dog is a good fit with the family's current (and possibly future) lifestyle before committing to 10 or more years of care (time, food, vet care, training, ect.) then maybe, just maybe, we could turn the epidemic of abandoned pets around. Kids learn by example. Let's start there.
Dogs make wonderful companions. It is also okay to decide not to commit to one if it's not the right time or the right fit.
For the love of dogs.
(Community Corner will return next week along with new pet photos. Stay tuned!)
Sandy Stutz - owner
PetProductDelivery.com
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