One of my early memories was watching television as a boy and hearing one unique message over and over again until I started to believe it. In many of the commercials selling pet food or products, the message was clear, "A dog is a man's best friend." My young brain absorbed the message and believed the message to be true.
Where did the phrase 'a dog is a man's best friend' come from? It is claimed that the first time the phrase 'man's best friend' was used, was in 1789 by King Frederick of Prussia. “The only, absolute, and best friend that a man has, in this selfish world, the only one that will not betray or deny him, is his DOG.
Over the past 3 years of living in a new country, I started watching the huge number of dog owners. Whenever I go for walks, dogs often pull their owners in my direction. It's almost as if they know I am going to pet them and often may secretly give them a delicious treat. Often I asked the owners why they love their dogs so much. Almost everyone said their dog is a loyal mate. Several people said dogs are great company too. Even when you’re feeling lonely and down, they’re there, staring back at you with those puppy dog eyes of love. Often those walking their dogs appear to be unfriendly or maybe not happy to see an extrovert like me connecting with their loyal friend. It makes me smile because they are just as friendly as their dog. My move led to my adoption by 2 dogs that developed a fondness for me and taught me how to love them back. They always put a smile on my face.
Here are 10 reasons why a dog is a man's or woman's best friend:
Dogs are great company
We have mutually beneficial relationships
Dogs are always excited to see us
They will do anything for us
They teach us things about life
They love us unconditionally
Dogs can benefit our health
Like, true friends, Dogs are there no matter what
They protect us
They have incredible skills and talents
To my surprise, I have also witnessed several rather cruel dog owners. Some seem very angry and not very interested in walking a dog or themselves around the block. Dogs are often used as a way to get the attention of another person. Many dog owners are usually staring at their mobile devices and never look up, even when traffic is headed toward them. Many simply drag the poor dogs on their leash even though they are trying to take care of business, after all, that was one of the main reasons for going for a walk. The worse I have seen is a person on his bicycle dragging an older dog struggling to keep up. How does anyone abuse or mistreat a man's best friend? I am learning that it happens every day and it breaks my heart. Neglect is the most common sign of animal abuse.
Here are a few signs to help you ascertain the likely signs of animal abuse:
Tucked tail, flinches at human contact
Unexplained fractures or limping
Unprovoked aggression, whining, or whimpering
Overly submissive (rolling onto back, tail tucked, urinating)
Suddenly avoiding any physical contact
Attempts to bite or scratch when petted.
Who abuses animals? Cruelty and neglect cross all social and economic boundaries and media reports suggest that animal abuse is common in both rural and urban areas. According to the U.S. Humane Society:
Intentional cruelty to animals is strongly correlated with other crimes, including violence against people.
Hoarding behavior often victimizes animals. Sufferers of a hoarding disorder may impose severe neglect on animals by housing far more than they can adequately take care of. Serious animal neglect (such as hoarding) is often an indicator of people in need of social or mental health services.
Surveys suggest that those who intentionally abuse animals are predominantly men under 30, while those involved in animal hoarding are more likely to be women over 60.
Ever considered what the world would be like if the tables were turned and dogs were the owners of people? Would they treat humans the way many treat them?
Several years ago, a friend and a neighbour developed an innovative organisation called Fairy Tails. Fairy Tails is a Dog Rescue in San Francisco - a city struggling with dog homelessness. They provide foster homes for dogs in need. Their vision is simple; to bring an end to dog homelessness. In the spirit of Fairy Tails, everything is possible and they want to see a future where no dog has to be without a home. Together, they truly believe, we can give homeless dogs the fairytale life they deserve. Their efforts are focused on prevention through education. Knowledge is power and they are bringing down the number of dogs in shelters by spreading awareness on how to stop dog homelessness. For more information contact Fairy Tails.
If you witness any form of animal abuse or notice a dog left in a hot car for too long, contact your local authorities for assistance. If you are a pet owner, please share with me why you decided to get a dog or cat and how have they changed your life.
In loving memory of one of the dogs that made me a part of her family, Lulu.
Comments