Things I have learned living with a dog for a year and a half…
My Loving Lady Harley
Living for first time with a dog and undertaking her - not few- responsibilities of her care, I learned a lot of things that I ignored. Things important for the life (the good life)of my dog, mine but also the life of people around us. Things that I consider important to transmit to other fellowmen that have or had a pet, or they are thinking of adopting one. Even for those who live in a community that has pets (i.e. everyone)
1. I do not buy animals from pet-shops. These animals emanate from illegal puppy mills under continuous and torturing reproduction. They are products of an ill and illegal –in most cases- system that we should fight. On the contrary, I support pet shops that consciously do not trade animals (the same shops also help strays in most cases).
2. Strays did not fall from the sky! Oh Yes! It is result of irresponsibility of some people that decided to abandon their pets (how is that possible!!!), which managed to survive one way or another and started breeding.
3. I adopt an animal from one of many of shelters that exist in Greece. Only in 2009 it is estimated that over 3.000 pets were abandoned. I am absolutely SURE that one of them is waiting for me in a cage as we speak. Former stray does not necessarily mean “mutt” since a substantial number of dogs/cats in shelters are former family pets that were abandoned by their owners. I can visit one or as many as I want of the shelters, repeatedly, talk with the people that will tell me the adventures of my new friend or simply will praise his virtues and will make indications for any bad habits. In the majority of cases the shelters give the pet away vaccinated and spayed (when they are older in age). There fore it is a nice thing to make a donation to help the efforts of these associations that are not supported by any tax payers money.
4. A lot of veterinarians, instructors even pet-shops make special prices in the offered services and their products, when they have to treat a n ex stray! Nice one huh?!!!
5. My pet MUST NOT have 1-2 litters before we spay her!! And say that she has these litters, what do I do with the puppies??? And lets say that I find some good parents for my puppies, who guarantees me that they will also be equally good parents for their puppies???
6. Only if you have lived with and if you have really loved an animal, you can understand the necessity of microchip-ing him/her. I shiver in fear in the thought that my dog can break lose and run away!!!
7. Kala-azar (leishmaniasis) is not lethal for people and as it is proved most times is not lethal neither for the dogs, since they can be controlled and live a normal life with the correct care. Also important it is we protect our dogs with the special mosquito repellent collar (which we do not forget to renew monthly and all year round, because the soft weather in Greece,).
8. There are good guys out there (breeders), that love their animals and treat them with care. If you insist to adopt certain purebred, you MUST seek for a breeder with licence, visit the place where the animals live and check the conditions of their living as well as their parents.
9. I do not hesitate to report abusers. Our silence is not simply accomplice but also attendance in the abuse case. The abuse has many forms. It can be from a pet-shop (therefore you communicate with the Veterinary Service of Prefecture that it is also the responsible authority in order to it checks and licence these shops), or from an individual (therefore you call the Police and REQUIRE they report your case in the book of incidents).
10. Animal lovers are ALSO philanthropists (with minimal psycho cases where in fact they are not animal neither philanthropists). I really get angry with the common phrase that those who help the animals they do not help the people. Most of the times the person that says this does ABSOLUTELY nothing in order to it helps his fellowmen.
11. A dog/cat in a lot of cases does not need a solitary courtyard, but an apartment with human company. And in every case an apartment is much preferable than a small cage even in the better guest house, when the dogie/kitten is deprived human company.
12. Lab-animals do exist and are used by the big industries the products of which we use daily and therefore we encourage them to continue their experiments. These companies raise their own dogs and for this exact reason they do not get in the trouble of using former strays for which they know nothing of their medical background (RSPCA says so and I do not doubt them). Consequently I don’t buy the words of those who simply want to create panic panic and bad impressions.
13. The Laws do exist but are not applied as in many cases in Greece (unfortunately), and many cases of abuse are not punished. There are of course certain and brilliant exceptions as the condemnation of the puppy mill of Megara
Wow! I didn’t learn much for one year, didn’t I? You can teach me still more however. Write your comments and your observations which are more than welcome.
