It would appear to the
jaundiced eye, and certainly to the cynical mind that the
extent to which man has given his love and friendship to
man’s best friend, his dog, and certainly expected by man’s
best friend, has got more than a little out of hand. How
often have we become aware of the incidence of the pampered
pets . We don’t have to look go very far to find the
evidence to support this claim that more and more pets are
being pampered. In fact a whole industry has grown up around
the pampered pets
.
We only have to examine the way we feed our pets, the fancy
clothes we put on their backs, the jewelry we attach to
their collars, the often ultra comfortable facilities we
endow their day to day surroundings with, and the lengths we
go to find temporary care when we are forced to leave them
behind. If it became obvious that our dog was becoming a
little neurotic we would send him to a dog psychologist for
treatment, think nothing of providing the best dental care
and always see to it that their nails were done and their
coat washed and groomed to the highest standard so they
would not feel out of place beside their little friends.
How many times have we spent uncomfortable nights because a
pet can’t settle down in our bed and growls deep in his
throat whenever we roll over and disturb his dreams? Of
course, there are some who won’t believe there are many
couples who share their bed with their best friend and are
sometimes forced to sleep apart rather than crowd a pet.
Anyway, who would want to argue with a sleepy Great Dane and
try to throw him out of the bed? No way!
Pampered Pets Industry
Even a blind man can see that a large and profitable
business has developed around the pampered pet. Pet owners
spend possibly billions each year on their best friend. How
often have we read a news item about a pet owner who spent
thousand of dollars on a diamond studded dog collar for
their little friend? However, this occurrence is quite
common. Pick up the Yellow Pages in any city anywhere in the
world and you will find pages of pet salons advertising
expensive pet jewelry and accessories. Don’t think, just
because you have bought a ruby red coat and matching rubies
that your obligations have ended. If you’re best friend
can’t have a gold rimmed feeding bowl like his or her
friends have, then their neurotic behavior may get worse and
they may well have to receive additional counseling
sessions.
Then of course, there is the problem of food. Most pampered
pets seem to have more control over their diet than the run
of the mill dog. The pampered pet has lost interest in dry
food and will often turn up his nose at even quality tin
foods. No, he is more interested in sharing the food cooked
for the family, such as prime lamb covered in delicious
gravy. It would come as no surprise if there are some
pampered pets that showed a preference for an early morning
snack of scrambled eggs mixed with slivers of bacon and
demanded a light lunch of whatever everyone else was eating.
Of course, the owners of pampered pets have only themselves
to blame for the spoiled behavior of their dogs. They seem
to worry more about what their pets eat than pay attention
to what their children eat. Perhaps they understand that
children will eat when they get hungry, but can’t accept
that this might apply to dogs as well. They obviously feel
compelled to offer their pampered pet the choice of a full
menu of inappropriate food from which to choose, and if
their pet becomes unwell from eating human fare, then it’s
off to the vet hopefully for him to return the pampered pet
to full health.
Not that it’s cheap anymore to visit the vet. Veterinary
expenses have gone through the ceiling and then some. It
would appear there is no end to the elaborate medical
procedures now being routinely provided. How often have you
heard a pet owner complain about the cost of dental work for
the kids but doesn’t quibble when he has to pay to fix his
pet’s overbite because the dog is in such discomfort when
chewing on his bone?
There is no doubt that we are all guilty, to some degree or
other, of pampering our pets and the only defense that can
be offered is that dogs love us without reservation. No
matter how they are treated, their loyalty is never in
doubt. Shout at them, treat them badly, leave them for long
periods of time or forget to feed them and they will still
love you and want nothing more than to be near you. Dogs
have given their lives for their masters. Dogs will face the
most fearsome odds to protect you. A dog’s love for its
master is pure and beyond question. They comfort us, allow
us to be ourselves and give those of us that need it, a
reason for living. At the end of the day, they deserve all
the pampering they can get.
