To The Dogs

I have had dogs, therefore, what I will say is valid. Our series of dogs lived in the garage or basement. They were not allowed inside the house. My mother saw to it. My dog-for-a-pet days were, when, if the dog got out of the yard, there was no great fuss. You scoured the neighbourhood and brought it back. Licenses were not deemed essential and few people took their animals to the vet unless it was a final trip. You scrubbed the thing down once in awhile if necessary. Dogs were not pampered and they led healthy, long lives. Dogs today are different. Where I live almost everyone has a dog or two in this large complex. While you may, according to the bylaws, have a dog or two, they are not permitted to do their thing on the property, therefore, a parade of them doodles by on the street, morning and night. I suspect they leave their stuff on other boulevards and sidewalks, unfortunately for the mowing folk. Not all dog owners pick up, but all of them comply with the law and carry a plastic bag to show their good intentions. The leashes, supposedly not more than six feet, pan out much further, as we all know, above and beyond the bylaws.  Little poochy often does its natural act while the distant owner's back is conveniently turned and the leash is fully extended. Not all dog owners are guilty, but I think most of them are honest enough to admit that there are times when the rules are stretched. The fact that the hosts of dogs trotting the city streets are legion, means that there is a huge pile of "stuff" dropped by these pets and hopefully picked up by the owners, that becomes landfill or goes somewhere else.  Another subject that is not surprising is the cost associated with modern dogs. If you buy one after checking out the pedigree of the dog and its seller, the price can be enormous. To adopt an unwanted dog is not cheap either. It still runs into what could be a few hundred dollars or more, depending upon what needs to be done to allow adoption. Spaying and neutering costs have to be met and veterinarian attention to the animal. Lots of bucks required. That is the initial outlay. Next are the maintenance costs when the dog comes home. The vet strongly advises regular shots of all kinds, tooth care and special diets often purchased through the vet or its associates as well as clipping and grooming. The end result is a large amount of money going to the dogs, akin to rearing a child. What's it all for? Beats me. Companionship is the most common reason. Dogs are born loyal. You are the alpha dog to them. Companion? Well, I wonder. I think it is unfair to have a dog that can't freely run in its own yard but plies apartment carpeting and tile, solely to provide a human being, companionship. What about the dog? But it's a rescue dog, I hear. Rescue? Is it rescued to live in an apartment, to sit around hours on end, watching a human being all day? Seems a complete bore to me if I were a dog. No wonder they sleep so much. I'd want to run around outside and chase with other dogs, dig in the turf and find nice green spaces to lie on a hot day. To  loll on a piece of pretty cotton padding, watch television, not bark and wait to poop on cue, seems, to me, a dog's life.