It’s A Dog’s World

When I was growing up we had dogs, but they were outside dogs. Most of my friends had outside dogs as well. We didn’t keep them chained up or in a pen. They roamed the neighborhood freely, napping in the cool shade under the porch, visiting doggy friends down the street, and returning for supper time every evening. 

Even when we lived in Alaska we had a dog – part Husky – who lived outside. In the cold of the winter Licker would snuggle up on the porch in a corner to sleep, never complaining. Probably because he could run off to chase porcupines any time he wanted. 

It was the way of the world. We didn’t worry about the environment then. Our dogs pooing in neighbors yards and multiplying by the masses were of no concern. There wasn’t anything more delightful to children than a new litter of puppies to play with and they were usually easy to find homes for. 

Times have changed though and mostly for the better. There is neutering and spaying, vaccinations and leash laws. Some laws that have always been have been neglected to be upheld though. 

Dogs were always known to be mans-best-friend but now they seem to rule the roost. Some couples have dogs instead of children and these animals want for nothing. They have their own beds and toys and there are cases of visitation rights when couples split up. There are doggy day cares on every corner and pet health insurance. 

While hoping to not sound like a dog hater or someone with no feelings for animals – because that’s not the case – I want to relay these few incidences. 

A few weeks ago we were in a restaurant eating dinner and a couple brought their small dog in, on a leash, to dine with them. After the couple received their meal and the dog had settled under the table, the girl behind the counter went to their table and told them they were welcome to eat on the patio but the dog was not allowed in the restaurant. There was no argument as they gathered up their meals and made their way to the patio with the pooch in tow. 

Last week I was grocery shopping and a woman comes in with her small dog and plops him in the kids seat of the shopping cart. Fido was well behaved as he was strolled through the produce aisle while his owner picked over the fruits, stroking Fido’s head between handling the apples and potatoes. 

Tonight as H and I hurried to the checkout line at a different grocery store, we passed a woman with her older pooch in the shopping cart. It had been raining and he was cleaning the droplets from his fur. I won’t say where. 

Is it just me, or would this bother you too? I may get some flack on this post…

~Elle