Originally Posted by Pairadocs
(Post 2161539)
Like many replies, NOT a dog "hater", had many, treated them all very VERY well but.... I don't know if there has just been a huge "shift" in a very subtle area, but the lines have seemed to become more and more blurred (between human and pets, particularly dogs) in the last decade or so. I can't think of a better home than my parents provided for my dog(s)(had several growing up), mindful of their health, need to play, exercise, attention and touch (petting, ear rubbing), but (and this is difficult to adequately portray) never have I met so many people who seem to not even recognize a line between a human and an animal. I (sadly) will use an example of a dear relative. I want to make clear, no, this person absolutely is not in dementia or pre-dementia, but many reading this will think my family and I are just in denial, so be it. This relative just retired and is still actively teaching on a major campus, he retired about two years ago. The dog absolutely must go everywhere with them, everywhere. In our phone conversations and emails, she tell me " we want to go to ___ but ___ (the dog !) was just maddening, he pouted, he whined, he made us feel so guilty we just stayed home !" So if you are reading this, at this point you are saying, "she's demented of course". But it gets worse, since she is still teaching some classes, her husband is now in charge of the "play dates" for ___ (dog), driving him to and from the play dates with his friends. They are not in need of finances, but said they did "reschedule" a planned canal cruise in '23, until '24 because ___ (dog) dental bills were absolutely astronomical. It has just become a way of talking for here, "I am almost done with my Christmas shopping, such a relief, except for a few more things for ____(dog). He has way too many coats and sweaters now, but, he was shopping with me at ___ just to get his dog food and he kept going to this one "toy" and a sweatshirt that he just loved, and when I said, no, no treats today, he just got so stubborn I had to pick him up, NO easy task as you know, and literally carry him out."
This goes on all the time, taking about having to get his present to take to his friend's (other dog) birthday party ! These people don't even go out to dinner with friends and leave the dog home ! Amazing, they will eat at their local country club (not in Florida) on the patio because they don't want to deal with the dog's anger, upset, pouting, or punishing if they leave him. People in their social and professional circles would never dream they had such a "mental" problem (a dog who rules their life... they THINK !) And yes, they have three, grown, well adjusted, very successful children so they once KNEW the difference. The money they spend because (dog) must fly in coach or they can't go anywhere.... is it something in the water, they are not the only people like this. When we went from companion dogs for the disabled, to "emotional" support dogs, something happened in this world ! ? Saw one eating at a table from same dishes human customers eat at in a village restaurant... never went back... I know the dishes are sterilized, I know in my rational mind, but it's just too much to sit and have animals sitting like humans consuming from the same table. Oh will I get hate for that... oh well, won't change that I DO love animals and always have, but I know they differ from humans, that's all.
|
