The Doggie in the Window
0519blog
During the heat of the COVID19 pandemic people were forced to stay inside so, desperately in need of affection and company, they adopted doggies, many, many doggies to take the edge out of being confined but now that the confinement is over, a record number of little pooches are being dumped at shelters because they are no longer needed and because their loving, adoptive parents have gone back to work and don’t have the time to care for their loyal, lovable pups. It’s like people shipping their parents off to the old people’s home because they are just too difficult to care for, what from making sure they have enough food to checking they have taken their medications, it’s all way too much and that is what old people’s homes and shelters are for, just dump the canines at the old people’s homes and flush the old parents down the shelters.
I can’t picture giving up a pet any more then I could see myself telling my son or daughter, mother or father, grandmother or grandfather that he or she has got to go because he or she was just way too much trouble, forget all the love that the child or parent or grandparent has extended in past years, without question.
I mean, maybe I could give up Old Spot to a friend who owned a farm and loved animals but to just say so long, it’s been good to know you and sayonara because I have a date and I can’t pick up your accidents anymore and hopefully you, the compassionate pet owners will never be in a position where your children refuse to pick up for your accidents and declare it’s time for you to go. For me, a pet becomes a family member and in some ways better than family, they don’t argue or talk back, they don’t demand much, a few meals a day and a couple of walks around the block and that’s about it and in return, they are bottomless reservoirs of love, devotion and undying commitment which is not what I would say about family members, in general. When a dog of mine who was named Lucky had to be put down and I dislike that term as if the animal is being placed somewhere, anyway, when I had to have my dog put to sleep, another inappropriate term because after sleep comes awakening but not from this sleep, this is a never-ending sleep, anyway, when I had Lucky euthanized or killed, I was miserable because I had a strong bond with her, something different than you can ever have with a human and then Lucky was gone forever. The veterinarian asked if I wanted to watch while he injected the lethal dose and I said thanks but no, I do not want to see this done to the animal that I have loved, that was always going wacky at the front door when I came home, that muzzled next to me in the bed and that gave me emotional strength. I know some people want to hold their pet’s paw while he is shuffling off his mortal coil, taking the final step to canine heaven, expiring, perishing, succumbing, conking, croaking, departing, breathing his or her last, going the way of all flesh, kicking the mortal bucket, giving up the ghost and generally, to be no more, but not me, I want to be out of the room to start the long period of mourning.
Dogs in particular are very expressive with their doleful eyes and mournful gaze, the way they wag their tail wildly in joy or lie down in obvious sadness with a master who is suffering from some human malady or the way they roll on their backs, begging to have their little bellies rubbed or the way they get such extreme happiness by the smallest gesture like a pet on the head. To give up on this with no remorse, no guilt, to be so cold and callous, would be impossible for me and I cannot understand how others can let go of their innocent, defenseless, needy and never questioning pups. Just deal with it, keep your loveable doggie and find a way to have him or her walked, fed and cared for while you are away at that crucial job of yours that gives back nothing compared to the ocean of allegiance and tenderness, devotion and attachment, enchantment and delight.