Quote:
Originally Posted by fdpaq0580
Yes. It's mental, and not necessarily as harmless as it might seem.
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That's true, I was just thinking that while it was really stomach turning to sit inside a and be that close to a lady with a dog on her lap eating from the same table next to us, it makes it difficult to enjoy food, and yes, it may not be that "harmless". It seems a major thing especially in the villages. Was in the Dollar Store yesterday, couple walking through casually, their small dog, on a leash, doing the same, but wandering all over (longer leash). They were busy looking at cards when he came to me and "harmlessly" began licking my shoe and toes (had on flip flops). I kind of jumped back and said "no, no", they turned around, noticed he has crossed he isle to where I stood, they called him and pulled the leash, and laughed and laughed, "he's a lover she said, don't mind him, everyone is his friend, he doesn't bite, he'll just kiss you to death"... end of quote. The dog had on a little coat with "emotional companion pet" on it ! I tend to be a compassionate person, and when I see so many people in stores clutching at small dogs that they can not bare to leave at home even for a trip to a store or restaurant.... it is perplexing. I once asked my relative why, when she "just has to go to the bank", or is only going to go pick up some food at a drive through and tells me in winter what a pain it is to get him (the dog) all dressed and ready to go, and then he won't walk to the car if there is any sign of snow, so she has to pick him up and carry him to the car. When I asked why not just let him stay home in his nice warm bed, she said: "because it's not worth it, he gets very angry at me if he doesn't get to go every time I leave the house, and then he pouts at me for several days !"..
I could not even respond. This person looks, acts, like any normal person, until.... it comes to the dog ? We've had a lot of dogs through the years when the kids were growing up, we gave them excellent care, but this whole dining with the family, getting new clothes for various occasions, arranging play dates with other dog's parents, giving dog birthday parties, bringing presents when you meet another dog for a play date (my relative said it's expected to bring a gift for the other dog when you arrange a play date ?), to me this is all a relatively new "hobby" or "activity" ? Nope, the relative is not an "old maid" with no children, she is just a widow now and the children are all adults...maybe that is the root of it ? She certainly seems extremely cognitively sound in every other area of her life ?