Dogs and Plants

Dog ownership demands responsibility. Once you claim ownership of a dog, you are responsible for its welfare. If you own a dog you must provide for it (fresh water, healthy food, proper shelter, proper health care, and proper training), protect it (from harming or being harmed by objects, animals, or people), and show it affection (just as with humans, dogs are social animals, they like being around other dogs and people and feeling needed). Dogs first behave as their species is genetically wired to behave, then they behave as their breed has been bred to behave, then they behave as they have individually genetically been wired to behave, and then they behave as they have learned from life or have been trained to behave by humans.

I have a dog. I got him when he was 2 months old and I have had him for 12 years. We are together almost 24 hours a day; we have only been apart for 6 days in 12 years. He is a dog. I know he is a dog; he knows he is a dog. I do not consider him a child and he does not consider me a dog. I let him be a dog and do what a dog does as much as possible. He goes on long walks in different places every day so he can sniff, track, mark, and act as a dog. I do not dress him in clothes, feed him human food, or attribute human attributes to him; I treat him as a dog. He considers me the leader of his pack, looks to me for nourishment, protection, affection and, in return, he protects me and returns affection. It is symbolic relationship that has existed between humans and dogs for eons.

Dogs know we are not dogs, and yet they still want to be around us and they accept us as their superiors. Once a dog accepts a human as the alpha leader, it willingly works for the leader, and will accept anything from the leader, even if it cruel and inhumane behavior.

There are those who enjoy dogs and accept the responsibilities that come with dog ownership. Most dog owner take better care of their dogs than some people do of their children. You read about children being found dead or dying after being left alone in enclosed, hot vehicles during the summer, but rarely do you hear of the same happening to dog. Dog owners insure their dogs are safe at all times; the same cannot always be said about the parents of children.

Some dog owners have psychological problems that cause them to view dogs as the children they have not had as yet, never had, had but who seldom visit, or had but died. They dress them, feed them human food, attribute human characteristics to them, treat them as children, and claim to know what they are thinking. These people are not dangerous, but their behavior is cruel to dogs in that it deprives them of their ability to be dogs.

There are also those who view the attachment dogs have with humans as a way for them to rule over something in their lives. They are losers who have not developed the basics of humanity, so they think they can use dogs for their sadistic enjoyment. Thankfully, these people are in the minority, but there are still too many of them.

Another group is those who view dogs as they view plants, something to keep in the backyard. A plant needs to be fed and watered to keep it alive and it is anchored in one spot its entire life. Some treat their dogs the same way, they chain it in one spot its entire life, fed and water it, and give it an occasional pet on the head. These people do not think of themselves as animal abusers but they are abusers.