Are pets worth as much as people? Cats are far more valuable than some people. Given a choice between saving a lifeboat of kitties and a lifeboat containing J.D. Vance, Elon Musk, Stephen Miller, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Tucker Carlson, and assorted TV evangelists, I would save the kitties and let the others sleep with the fishes. I would sleep like a baby that night.
Pets give love of a purity humans seldom achieve. Love greater than we deserve--like the supposed grace of God. For me, life without cats would hardly be worth living. They are members of my family. I fully understand people who died trying to save their pets.
I am sure others will say it, but I will say it first: The real problem is not pets but their owners. My sister used to live next door to some people who owned a schnauzer. Early on a weekend morning, circa 7:00 A.M., they would let this animal into their backyard, where he would immediately begin incessant barking. Actually, the bark was more like a high-pitched shriek. The sound was like a spike being driven into your skull. They eventually approached the neighbors and asked them politely to address the issue. They agreed to do so, but sullenly. Why the attitude? Do they think that neighbors should just tolerate their animated siren? People who do not control chronically barking dogs are creating a public nuisance and should be subject to fines.
The other side of Keith's story is listening to my sister, for many years a malamute breeder, go on about irresponsible pet owners, including some breeders. She had an exceptionally rigorous application and vetting process before she would agree to convey one of her dogs to a new home.
We might consider something similar for prospective parents.
Of course they did. it's like so many American parents and their kids. It was eye opening to live in Czechia for two years and learn you could sit in a crowded restaurant with a four-year-old at your back for the duration of a meal and have no idea he was there.
Kids and dogs don't have to be so awful so often. A few times when younger, meaner, and stronger, I was tempted to go up to the table where a screaming kid was ruining the dinner of everyone in the restaurant. I would get in the face of one parent and start screaming. After a few seconds, I would inquire, "There. How do you like it?" This would probably have resulted in a considerable escalation, however.
We bred the wild wolf out of dogs, but cats are wild still. They are genetically almost identical to their ancestor species, the Libyan wildcat (Felis libyca). They domesticated us. To me, it is one of the wonders of nature when this wild thing will curl up in my lap and give me a loving look.
If you lived in a rural area, you might not be as negative on dogs. Large ones, properly trained, are excellent protection for elderly folks. We've generally had large dogs, and they get me to do 2-3 miles of walking daily, barring horrible rain or sleet. Their feces generally are left (we train) in woodsy areas with lots of leaf litter. Insects recycle it, and compost results. I agree about plastic bags in landfills, and only use them if a dog happens to go in a garden or on a lawn.
I'm reminded of what my friend and colleague John from Iowa once told me: "Ed, they've come up with a new use for sheep!" me:"What, John?" John: "Wool!"
I'll add something even more controversial, Ed. At least a couple of people who have been reported dead in the LA wildfires apparently died because they were trying to save pets, I guess because they wrongly thought that pets were people, even family. They didn't have to die, period and end of story.
And, there's people who died trying to be professional firefighters. Putting out a fire from a stovetop grease splatter? A homeowner can do that. But, you're not a professional firefighter.
I couldn't agree more! This piece is well written, well reasoned, and so true. The dog mania has reached an insane tipping point, to where pets (especially dogs) have eclipsed people in value, and in fact people are taken for granted, by the dog loving culture. So many dog lovers are misanthropes. Have you seen those Fresh Pet commercials that show dog lovers slamming the door on friends, throwing family members out, and even tossing someone in a car trunk, mobster style, all for the sake of their dog?
Bravo, this article SO needed to be written. Love the headline. Mania indeed.
Are pets worth as much as people? Cats are far more valuable than some people. Given a choice between saving a lifeboat of kitties and a lifeboat containing J.D. Vance, Elon Musk, Stephen Miller, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Tucker Carlson, and assorted TV evangelists, I would save the kitties and let the others sleep with the fishes. I would sleep like a baby that night.
Pets give love of a purity humans seldom achieve. Love greater than we deserve--like the supposed grace of God. For me, life without cats would hardly be worth living. They are members of my family. I fully understand people who died trying to save their pets.
Well I did say human beings--so not Matt Gaetz, et al., then
I am sure others will say it, but I will say it first: The real problem is not pets but their owners. My sister used to live next door to some people who owned a schnauzer. Early on a weekend morning, circa 7:00 A.M., they would let this animal into their backyard, where he would immediately begin incessant barking. Actually, the bark was more like a high-pitched shriek. The sound was like a spike being driven into your skull. They eventually approached the neighbors and asked them politely to address the issue. They agreed to do so, but sullenly. Why the attitude? Do they think that neighbors should just tolerate their animated siren? People who do not control chronically barking dogs are creating a public nuisance and should be subject to fines.
The other side of Keith's story is listening to my sister, for many years a malamute breeder, go on about irresponsible pet owners, including some breeders. She had an exceptionally rigorous application and vetting process before she would agree to convey one of her dogs to a new home.
We might consider something similar for prospective parents.
Of course they did. it's like so many American parents and their kids. It was eye opening to live in Czechia for two years and learn you could sit in a crowded restaurant with a four-year-old at your back for the duration of a meal and have no idea he was there.
Kids and dogs don't have to be so awful so often. A few times when younger, meaner, and stronger, I was tempted to go up to the table where a screaming kid was ruining the dinner of everyone in the restaurant. I would get in the face of one parent and start screaming. After a few seconds, I would inquire, "There. How do you like it?" This would probably have resulted in a considerable escalation, however.
Cats rule!
We bred the wild wolf out of dogs, but cats are wild still. They are genetically almost identical to their ancestor species, the Libyan wildcat (Felis libyca). They domesticated us. To me, it is one of the wonders of nature when this wild thing will curl up in my lap and give me a loving look.
They breed the wild out of us ;)
If you lived in a rural area, you might not be as negative on dogs. Large ones, properly trained, are excellent protection for elderly folks. We've generally had large dogs, and they get me to do 2-3 miles of walking daily, barring horrible rain or sleet. Their feces generally are left (we train) in woodsy areas with lots of leaf litter. Insects recycle it, and compost results. I agree about plastic bags in landfills, and only use them if a dog happens to go in a garden or on a lawn.
I've never lived in rural areas, so you could well be right.
Ed wrote: "Sleep with your dog? (I’m not—and won’t—discuss “sleeping” as anything more than resting, dozing, napping, getting shut-eye, etc.) ...."
Darn! Just when I was getting out the popcorn! ;)
I'm reminded of what my friend and colleague John from Iowa once told me: "Ed, they've come up with a new use for sheep!" me:"What, John?" John: "Wool!"
I'll add something even more controversial, Ed. At least a couple of people who have been reported dead in the LA wildfires apparently died because they were trying to save pets, I guess because they wrongly thought that pets were people, even family. They didn't have to die, period and end of story.
Some also tried to demand that firefighters risk their lives to save their dogs.
And, there's people who died trying to be professional firefighters. Putting out a fire from a stovetop grease splatter? A homeowner can do that. But, you're not a professional firefighter.
I couldn't agree more! This piece is well written, well reasoned, and so true. The dog mania has reached an insane tipping point, to where pets (especially dogs) have eclipsed people in value, and in fact people are taken for granted, by the dog loving culture. So many dog lovers are misanthropes. Have you seen those Fresh Pet commercials that show dog lovers slamming the door on friends, throwing family members out, and even tossing someone in a car trunk, mobster style, all for the sake of their dog?
Bravo, this article SO needed to be written. Love the headline. Mania indeed.