Bideawee Tails from a Volunteer
September is Responsible Dog Ownership Month
by Florence Scarinci
The American Kennel Club has designated September as "Responsible Dog Ownership" month. When I gave tours to the school children who came to the Adoption Centers at Bideawee, I would emphasize what it meant to be a "responsible dog owner." I would always tell them that responsibility begins before a person brings a dog into their family and that adopting a dog is adding another family member. Bringing a furry friend into your family isn't something to be done on a whim. It involves honestly evaluating whether a person or family has the time, energy, and the financial resources to give the dog the training, exercise, and veterinary care it will need for its whole life. It is important that all the members of the household have to agree and accept the duties that are inherent with bringing a dog into the family.
I now teach dog obedience classes and it has giving me a great deal of insight into people and their pets. One family that has been registered in my class would have benefited greatly by attending one of the many classes at Bideawee about the commitment and responsibilities that come with being a pet parent.
The father fondly remembered the dog of his childhood, a big, goofy, gentle mastiff type mixed breed named Muggs. Muggs was the father's constant companion as a child, going everywhere and doing everything with him. The day Muggs died was one of the saddest days of the father's young life. For years he longed to recapture the magic of that childhood relationship, the loving unconditional bond between dog and person.
One day when he and his family were in the mall, he spied a brindle colored Mastiff puppy in the "dog store" that triggered all the fond memories of his childhood and without much consideration the father announced that "I'm getting him" and whipped out his credit card. That fateful day Muggsy joined a family that included a mother and two sets of twin boys aged 3 and 5. In the beginning, the boys were delighted to have a furry friend around the house, but in short order Muggsy the puppy began to grow and became taller than the boys and weighed as much as the four of them together. Although Muggsy was a carefree and playful pup he was just too big for the family. He was constantly knocking over the children, nipping, jumping, and destroying their toys. The boys' father worked long hours to support this family and as a result Mom shouldered the responsibility of raising four boys under six, cleaning, cooking, shopping and was now the primary care giver for a huge, rambunctious dog that weighed nearly as much as she did.
Of course, she didn't need or want the new addition to the family or the added responsibilities that the puppy brought, but she hadn't been consulted about Muggsy joining the family. Desperate to teach Muggsy some manners she signed up for one of my obedience lessons and brought the children to the class so they could learn the rules for the dog too. Instead of learning how to teach Muggsy to walk nicely on a leash or come on command, she spent the whole class reeling in the energetic foursome. She didn't want to destroy her husband's attempt at recapturing what was a powerful part of his childhood or teach the children that dogs are disposable commodities; persisted as best she could.
Unfortunately, Muggsy who spends most of his days in the backyard or in the backroom alone can only be walked by Dad, isn't fully housetrained, has eaten several special toys, and has done a wonderful job in scaring off the boys' playmates. Not surprisingly, the boys want nothing to do with Muggsy and they certainly haven't gotten the furry best friend that their father remembers so fondly. This unfortunate situation that I see all too often could have been avoided if the first rule of responsible dog ownership was not violated: Dogs are not impulse purchases, and evaluation of one's life situation should be made before bringing a dog home.
Sometimes being a responsible dog owner means admitting that this is not the best time to become one.
Thinking about adopting a dog? The Matchmakers at the Adoption Centers at Bideawee can help you decide if this is the right time for you, and if so, can help you choose the perfect pet.
The Person Behind The Volunteers
The Grandkitty Grows
Can a Racing Dog become a Therapy Dog?
My New Grandkitty
Dog's Lives are Too Short. Their Only Fault Really
Not Just Another Pretty Face
Pet Therapy in the Classroom
Mothers and Daughters Bonding Through Bideawee
Sixth Sense
The Content of Her Character
All in a Day's Work
Size Does Not Count---or Pocket Pets as Therapy Animals
ON THE ROAD AGAIN WITH PET THERAPY
READING TO DOGS - IT WORKS!!!
BAW SENIOR DOG FOR A SENIOR
PET THERAPY - NOT JUST FOR GOLDEN RETRIEVERS ANYMORE
BIDEAWEE: A NEW VERSION OF READING TO DOGS
AN UNSCHEDULED THERAPY DOG VISIT
BIDEAWEE DOGS and CATS GO GREEN
BAD ECONOMY BAD FOR DOGS AND CATS
LIFE GOES ON: Bideawee's Pet Loss Support Group
A Therapy Dog at College Teaches Important Lessons
Part 2: ADOPTING AN OLDER DOG: Joys and Challenges
ADOPTING AN OLDER DOG: Joys and Challenges
The Cat Who Changed My Life
The Lonely Cat's Best Friends
Therapy Benefits: What's In It for Me?
