“It’s Just A Dog!”

Calling all you dog lovers on this one, and calling out all of you who still think a dog is not akin to a human being. Oh, this conversation might get ugly! There are those head-strong dog lovers (I’ll gladly put myself in this category) who see their fur babies as their babies who happen to have fur (or not) and four legs. My dog is not an accessory or just a pet, but instead a full fledged member of the family who participates in all our family activities—and who is rarely left home alone. There are also those who love dogs, and maybe other animals, but feel they are just that—an animal—who have their own place in life. Then, there are people who simply do not enjoy the company of dogs and don’t get what all the fuss is about. These of course are general categories of people I have met since becoming a dog lover. I can assure you that all three schools of thought are easily found in my own extended family—which makes for some interesting conversations at times (or eye rolls at the very least).

I can start by telling you that I personally have belonged to all three categories so I would be the last person to judge anyone. It still blows my father’s mind to see me playing and hugging and kissing my dog Luna. He has seen me whimper and shake in fear at the thought of having to enter a home with a dog ever since childhood. However, I now see a soul and a forever baby in every dog I meet. I can’t help but think how wrong I was most of my life about dogs. My misplaced fear stemmed from being chased by a German shepherd when I was about 4 years old—who most likely just wanted to play. I should also mention that I am cautious with dogs I do not know, but for the most part I have developed a great respect for these four-legged friends.

Essentially, I wish I could change the minds of all those who still think ‘it’s just a dog’ because the unconditional love and the life enhancing benefits of having a dog part of your life are so rewarding. It is for this reason that I think society in general should adopt a more inclusive view on dogs. Many of the social things that we do should allow well behaved family dogs to participate. Restaurants, theme parks, beaches, places of worship, and planes are just to name a few. There shouldn’t be so much red tape and hoops to jump through (for us humans) just to be able walk or carry a dog through a theme park!

I can sense some of your eye rolls right about now and I can even guess some of your arguments. I’m ready to rebuttal! I agree dogs should be on leashes and be well behaved. I also think they should be removed if the owners do not follow these rules. In many places around the world, parts of Europe for example, dogs are welcomed in restaurants without issue. A dog who is up to date on all their shots should have some sort of identification pass to be shown at any given time throughout these public spaces. The more a dog is socialized in large crowds the better their behaviour, in this sense they are no different than children.

Yes, some of you may insert another eye roll here, but I feel strongly that dogs should not be left home alone for very long periods of time. I think even some work places could benefit from having ‘dog days’ so as to help minimize the amount of time dogs are left home, away from their human family members. It would also make for a more friendly, happy and essentially more productive work environment. Yes, it’s a different angle from which to see this issue, however I think in the end the benefits greatly outweigh the risks.

Look into the eyes of a dog and tell me you don’t think they deserve a seat at the table, so to speak. They certainly get a direct ticket to heaven for their unwavering loyalty, devotion, and the way they express their great love for their human family members each and every day—but I think that’s a whole other blog topic!