Not Everything is Disposable

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

As I sit in a hotel room while on a business trip eating my dinner from a multitude of take-out containers, I can’t help but think about the fact that we have become a society where so many things are disposable.  Take-out containers, plastic utensils, paper cups, plastic shopping bags, water bottles etc.  People no longer use cloth napkins at home because it is so much easier to just to use paper napkins that you can toss out after a single use.  Tissues instead of hankies (although I will admit that this is one area that disposal seems like a much better option!!) Many of the disposable items that exist have made our lives easier or more convenient, but where do we draw the line on disposable?  Has having so many disposable options caused us to forget the value in keeping something long term?  Has living in a “throwaway society” made us unable to make a commitment to something and stick with it?  Are animals now victims of our throw-it-away attitudes?

 

There are over 100 DK members that belong to the Rescued Doodles Group who have dogs that were rescued from various situations.  Some dogs were breeders at puppy mills that were dumped after they could no longer produce any more puppies and were no longer “useful” to them.  Some dogs were given up because the puppies were too hyper or had some sort of health issue or because the owners took on more than they could handle and weren’t willing to make the effort to adjust their lives and accommodate the dog that they chose to bring into their home.  Life isn’t easy and things never go as planned, but are we being taught to just get rid of a dog that doesn’t live up to that perfect little image that you had in your mind?  What happened to sayings like “where there is a will there is a way” or “anything worth having is worth fighting for”?  According to the ASPCA website, “approximately 5 to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year.”  I don’t know for sure, but I’m assuming that the ASPCA’s number does not include animals taken into the foster homes of breed rescues or the dogs sold on craigslist and eBay.  Do people not understand the value of an animal’s life?  Do they really think that pets are disposable items that they can simply give up when things are anything but perfect?  Animals are NOT disposable and shouldn’t be treated as such.  Choosing to bring an animal into your home is an adult decision and should be made with both heart and mind and should be a 100% commitment. 

 

I am glad that I have had the opportunity to meet a group of people who (more often than not) are more than 100% committed to their dogs.  Some of us are so hopelessly committed to our pets that many of our family members often think that we should be “committed” somewhere.  Having 2 doodles has allowed me to experience the unconditional love of an animal and has given me the opportunity to know a great group of compassionate people whose hearts break every time someone comes forward to rid themselves of their “disposable” dog when things get a little rough and for that I am truly grateful.

[Donna K & Quincy]

@Sherri, BQ I may have been one of those people, what an idiot I was.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Thanks for the post Amy, I think most people know by now know that I agree with you 100%. I know there will aways be situations where people have no choice but to give up their dogs and I feel sad for those people. The ones I don't feel sad for are those who give up too easily.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Well said Amy, it is so sad that this happens and is so common! I could never do it and it's hard to believe there are that many people out there that can.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't know how I missed this Amy, but thank you for posting it. I think the reason we have all developed the friendships we have here on DK is partly because we all share a love and devotion for our doodles and are committed to them, no matter what.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sherri, Your boss sounds like a jerk and I have decided I don't like him :)

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Sherri, did you tell him that you would be more likely to get a different boss than get rid of your dogs?  ;)

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thanks for this lovely blog Amy. It just makes me so mad, so so so mad when people want to toss out their dogs. I think of Winston and how sad and rejected he felt when I first took him in. He needed so much reassurance, still does. Dogs just don't deserve to be treated this way. It's so unfair!

 

Yesterday I was telling my manager at work about house hunting and all the considerations for my dogs (like needing something close to work for lunch time visits), how expensive they are and all that I have to do to care for them. He suggested I get rid of them and find dogs that are lower maintenance and that I move to the country so the dogs can live outside. I swear if he wasn't my boss .... grrrrrrrr

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[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

This was very interesting and so true.  Dogs should be treated as family members because that's what they are.  They are a huge commitment, though, and I agree that many people get them impulsively and only see the cute and good parts to owning a dog, and not the work behind it.  You made me laugh when you said some of our own family members think we should be "committted" somewhere.  Funny and so true!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

@Daisy, I was at a restaurant once that had cloth napkins and while i was eating I got a big chunk of chicken fat in my mouth and freaked out because I couldn't swallow it but couldn't spit it into the cloth napkin, so I frantically dug in my purse to find a kleenex!!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Oh and about those cloth napkins...about 5 years ago DH and I were out to a very nice dinner and the gentleman (and I use that term loosely) blew his nose IN one of the restaurants fine cloth napkins - can you spell GROSS!