Who Let The Dogs Out
Out of nowhere, I've become a dog person. I've had a couple of dogs in my life and it's hard not to be a dog person when one of them lives to be 16. When you a second dog then you've definitely become a dog person.
I've been dogless for six years. Puppies have been off my radar since then. I'm probably not going to get another dog. At age 61, if I get a puppy, it's possible he'll outlive me. Plus my balance issues would make walking a little too interesting.
But as of three days ago, dogs are back on my radar. I was familiar with puppy mills and shelters. I was familiar with the problems that came with buying a dog from a retail store. I was familiar with how hard working and dedicated the people who are trying to protect animals are. I was not familiar with The Puppy Mill Project and what they are trying to do on behalf of animals and consumers. Plus there are many other groups that deal with animal rights. They all deserve credit and our thanks.
What have I learned....
1. As cute as the puppies are at a pet store, chances are they come with either physical or behavioral issues...maybe both.
2. There are a lot of bad breeders. They care more about money than the animals.
3. If you're in the market for a dog or cat, check out the shelters. They are overloaded with pets ready for adoption.
4. Buyer beware. Don't forget that a lot of the shelter animals came from people who bought them from retail stores. They couldn't handle the animal or the expense. Make sure you know what you're getting into.
5. Maybe most importantly....ask a lot of questions. arm yourself with all the information you need to make a proper decision on what is right for you and your family.
PHEW!!!! This being a dog person is a lot of work..especially emotionally. I'm gonna let the experts take over this beat again and am going back to something I sort of know about.
ps...the above picture is of my dog DJ. He got into the garbage and we awoke to a dog with a popcorn bag on his head. Notice we made sure to get a picture before taking it off. Guess we weren't dog people after all!!