Please!

Discuss this on our boards!

Please!
by Dave Gibson, Columnist

May 8, 2003

Dave Gibson EDITOR'S NOTE: This column was written in response ot the column "Is Pet Ownership Destroying the Lives of Americans?" written by Carole Wade. This article has drawn a lot of fire from readers and will be addressed in Reader's Corner.

Carol Wade's recent article about the 'evils' of pet ownership forced me to ask the question: Can she be serious? With all due respect to Ms. Wade, I believe her criticism of pets and their caring owners to be unfounded, if not thoroughly ridiculous.

She has equated the proper, loving treatment of the animals with whom we are privileged to share our lives... with the ill treatment or perhaps, abandonment of children ("Today's dog owners often bathe with their dogs, eat with their dogs, and sleep with their dogs. Children often be damned!") Nonsense! It has been my experience that people who take great pains to see that their pets are cared for are also great parents. In fact, having pets in the home teaches children the responsibility of taking care of someone else. In a loving, caring home...there is room for all, whether they walk on two legs or four.

Her assertion that dogs turn once productive, energetic people into couch potatoes ("dogs lock once-active men and women in their homes"), made me 'howl'. I would invite Ms. Wade to accompany me on one of my dog's daily romps through the woods behind my house...after she catches her breath, she can answer my criticism. Actually, the pet will often take on the lifestyle of it's owner, i.e. if the person is lazy-the dog will probably become lazy; if the person is fairly active-the dog will share in their more energetic lifestyle.

She claims that pets do not increase the health or wealth of one's life. While I do not assert the idea that a dog or a cat can make you rich...I can certainly attest to the fact that forming a close bond with a pet, can make you a calmer, more relaxed individual. There have been countless studies which have proven that contact with an animal lowers one's blood pressure. Even having a fish tank and watching the antics of your scaly friends can have a very soothing effect. I know very few people who have this power!

My wife has been involved in 'pet-therapy' and has taken dogs and cats to hospitals and nursing homes. She never fails to come back with many stories of how the patients were delighted to see the furry creatures and always come out of their shell. Many elder-care facilities are now beginning to understand the valuable role that pets can play in keeping the patients mind, body, and spirits fulfilled and interested in life, and are actually adopting pets from local shelters to be 'on staff' 24 hours a day. She (my wife) has also been involved in a program called "Equi-Kids", which gives mentally and physically handicapped children the chance to ride very well-mannered horses. These shy, self-conscious children transform almost immediately after mounting these noble beasts, as they prance about the ring atop these gentle giants...they forget all about their own problems and if only for an hour a week, become a 'normal' kid.

Ms. Wade also criticizes the amount of money which Americans spend on animal medical costs. What would Ms. Wade rather we do...simply allow them to suffer? Aside from the issue of basic compassion, I must remind Ms. Wade...This is still a free country (sort of) and Americans have the right to spend their hard-earned money anyway they see fit. She claims that lonely senior citizens "line up every morning to spend their last dollar bill" on their pets. Millions of Americans spend several billions on pornography, junk-food, and state lotteries as well. Would she like to see legislation controlling how Americans spend their money? Who would deem which was acceptable and which was not...Ms. Wade perhaps?

She also brings up the issue of allergies, claiming that dogs who live in apartment buildings and condominiums force us to spend millions on allergy treatments each year "allergens travel through air conditioning systems". Well, millions of children live in these high rise complexes as well and many of them contract measles, flu, chicken-pox, and countless colds each year. Their germs also travel through these air conditioning systems...Are children also "destroying the lives of Americans"? According to the Mayo Clinic: 35 million Americans suffer from hay fever. Also 3 million of us suffer from peanut allergies (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology). How should we counter this threat to our sinuses? Should we destroy all flowers and greenery? Perhaps, we should ban the dangerous peanut! In her absurd argument, Ms. Wade also attributes the spread of SARS to our four-legged friends!

She also claims that senior citizens are now living in fear of dog attacks and are "frozen" in their apartments and condos. Fearful no doubt that at any moment...a pack of unruly rottweilers or pit-bulls will break down their door and maul them to death. What about the senior citizens who have pets (you know... the ones who "line up every morning to spend their last dollar bill")...Are they in fact, being held hostage?

I have spent a great deal of my life working for the humane treatment of animals. I have seen countless cases of abuse and neglect at the hands of irresponsible, uncaring people. I also know first-hand how quickly these creatures respond to positive, loving treatment...something of which we humans are not as capable. I have seen animals, after suffering years of abuse, turn around and become loving, faithful companions in a matter of a few days. I have also seen the joy and fulfillment which these pets bring to their new owners (many of them senior citizens).

Pets have shared our lives and served as loyal, caring companions since man first domesticated animals. In fact, pets contribute a great deal to our society (more than even some people!), and deserve in kind, our affection and devotion. Like it or not Ms. Wade...animals are living, breathing creatures who feel pain and joy...those who open their hearts to them are always immeasurably rewarded. ***

Photo of Dave Gibson courtesy of staff files