I don't know if it's a luxury.
Maybe it is. Kind of like having a child...because I don't believe that you should go about trying to have a child or a pet if you're not going to care for them properly. So, it's a definite 'want' (versus a 'need'), I know that.
You have homeless folk with dogs and they're about as giving to their pets as I am to mine. They just have less to work with than you and I. The animal is no less loved. They just don't have the means to care for the pet properly.
But...what is it to care for a pet properly? *shrug* Means different things to different people. I guess.
Introducing... 'The Yard Dawg'.
*laugh*
...because there are people out there who leave their dogs tied up in their backyards for days on end and actually think themselves 'fit' to own a pet.They'd call themselves 'responsible pet owners' without batting a lash.
Yup.
No immunizations. No vet visits. No covering from the elements. No comfortable, dry place to sleep. No bathing. No exercise.
...and they wonder why the dog digs and destroys the flowers. It's bored, 'shortbus'.
Po' dog's baking or freezing in the elements. Dog's hungry? "He got food. That fly covered Kibbles 'n Bits concoction that's been baking in the sun all morning?"
Mmm...now - that's good eatin'!
What's wrong with the dawg? "Water?! Cain't be. I just filled his bowl day fo' yestiddy!"
Thunderstorm coming? Dog's outside bayin' at the lightning strikes and dodgin' hail stones. Seek shelter under your tree, Fido.
Tornado touching down? Everyone sought shelter and forgot the dog still outside chained to the tree.
Hurricane's a-coming? Po' dog got swept away with the tree that he was attached to.
Po' thang didn't even get a chance to run for it's life.
Whereas, you've people like me...who find it repugnant to even feed my dogs commercial brands of pet food, like Alpo and Science Diet (because it's processed, sugary, by-product-laden crap).
Some that I've tried? Merrick, Innova and Timberwolf. Right now, we're on Wellness.
'Mimi' eats Evangers and brown rice. She'll eat anything that has quality (real) food in it.
*laugh*
'Paris' has 'digestive issues' so she eats mostly poultry and brown rice.
'Simone' just eats whatever the hell I give her. Like a good dog.
I buy meat from the market and just set aside some chicken from the main meal that I cook for myself and my husband. My brothers sometimes bring me deer meat when they go to the country to hunt and fish. That's always a nice treat. These dogs love deer and lamb...and buffalo. First time I gave Mimi some strips of buffalo meat?
She was sh--ting all day, but she was a happy little puppy.
*laugh*
In all dishes, I mix their 'wet' with brown rice.
Some pet owners have this 'thing' about feeding their dogs 'people food'.
Well, no - dogs can't eat pizza and fried foods. *laugh*
But unseasoned poultry, lamb, beef, etc...with the fat drained? Of course, they can. Dogs are carnivores.
They eat meat. They need meat. Your dogs shouldn't prefer their treats to their food.
It's just kind of hard to encourage the dogs to eat those dry kibbles when they've had real food (or quality pet food). This is true even if the dry comes from the same brand as the wet.
I've done what I could to find 'dry' that's more palatable.
****************
So, yeah...'taking care of a pet, properly'.
It got easier with time, but with 'Mimi-Belle'...? Bringing her home was like preparing for the birth of a human baby. *laugh*
I had:
- The number to a vet hospital in case of emergency.
- The number of a few groomers in town.
- Researched obedience training. I just used Petsmart. Chi's are smart dogs, though. It doesn't take much.
- Pet insurance.
- Supplies: A crate. Pet bed. Breed books. Training books. A cover and blankets for her crate (because chi's are cold-natured). Kiddie gates. Little sweaters (again...cold-natured). Piddle pads. Leash. Carrier. Food/water dish. Y'know...I went out and bought one of those water contraptions that refreshes water like a fountain? Put the dog in front of the bowel and the po' thang wasn't even big enough to see over and into it. *laugh*
With the time, I had to buy more things: Sofa covers. Bigger carriers. Bigger harnesses. More toys. A toy bin. Poop bag and dispensers. Water bottle for when we're out and about.
Any toy breed owners?
http://www.littlebaddog.com/Dog-T-Shirts_c_24.html
http://www.gollygear.com/index.html
http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-supplies/dog-beds/
- Lots of chew toys and squeakers. For teething, chewing...and entertainment. Dogs chew and get 'destructive' out of sheer boredom, too).
- Training treats (because you've got to start them out young).
- Food. I once got into this debate over Science Diet. I can't believe that people feed their dogs that crap. You might as well just give the dog Alpo.
- Shampoo/conditioner and wipes
I put her crate in my room because she was afraid to be in my living room by herself. New surroundings and all. I was up every few hours trying to get her used to piddle-pad training.
Eventually, she did begin sleeping in the living room. It took about 2 nights. Not bad.
I'd just position her further and further away from my room. By the 3rd night, I just put her in the living room with the kitchen light on and let her hollar it out. *laugh*
I had her pad-trained in under a month.
Having a puppy is like having a small toddler in the home.
Anyway -
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Pet insurance isn't expensive at all. I have Embrace. Just be sure to check for pre-existing conditions clause. Also, don't just buy whatever the vet shoves down your throat. The following sites come with user reviews and such.
http://www.petinsuranceguideus.com/
http://www.petinsurancereview.com/101.asp
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For pad-training? I use the adult human pads at Sam's warehouse. I also put 2 human incontinence pads beneath them to protect my floors.
*************
Obedience training? Until you've had one strained and spread-eagled over the bath tub - and fallen into the tub, yourself? You've no idea how strong a chihuahua can be.
It's a good thing that 2/3 of my dogs hate to bathe, though.
I've found that water filled spray bottles work as well on dogs as they do with felines.
**************
In addition to ensuring the comfort of my dogs, I like to accessorize and can't have a big cage-y looking doggie contraption throwing my decor off.
*laugh*
So, for the like-minded, I bought my a crate bedding off Amazon.
$50 bucks.
Stands up well to washing. Fabric retains it's appearance well.
This was before PetSmart and Petco even started making their versions of things. $180.00...
They're way over-priced, if you ask me... and I haven't even experienced them.
I don't have to, though.
I'm not against anyone spending that sort of money...but when you start heading into the $100 territory for pet items, it's time to consider a few things. If you pay that much from their items? You might as well buy from a shop that specializes in making the product.
http://www.cratecoversandmore.com/crates-and-crate-covers.html
http://www.callingalldogs.com/
http://www.pampermepuppy.com/
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