Sometimes I get so angry with people that it just makes me want to spit. This is one of those times that I'm mad as hell and I can't keep quiet. I know that I'm going to come across to some of you as some sort of bleeding heart, animal loving tree hugger, but that's cool cause you don't want to know what I think of you.
Than again, you'll probably get a good idea once you've read this post. So, here it is, the question of the day; what has got me so pissed off that I'm dumping any attempts at objectivity? The way people treat their pets.
Oh great, what the hell's this bleeding heart on about now? Well I'll tell you asshole, (if you can call me bleeding heart I'm going to call you asshole.) It's all about responsibility; responsibility for another being's life for starters. If, right now, you're thinking it's only an animal for pity's sake, than you can stop reading and we can all pray to whatever we pray to that you never own a pet.
You have to wonder why, if people have that attitude, they even get pets? What are they going to do with it if they have no feelings for it? What expectations are they placing on this creature that they are bringing it into their home if they don't give a damn about its well-being?
Look at the word domestic for a second. Dose anything about that word look familiar? How about domicile, meaning home, sharing the same the root? So, a domestic animal is one that's related to your home. We've bred them to be part of our home lives.
The implications of that are that these animals have had the majority of their wild instincts bred out of them so they fit into our society. They respond to our orders, they live in our houses, and they live by our rules. Dogs, cats, and other companion animals are capable of being trained or conditioned to do things either on command or through habit.
I used to know people who kept wolves. These were animals that had been either damaged as cubs or illegally bred by other people. (In Canada, it is illegal to raise wild animals unless they are unable to survive in the wild for some reason or you have a special licence) These were animals that had been with them since they were infants.
Article comments
1 - Nancy
Everything you said, and then some! My dad always told me when I adopt a pet, it's just that: adoption, just like a child, and the responsibilities are just as binding: I'm bound to provide them with good food, water, shelter, care, and all the medical care I can possibly manage, not to mention affection. If I'm not willing to go the whole 9 yards, then I don't have a pet. And I sure as hell don't just pitch it out or give it to the local shelter when I get tired of it or have problems.
I have 5 cats - all rescues. If push comes to shove, they eat & I don't, because I know why I'm hungry, but they don't, and that's the way it should be. Anyone not prepared to do the same, shouldn't have a pet.
Very small comfort, but at least there's a move in some states and counties to make animal abuse a crime, and to actually prosecute. I suppose that's an improvement over nothing at all, but there's still a long way to go to prevent irresponsible, stupid, or twisted people from inflicting themselves on innocent animals.
Thanks for an excellent post. This is a subject that needs to be addressed more often.
2 - Funny Colored Money
Nancy, sounds like you are a creepy cat lady.
I agree with everything in the article, you should be stating the obvious, but sadly you are not. As far as putting your pet down, I wish people would put sick Grandmas down as well.
3 - DJRadiohead
Here, here! The Wife to Whom I am Married and her sister volunteer weekly at a no-kill cat shelter here in our area. Take care of your pets, people, and get them fixed.
4 - SAJ
Good Job! Animals are not disposable items put here for our pleasure to be thrown out like yesterdays trash when they do not or can not meet our expectations. What a different world we would have if people would just understand that domesticated animals are "domesticated" and wild animals are "wild" animals and all depend on us humans for their untimate survival, HELLO!. Why is this so difficult to understand? Keep spreading the word.
5 - Linda
So true. Animals are not trash to be tossed out when you are done with them. It just amazes me how people can do that. When I get a dog or cat, it is here until he/she passes on. They live inside with all the comforts that I give myself. We domesicated them. So we should be responsible for them. Spay and Neuter.
6 - CC
Great post! A lot of times, I see people getting animals(usually dogs) b/c it feeds their ego to be able to control and lord over another creature & keep it in its place. It feeds their ego to be 'above' the animal.
The whole not neutering/spaying thing is just plain ignorant & lazy.
Also, I am so tired of looking in the paper and seeing ads for puppies- usually its 'Pit Bull Pups' or whatever particular breed is IN right now- currently its also Chihuahua's b/c of damn Paris Hilton. When did dogs become accessories? What the heck?!