Our Daily Walk

Every diet, every gym, every workout infomercial comes with a “CYA” warning, alerting consumers to consult with a doctor before starting a new diet or exercise routine. If you actually consult with a doctor they will encourage a slow start to a new program, often promoting the adoption of a daily walk. When I began to work with doctors and coaches on finding a maintainable way to get to, and stay at, a healthy weight they quickly started dolling out praises on the power of a good walk. Since exercise is synonymous in my head with sweat and pain, walking is not an activity I approach with the same fervor of an aerobics class. I considered tackling this issue as a byproduct of my years as an exercise bulimic, a condition that causes people to over-exercise in an effort to burn every calorie they consume. However, upon analysis it became apparent that my attitude that walking is not really exercise was not a problem but actually quite healthy. By viewing walking as just an activity and not exercise, I was less likely to abuse it. Still, there are so many people who share my “walk is not exercise” mindset and forego this healthy activity in lieu of more strenuous workouts, but this attitude is easily fixed with the addition of a furry friend.

Each morning starts with the same routine, performed with such uniform precision that even a German engineer would be proud. After rolling from bed and visiting the bathroom, I reach for a pair of jeans and just the sound of the fabric hitting my toes wakes Luna and Solei, my two dogs, from their deep slumber. All it takes is the quiet noises of getting dressed to alert them of the start of a new day. Each morning this same pattern is repeated, shortly followed by the phrase “wanna go for a walk?” The dogs immediately jump and cry and run and bark in eager anticipation of a walk around the neighborhood. The only thing that gets the dogs more excited then going for a w-a-l-k is going "buh bye car." I try to think if there are any phrases that would evoke the same level of excitement as these two do for my pups and the only thing that comes close is “wanna go for Dairy Queen?” Sad to say even that doesn’t have me running, crying or barking nearly as much as the dogs.

The benefits of our daily walk go well beyond exercise. We have a little saying in our house, “A tired puppy is a good puppy,” and this mantra is supported by America’s favorite Dog Person, Cesar Milan (aka the Dog Whisperer). The daily walk started not for my own exercise needs, but when Luna was a puppy and the only way to knock the “Schnoodle 500” zoomie energy out of her was with a good, long walk. That was nearly 4 years ago and she, and her little sister, still requires a fair amount of exercise to ensure our furniture is not destroyed out of “when are Mom and Dad coming home from work?” boredom. For those having issues with a destructive dog, my two are living proof that a tired dog won’t chew your shoes.

Before getting a dog the only neighbors I knew were those immediately around us. Exploring your neighborhood on foot allows opportunities for striking up conversation, actually getting to know the people you share a zip code with. Having a dog amplifies the experience as they make acquaintance with the rear ends of other neighborhood dogs. This method of meeting people does come with a funny issue; no one actually knows me by my real name and instead refers to be as Luna and Solei’s Mom. That’s okay, because I am just as guilty of calling people Monte, Lady, Freya, Sam and Buddy’s parents. Because of the walk, and the dogs, people are friendly, wave and say hi, the kind of interaction with neighbors that many people lack these days.

Walking through my neighborhood also reminds me that as much as I hate Minnesota (my biggest search term hit on the site, I should include it in every post), I love my quaint area that somehow sits only miles from downtown. In a couple of mile loop we pass ponds, a golf course, and a creek. We share our path with deer that stop and stare at us on our walk, like we are some strange animal, unnatural in their habitat. In the fall the ground crunches from the leaves of hundreds of oak and elm trees. The lushness spring blooms makes it nearly impossible to see what awaits around the next corner. The scenery never gets old and I am in constant awe at the neighborhood that is more like a nature preserve.

People often ask me why I walk the dogs every morning when I have a large, fenced in back yard. My retort is the walk is just as much for me as it is for them. Just as the daily walk is not exercise in my head, it is also not a chore. Beginning each day with a walk is calming, therapeutic, and relaxing. Unless the rain is of biblical proportions or temperature bone crushing, the show goes on. I cannot make a job or life change that would prohibit this daily ritual; walking my neighborhood with two leashes in hand has become just as much a part of the day as brushing my teeth and enjoying a cup of coffee. My coworkers seem so frazzled every morning, starting their days with kiddie carpool mix-ups, daycare horror stories, long commutes, fights over breakfast, or early conference calls. Missing the walk throws me completely off my rails and has repercussions on my work and personal performance; it is a non-negotiable part of my day. I’m a better employee, a better neighbor, a better pet-parent, overall a better person because of this time to myself; getting a little exercise on top of all that is just icing on the cake.

Pack and Prejudice

Minneapolis City and Minnesota State officials responded to recent dog attacks with a proposal that would ban so called “dangerous” dogs from the city limits. These types of laws are becoming increasingly common in the United States as lawmakers attempt to respond to a few high-profile dog attacks. As an animal lover and dog owner I find breed discrimination laws that bar the ownership of certain breeds both offensive and misplaced. The problem of dog attacks is overblown and targeting a breed is not going to solve anything, targeting irresponsible dog owners will.

Legislators in Minneapolis are looking for a ban on any dog, pure or mixed, with the following breeds in their lineage; Rottweiler, Akita, Chow Chow, Wolf and all Pit Bull Terrier types. Different breeds are classified as dangerous in different cities and states with Doberman Pinchers, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, German Shepherds, Huskies and Malamutes on other banned lists. The lack of consistency on defining dangerous breeds demonstrates that it is not breed characteristics but individual issues and incidents experienced in an area that cause certain animals to be singled out. Like humans discriminate against certain races and ethnicities due to the actions of a small subset of the population, canines experience their own breed discrimination due to the actions of individual animals. Not every black man is a murderer, not every Middle Eastern man is a terrorist, and not every Rottweiler is dangerous.

Certain breeds are more notorious for being dangerous because of what people are doing with those breeds. “Breeders” are purposely adding aggressive qualities into their lineage for a variety of purposes, including dog-fighting and protection for drug dealers. Banning these animals will just have people looking to tinker with other breeds to create a new class of dog-fighting and attack dogs. It would not be long before these groups would determine how to create mean animals out of a current docile but large breed like a Labrador Retriever or a Great Dane.

The recent incident in Minneapolis involving a 7-year old child who was killed by a male pit bull used for breeding that was chained in the basement was a terrible tragedy but screams family involvement in the dog-fighting industry or other types of crime. The public outcry is to ban the breed yet no one is closely investigating why the father would have such a dangerous dog in the house and a gun available and ready to shoot the animal. Any responsible parent would understand what that animal was capable of and would not have the dog in the home with their children. The dog did not kill the child; the father is responsible for the death of his son and should be investigated on why he was breeding such a dangerous and dominant dog.

Responsible dog owners understand their role within society to raise a well behaved animal that does not hurt or kill small children. Far too many people jump into dog ownership without the acknowledgement of what their responsibility is with the animal. Dogs need vaccinations to protect the humans from dangerous diseases. Dogs need their waste picked up to protect the community from dangerous bacteria in the water supply. Dogs need training and socialization to protect people and animals from dangerous behaviors. Dogs cannot vaccinate themselves or pick up after themselves, and they certainly cannot train themselves to be well-behaved. Owners are solely responsible for the behavior of their pets and having a lager or stronger breed comes with an extra set of responsibilities; not taking the initiative to train a large dog is just as dangerous as purposely training them to kill. My Mother’s Dog Roxie was going to be put to sleep as a puppy because she was a dreaded Rottweiler/Doberman mix. With good, strict parenting Roxie is now a dog you would trust with an infant, but would probably kill any stranger if they tried to hurt my mother; exactly what a guard dog should do.

There are laws currently on the books that put responsibility on breeders to curb aggressiveness and owners to train and control their animals, yet legislators are still targeting the dogs themselves in their efforts to cut down animal attacks for simple reasons; it is easier and cheaper to ban a breed then it is to enforce owner responsibility laws. Banning certain breeds is a temporary cure that does not target the root causes of dog attacks; eventually other breeds will fill in the market for aggressive dogs. If lawmakers want to really do something about dog attacks, they should focus on the following:

• Enact a nationwide ban on dog-fighting to stop one major reason people breed aggressive animals.
• Shut down backyard breeding operations put in place to supply fighting and attack dogs.
• Enforce pet responsibility laws.

Ultimately the issue made over dog attacks is a reaction to a few incidents that have caught media attention. There are roughly 18 deaths each year in the United States resulting from a dog attack. Compare the number of animal attack victims with the 12,000 gun related homicides and 1000 accidental gun related deaths each year and it really appears that legislators have larger issues to combat that could save more lives. Heck, over 300 people die every year drowning in their bathtub, are lawmakers considering a ban on baths?

Breed discrimination laws are proposed frequently across the world. Check your local animal rights groups to see if any proposals are on the table for your city. For those in Minnesota, an online petition is in place to voice concern over the breed ban proposed for the 2008 session.

Lambykins, dead of murder at 19 months old

Former Canadian resident Lambykins, close companion of Luna and Solei Van Betta, was attacked in his home in Minnetonka, Minnesota this month and declared dead on the scene after medics were unable to revive him; he was 19 months old. Lambykins’ gruesome murder by evisceration, disemboweled during the light of day in a sleepy neighborhood, shocked friends and family and the still unsolved crime has residents living in constant terror.

Lambykins life began in Pickering, Ontario where he served as the plush Lamb of God. When not serving at the church, he lived with Habbie the Cat in Ajax, Ontario. Unfortunately, Habbie lost interest in Lambykins, who bore none of bells, feathers or catnip necessary to maintain a feline’s attention. Habbie’s parents recognized the need for a plush animal to be in a home where he could receive endless attention and found Lambykins a good home with his cousin from the States; Luna.

For two years Lambykins was a central member of the family, providing endless love and entertainment to Luna and her sister who arrived several months later; Solei. Lambykins and Solei instantly bonded and were rarely seen without each other for hours and hours at a time. The close knit relationship that Luna and Solei had with Lambykins makes their roles as the only suspects in the crime all that more shocking. Luna and Solei were home at the time of the crime and there were no signs of forced entry on the day of the murder.They have been questioned on their role in the murder but neither suspect is cooperating with the authorities, each refusing to talk.

Lambykins is survived by friends Mr. Monkey Jr., Squeaky Squirrel, Footy Football, Harry Hedgehog and Cupid the Dog. He is preceded in death by Mr. Monkey Sr., Bouncy Bunny, Hammy Pig and Tweety Bird. The family asks for well-wishers to give to animal charities like the Spay-Neuter Assistance Program, Homeward Bound Dog Rescue or The Top Dog Foundation in lieu of flowers.

Why Michael Vick is taking a plea deal...

News sources report that Michael Vick will take a plea deal to avoid a trial by jury. Maybe his lawyers shared the following political cartoon to communicate how unlikely his success would be before a jury.



Thanks for sharing this with me NeeNee

Dog-Friendly Days of Summer

One of the many things to love about Paris, and much of the rest of Europe, is their love of long evenings enjoying meals at cafes and restaurants, surrounded by the love and companionship of their furry friends. Pet owners in the United States, where most health codes prohibit animals from entering a restaurant, do not enjoy the same luxury. Fifi can enjoy a peaceful dinner at a café beside her loving owner in Paris, but Fido has to stay home anytime his parents want to grab a bite to eat, that is, except in the summer. Many restaurants are taking full advantage of health codes allowing pets to join their owners on patios, decks and rooftops to capitalize on the growing pet-friendly market.

The following is a small list of some of the Twin Cities Pet Friendly Dining options for dogs and their humans. Allowing animals is at the discretion of the restaurant and can be changed at any time, so please call ahead to assure the establishment is still allowing animals. It is also important to remember to only take a well behaved and socialized dog that can quietly enjoy the sites and smells of al fresco dining; you do not want to bring the animal that causes management to change their tune. Summers are far too short so get out there and enjoy!

Minneapolis:

• View Restaurant & Bar: 2730 W Lake St, Lake Calhoun
• The Tin Fish: 300 Calhoun Parkway East, Lake Calhoun
• Cafe Barbette: 1600 W. Lake St., Uptown
• Isle's Bun & Coffee Company: 1424 W 28th St, Uptown
• Lucia's Restaurant and Wine Bar: 1432 W. 31st St., Uptown
• Moose & Sadie's: 212 Third Ave N Ste 210, Warehouse District
• Spoonriver: 750 S. Second St., Mill City
• Kafe 421: 421 14th Avenue S.E., Dinkytown
• Loring Pasta Bar: 327 14th Ave. SE, Dinkytown
• Joe's Garage: 1610 Harmon Pl., Downtown (rooftop patio)
• Town Hall Brewery: 1430 Washington Ave. So. Seven Corners
• Mannings Café: 2200 Como Av SE, Minneapolis
• Café Maude: 5411 Penn Ave. S., South Minneapolis
• Urban Bean Coffee Shop: 3255 Bryant Ave S, South Minneapolis
• Great Harvest Bread Co: 4314 Upton Ave S, Minneapolis

St. Paul:

• Coffee News Café: 1662 Grand Ave., St. Paul

The Suburbs:

• McCoy's Public House: 3801 Grand Way, St. Louis Park, Excelsior & Grand
• Sage Market and Wine Bar: 730 Main St., Mendota Heights
• Tasteful Table: 200 E. Chestnut St., Stillwater

Please leave a comment if you have a pet-friendly patio dining option to add to the list, or to report if a restaurant is no longer serving our furry friends.

Easy to get animal fighting manuals online

Any person, animal lover or not, must be angered and moved to action with the news and images of the dog fighting ring that Quarterback Michael Vick was involved with. Hundreds of thousands of animals are "adopted" every year for the sole purposes of using them to kill other animals or to be killed in the animal fighting industry. Nike’s decision to discontinue their contract with Michael Vick and the NFL’s continued actions against the player show how serious this offense is to their bottom line; they are willing to cut ties with a premium player to save face with the millions of animal supporters outraged by his actions. Surprisingly, there is one major company that has yet to understand the seriousness in supporting animal fighting and refuses to discontinue their role in this horrible industry; amazon.com.

Amazon.com has been asked repeatedly over the course of the past few years to remove the publications supporting the animal fighting industry. Not only have they refused to do so, but they are looking to challenge laws limiting these publications as violations of the first amendment. Exceptions to the first amendment include stipulations against obscenity, to which many would argue that these horrific publications disgusting and obscene. Additionally, exceptions include “speech” that threatens the lives of people. While it is hard for some to embrace the establishment of laws to protect animals from being threatened, there is no argument that animal fighting and the support of these acts hurt humans as well through introducing dangerous animals into our society.

The following letter is one I wrote to the CEO of amazon.com. For those who believe it is morally and ethically unjust to support the sale of these publications aimed at promoting the animal fighting industry can join the letter writing campaign against amazon.com. Either cut and paste the following letter, or write one of your own, and mail it to amazon.com customer service, through the American Humane Society at the following link, or directly to Amazon at 1516 2nd Ave., Seattle, WA 98101.

Dear Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder & CEO;

Michael Vick’s career as an NFL Quarterback is over due to his involvement in an animal fighting ring. This should be a wake up call to all engaged in the support and promotion of these cruel and horrific acts against animals; the American public is not going to tolerate any person or company associated with torturing animals. The backlash against animal fighting and cruelty is not just directed at those running these fights, it also includes those who sell books and magazines aimed at promoting animal fighting, which includes amazon.com

I was disgusted to discover that amazon.com continues to sell publications that promote and support animal fighting, a practice that not only hurts and kills hundreds of thousands of animals but also puts adults and children at risk of attack through the presence of dangerous animals in our society and the crime that is associated with the industry. Despite repeated pleas from the American Humane Society to stop selling these magazines and books, amazon.com continues to support animal torture by not complying with federal laws banning the sale of these publications.

If a plea by the American Humane Society and threats of lawsuits for violating federal laws prohibiting the sale and distribution of materials aimed at promoting animal fighting is not enough, perhaps it is time for your customers to send an even louder message and stop purchasing from Amazon until these publications are pulled from your virtual shelves. Your online audience is your lifeline, and as this same audience learns of the support you lend to the animal fighting industry by continuing to sell these barbaric publications, your sales will surly start to plummet.

There is no First Amendment right to sell publications promoting and soliciting the purchase of fighting animals and weapons. These publications are as morally reprehensible as child pornography and selling them makes you no better then those actually engaging in torturing these animals. I urge you to not only comply with federal law, but to do the morally and ethically right thing by pulling animal fighting publications from your sales line. The community of animal supporters and the survivors of animal attacks are dedicated to stopping this practice by boycotting amazon.com. Certainly losing sales to this group will hurt your bottom-line much more then pulling animal fighting publications from your virtual shelves.

Sincerely,

How to be a good (pet) parent

One of the best compliments any parent can receive is directed at how well behaved their child is and this is true whether your children are human or canine. I am often complemented on how well behaved my two dogs, Luna and Solei, are and like any good parent am proud of them and acutely aware of how much work it takes to receive those compliments. While I will be the first to admit they have some interesting quirks, for the most part they are very good animals. Coming from a long line of animal lovers and owners, it has been a lifelong journey of reading and hands on learning to develop my methods for training animals. While I cannot claim to have the widespread success of Cesar Milan, better known as the Dog Whisperer, the following simple guidelines are what I use to raise happy, healthy and well-behaved dogs and many parents will recognize it is many of the same methods used for raising children.

Establish who is boss: Like children need to respect their parents and adults, dogs need to understand who to take their direction from. Dogs are pack animals, and they need you to establish the order of the pack or they will do it for you. The owner must show they are the leader of the pack, otherwise your animal will exert their dominance, display aggressive behavior and not take direction. Everyn human member of the family, including children, must show they are ahead of the animals in the pack. The only humans who are not ahead of their pack are those trying to break into your home. There are many ways to establish your position in the pack, but I find the most successful way for most animals is through control of the food; if you control when they eat, you are the leader. Free-feeding a dog, that is having a dish out at all times, is the worst thing to do in establishing yourself as the pack leader. The owner must manage the food, allowing their dog to eat only after they demonstrate a positive behavior and looking to you on when it is okay to take food. This same control can be applied in a variety of ways, and your dog should always take your lead; looking to your when it is okay to chase a squirrel, go through a door, say hello to a stranger, etc., etc. etc.

Supply a healthy diet: Loading children with nothing but junk food leads to a variety of issues, many which are behavioral. Poor diet is linked with hyperactivity, bad manners, reduced cognitive skills, slowed growth and overall meltdowns. This is also true for animals. When a dog’s nutritional needs are not met, they are more likely to display inappropriate behaviors and act out much like a child would. They need food that is high in protein, amino acids and fat with a balanced amount of carbs. Dogs with allergies and sensitive stomachs often need food that contains lamb and rice, rather then the preferred chicken protein, for digestive reasons. Food should not contain unhealthy fillers or by-products and if you can afford it, be made of human grade food to avoid any of the nasty recall issues experienced by the pet food industry and the poor owners who lost their pets to tainted food. We use Flint River Ranch DryWater, Nugget and Trout and Potato dog foods.

Exercise: We have a mantra in our house; “A tired puppy is a good puppy.” It is important for dogs to have plenty of exercise to spend their energy in a positive manner. When dogs have energy that is not worked off through exercise, they are likely to expend their energy doing naughty and destructive things like chewing on furniture or soiling the carpet. Additionally, weight issues are hard on the bodies and joints of our four-legged friends. Chances are if your dog is fat then you are not getting enough exercise either.

Perform Mind Games: Mental exercise is as important as physical exercise to strengthen a dog’s performance. Get toys which force them to think like puzzle toys and kongs.

Teach them tricks, words and actions that give them something to focus on that is positive and not naughty. Do not underestimate what your dog is capable of learning. Push their mental boundaries and see what amazing things they can learn.


Teach them good social skills: As soon as your vet gives the okay to bring your puppy out and about, do it. Make sure your dog is exposed to adults, children, dogs, cats and anything and anyone else you can get them around. Bring them to a puppy class. Ensuring your dog is well socialized will cut down on their nervousness, aggressiveness and outbursts as well as challenge their minds.

Understand the breed: Know what breed you have, even if it is mixed, and understand what makes that breed tick. Working dogs, like the German Sheppard, need a job to do. Poodles need a place to swim. Labs need something to hunt and catch. Do research to understand what your breed needs to thrive and figure out ways to make it happen.

Provide consistency: A bad behavior is always bad and a good one is always good. Dogs do not work with gray areas and owners need provide their animals with consistent training. Do not laugh or inadvertently reward a behavior you do not want your animal to repeat no matter how cute or funny it is. Praise when appropriate, but do not over praise. Feed them the same time everyday so they understand a schedule. It is actually much like having a job. If your duties and expectations are well outlined you are more likely to succeed at work and the same goes for your animals. They want to know their expectations so they can meet them and make you happy.

Reward Positive Behaviors: It is easy to focus on bad behaviors and punish those, however, that should not be the only focus of animal’s training. Good behaviors need to be rewarded more frequently then bad behavior is punished. This includes praising your animal for doing what many would be considered nothing. Sitting nicely, being quiet, sleeping calmly and going potty outside are just a few examples of positive training moments when a “good quiet” or “good potty” will reinforce the positive behavior. Ultimately, your dog wants nothing more then to make you happy, so show them what makes you happy and give them love and affection for doing it.

Test their learnings: Denis Waitley said “the greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” It is important with pets to give them the opportunity to use what they learn to ensure the lesson is a lasting one. Give them an opportunity to mess up; leave a shoe you don’t care about out, leave them home alone a little too long or let them outside unfenced and watch how far they go. Give them the independence to see how responsible they have become. This is the only way to ensure your dogs are learning and behaving in a non-controlled environment and give you the opportunity to hear “your dog is so well behaved” from friends and strangers.

BD: Before Dogs

I love my dogs like they were children and would have 6 more if it was feasible, however, as a public service announcement to those considering adopting a pet, I will disclose the things I used to do before becoming a pet parent:

• Cuddle with my husband at night without a furry wedge between us.
• Stay out until all hours without worrying about getting home.
• Spontaneously go away for a weekend.
• Engage in marital activities without the fear of a cold nosed interruption.
• Leave my shoes all over the house.
• Visit a gym regularly instead of walking the dogs.
• Spend money on things other than vet bills, raw hides, chew toys, carpet cleaner and dog food.
• Leave the house without turning on the radio, putting up the gate, saying goodbye and distributing kongs.
• Routinely sleep through the night without a trip to the back yard.
• Say the words walk, outside, car, go, cookie, and squirrel without having to spell them out.

Pets can be hazzardous to your health

For all those who still tease me incessently about shattering my right foot after tripping over Luna in 2005, I would like to present the following evidence that dogs can present very real household dangers. Some celebrities have fallen victim to innocent trippings by their four-legged friends in recent months.

Paula Abdul broke her nose over the weekend trying to avoid stepping on her dog. Kim Clijsters bruised her tailbone after stumbling over her dog while playing soccer. For more information on celebrities and their pets, visit Celebrity Dog Watcher. Incurring injury while protecting your dog is more common than one would think!

My fear is that in the future there will be an extra premium for dog ownership on health insurance, much like there is for smoking. My broken foot required surgical repair and the insurance company called me to determine if the accident could be covered by my car or homeowners insurance.

A League of their Bone

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Luna, Playto, Solei, Leo, Winston and their human parents and friends participated in the annual Walk for Animals on Saturday, May 5th to benefit the Twin Cities Humane Societies. A League of their Bone, raised nearly $2000, taking 4th in the Team Challenge. More then $228,000 was raised by over 100 teams for the 35,000 animals who are cared for in the facilities each year.

We are already looking forward to next year's walk as we continue our commitment to local and national animal charities.

Lost Dog Alert- Help us find Roy

Roy
Missing Labrador Retriever / Golden Retriever Mix
Color: Yellow and Orange
Gender : Male
Neutered
Age : Mature

UPDATE:
After 5 reports in the Richfield area on Friday, Roy has since moved to the Nokomis area of Mpls. He was spotted on Minnehaha Creek west of Nokomis on Tuesday, May 1 and last spotted on 44th and France heading West on Friday, May 4. He is on the move, so keep your eyes open everywhere! Roy will not come to any person due to the fact that he was severely abused when he was a puppy. If anyone should see him, please contact Animal Control (MPLS 612.348.4250) or Roy's Mom at 612.202.9091.

Description
Lost in Richfield, MN on Friday, April 27. Blue collar. 70 lbs. Was a rescue dog. Has separation anxiety disorder. Most likely will not come up to anyone. Please call Richfield, MN police at (612) 861-9800 or animal control at (612) 861-9800

For More Info Visit Roy's page on Pets 911

Princess Solei and Dearth Luna

From a galaxy not so far away... Princess Solei and Dearth Luna. Our dogs are never very happy about their Halloween costumes, but we give them food, water and shelter so why not clothing too!

Pet People vs. Non Pet People

People who have never owned pets understandably don't comprehend when a pet person talks about their pet, revolves plans around their pet and talks about their pet as if they are a human. It is easy to make this kind of distinction between those who do own a household pet and those who do not. What I have recently discovered is there is there are many people out there who own pets who I would not classify as pet people. For one reason or another, these individuals have a variety of creatures in their home who simply co-habitate. I can understand completely how a person who has never owned a pet lacks the knowledge of how much love a pet can bring into our lives, but it is people who own pets and don't share that same passion for their animals that I do not understand.

I have one friend who has very different views on the subject of pets then I do. When talking about animals, I often writhe in pain at comments she makes. When talking about the death of a pet, her response is to just get a new one. When talking about pets who are having training issue, her response is to get a new one. To her, pets are as replaceable as a broken stereo.

What confuses me about these non-pet people pet owners is why they even get a dog or cat or bird or other pet. What purpose is there in owning a household pet, feeding it, training it and cleaning up after it if you are not going to allow yourself the benefits of having a loving best friend?