Tags
A dog’s life in Los Angeles, Canine companions, Global Pet Expo, Living the American Dream, Pet dogs, Pet health insurance coverage, Pet shop chains, Venice Beach Boardwalk
SOURCE: Pets join in on the organic food trend, Los Angeles Times, July 2011
Until I moved to the United States, my relationship with dogs was based on their primary role as watchdogs and guard dogs in violent urban environments. I soon discovered that dogs in Los Angeles are much more than just pets. They are family. Even the Pit Bull!
Two Sundays ago, I went for an afternoon walk along the Venice Beach boardwalk. In spite of the signs prohibiting dogs at this time of day, a number
of people dragged their pets through the mass of bodies flowing in both directions. Then I spotted the black and white Pit Bull – on a leash and no muzzle – walking beside his male provider. Mr. Pit Bull appeared calm and at
ease among the crowd. I took no chances; I kept my distance.
On the lighter side, I must admit that I find some canine breeds adorable and irresistible. It’s no wonder that they are so well cuddled and kissed. On the bus and in shopping malls, I admire the well-behaved small breeds, like the Yorkshire terrier and the Maltese, who snuggle up in pet carrier tote bags close to their providers’ hearts.
Cashing in on our love and attachment to our pets, large pet shop chains cater to all our pets’ needs and tempt us with even more must-have foods, treats, and accessories. At the Global Pet Expo, earlier this year, thousands of new products were launched to make them healthier and happier. Specialty animal clinics and hospitals take care of our canine’s health. If we can fit it into our budget, there is also animal health insurance available to cover treatments, surgeries, lab-fees, X-rays, and more.
I envy the good life of our pampered canine companions who are living the American Dream. Although we currently face foreclosures, layoffs, no health insurance coverage, crippling medical debt, and state budget deficits, we continue to provide for them. They have captivated our hearts and minds. They are the perfect companions. They make our bleak and solitary lives more bearable. When a mud slide buries us, they do not desert us.
Can our homeless and hungry children, needy of our generosity and love, compete with the highly evolved, successfully adapted, domestic canine species?
Three Worlds One Vision 
Good point. Though, there are a lot people working in shelters who point out how many of those pets get abandoned as soon as their owners lives head south.
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That’s true, Rachel. But have you heard of any pet shop chain going out of business?
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A few thoughts: Not sure about pet shop chains, but certainly franchises and independents disappear, and pop up, every day – as do specialty infant and toddler boutiques – I think most Americans find both coddled babies and coddled pets a bit much and do not enjoy being around either.
As a cat lover, I can’t really comment on how highly refined our pups are, though I also find many quite wonderful, if not exactly irresistible. I don’t see, though, the comparison and competitive aspect you see with hungry, homeless children – coddled pets are not the cause of hungry, homeless kids. That, I see, as a societal and cultural failure.
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I agree with you, Angela: hunger and homelessness are a consequence of our “societal and cultural failure.”
The intention of my article is to call attention to two aspects of our current behavior: our infatuation with the domesticated canine species and a growing disconnectedness among our own species.
What else but disconnectedness (greed is only a consequence of this) could explain why the people who control our too-big-to-fail financial institutions have brought our nation and the world economy to its knees?
I mention our children because they are the most vulnerable victims of our social-political-economic crisis.
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When you don’t have family or friends your dogs become primary companions and as such enjoy familial loyalty and priority. A good example is the homeless person who scavenges food out of dumpsters and shares finds with their dog. “Here’s half a sandwich for you and half for me.” This is a far cry, of course, from posh pampering of which you speak. But for me, interspecies sharing touches a unique chord in my heart.
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I’m not negating the strong bond that exists between man and other species, especially the canine species. This is beautiful and good. You are blessed to share a bond with your dog that “touches a unique chord in (your) heart.” I believe that man was created to live in harmony with all creatures on our planet.
Our pets don’t judge us. They don’t care about our wealth or lack of it, the color of our skin, our ethnicity, our appearance, our sexual orientation, our religion or rejection of religion, and what we do for a living.
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A couple of thoughts: first off, even with friends and family, especially with family, the comfort of an animal remains unconditional – a purity not always abundant among our own species. Canine? Yes, of course, but also feline and almost any other species we care to explore and love. 2nd: There is a marvelous book out that a dear friend (human!) gave me titled “Unlikely Friendships” which describes relationships between species – an owl and a spaniel, a rhino and a goat, an igauna and a house cat, etc. Wondrous —
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Angela.
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You have raised such important issues in this post, Rosaliene. Your astute and crucial contrasts have made people uncomfortable – a powerful indicator of the need for our society to reflect on why we have always treated pets and animals with more kindness than children. The ASPCA predates our concern for the welfare of children by many decades…
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Carol, your comments to an old post are unexpected and much appreciated. When I wrote it, I knew that I would receive resistance.
Your remark about the ASPCA is news to me. The building housing the offices of the SPCA in my birthplace came immediately to mind.
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The history of the creation of child welfare policy in the US is fascinating. The first widespread media concern was in 1874, long after SPCAs were established in England and then replicated in the US. The response to child maltreatment undertaken by local governments and philanthropic agencies in response to media and public pressure was based on the SPCA model.
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Thanks for the info, Carol. Imagine what that says about the human species.
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It never ceases to amaze me that so few people really focus on the well-being of children. Pro-lifers fight to end abortions as they advocate for funding cuts for everything that helps children grow and thrive – food, housing, healthcare, education. Corporations are willing to leave environmental disasters for future generations while they rake in billions of $s feeding children poisoned food, technologies, and medications to control behavior with little concern about consequences… (Please excuse the rant…)
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Oh so true, Carol! It just gets me that the pro-lifers are unable to see the disconnect.
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