Strong words! Your thoughts?

I found this on a website when I was searching around for dogs for adoption. It's pretty strongly worded, I was wondering what y'all think about it.

"Just a dog"

To anyone who says, "It's just a dog:"

You are the reason rescues exist, why thousands of dogs die everyday in shelters, homeless and unwanted.

You are the backyard breeder or puppy miller, who looks at a dog and sees dollar signs, who cares nothing for the inevitable decline in the dog's health after having litter upon litter of puppies, nor for the countless dogs who will now die in shelters because the puppies you breed have taken up their homes.

You are the supporter of these backyard breeders and puppy mills, willing to pay $500 or more for a puppy rather than $90 for a rescued dog, because having a pedigree to show off to friends is more important than saving the life of a true and loyal companion.

You are the one who trains dogs to fight, whether for sport or protection, thus abusing your dog and bringing the call for the extermination of an entire breed of perfectly wonderful dogs.

You are the one who thinks nothing of putting your dog to sleep because it doesn't go with the furniture, or it urinates on the carpet, while at the same time balking at the thought of spanking an unruly child.

You are the one who dumps your dog at the shelter when you move, because you're too lazy to find pet-friendly housing.

You are the one who keeps your dog tied up outside, only bothering to provide the occasional bowls of food and water and possibly a tree for shade, because after all, it is just a dog, right?

To the 90 year old woman in the nursing home, abandoned by her family, yearning for companionship, stroking the fur of a new friend with the words "Therapy Dog" on its side, it's not just a dog.

To the young child who has become literate by reading aloud to a dog in the classroom, it's not just a dog.

To the person with skin cancer who had it detected by a dog when the doctors couldn't, it's not just a dog.

To the blind man who now can see through his companion, it's not just a dog.

To anyone who has been in bed, sick with the flu, and has felt the warmth of that cold nose as he curls up between your legs to give you comfort, it's not just a dog.

To anyone who comes home from a hard day of work to be greeted by someone who's so happy to see you they can't stop wiggling, it's not just a dog.

To anyone who has cried at Old Yeller, because they know what it's like to lose their best friend, to know that their friend is suffering and though it may be hard, the best thing to do is to help them go peacefully, it's not just a dog.

When you say, "It's just a dog," you really mean, "Why should I care about it? Dogs aren't important. They're useless. They don't give anything to us, so why should I give them anything in return? Why do I have to care about their feelings? They don't matter in the grand scheme of things. It's just a dog."

To everyone who says, "It's just a dog," I just have this to say to you:



You're just a human.

Re: Strong words! Your thoughts?

Wow.. Thanks for posting that.. My dogs are part of my family and anyone that says otherwise doesn't snuggle in bed with me everynight and keep me warm!!!

Re: Strong words! Your thoughts?

argh... i might get flamed for this and it's not my intention to offend anyone, but i strongly disagree with the author of that article.

i have had cats and dogs all my life. DH and i recently spend thousands of dollars to help his dog when he had cancer.

i love my pets and adore them.

but in the end, it is just a dog. and just a cat. i cannot, and will not, ever put a pet on the same level as my child, or my family, or my friends.

that doesn't make me a monster - nor does it make me someone who would start a puppy mill, or breed a dog for money, or enter a dog into a fighting ring.

it makes me "just a human" i suppose. and i value human life more than that of my pets. i don't know if i'll ever feel differently.

Re: Strong words! Your thoughts?

I agree with this.
ALL life is precious IMO. Animal or human.
I don't differntiate between the two in my thoughts or feelings towards animals vs. humans.
I just can't seperate them...

Re: Strong words! Your thoughts?

Ok I just had a baby.. I love my DD just as much as I love my first baby Lola.. I thought I would love Lola more than the baby but I dont.. Its totally equal.. I can not seperate Dog from Human.. I just cant.. I guess I am just a dog-human ..

Re: Strong words! Your thoughts?

Why oh WHY did I read this at WORK?!?!

Now I'm sitting here with tears BRIMING in my eyes.

I don't understand how anyone could think that way. EVER.

Ok, now I need to go home and hug my Arnold and Shelby!!

Re: Strong words! Your thoughts?

Re: Strong words! Your thoughts?

Re: Strong words! Your thoughts?

Definitely very strong words. Thanks for posting! My dog is a true part of my family. I got a pure bred pom because I lived in an aparmtnet and I needed to know she would be small (for her sake) i would rescue a dog in a second if i lived in a bigger house..maybe the next one!

Re: Strong words! Your thoughts?

Wow.... that author is an idiot.
When I say a dog is just a dog, I don't mean that it's ok to throw a dog on the street, or breed a bunch of dogs just to make money or to leave a dog tied up outside all day, etc...

Of course i would NEVER have a dog so most of that would never apply to me. And as much as the cats I live with can annoy me, I would never harm them.

But to blatantly say that a person who thinks an animal is just that - an ANIMAL is equal to a person who supports and DOES harm animals is ridiculous. Obviously this author is just trying to stir up things and get attention.

Re: Strong words! Your thoughts?

While I think the author is going to an unnecessary extreme, I will say that there is nothing that pissses me off more than when someone says Olli or Teemu are "just dogs". Usually it is in response to us leaving an event early so the boys aren't home alone for too long, or that we send them to doggie daycare. It is the word 'just' that I find so offensive. The use of 'just' seems to suggest that my actions towards/the magnitude of love for my dogs is unwarranted and strange because they are dogs (when I think it is perfectly normal since they are an integral part of my family).

Re: Strong words! Your thoughts?

Re: Strong words! Your thoughts?

Re: Strong words! Your thoughts?

My pets are so much more then "just". they love me unconditionally. they wait so patiently for me to come home everyday and are there to greet me with happiness. when i am down it is them that brings a smile to my face or a kiss....they never judge me and just ask for me to love them back. their hearts are filled with kindness and their main goal all the time is just to please us. they are just innocent beings. The more I come to realize lately that I like animals so much more the people. just my thoughts. I came across this poem on the web one day - enjoy! i love it!

*Remember, if a dog were your teacher, you would learn things like……

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy..

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Re: Strong words! Your thoughts?