Granted, I'm a totally sensitive person and don't enjoy being teased, BUT can you believe I am being teased about how I take care of my dogs?
There has been a break in the criticisms and "advice" about Satchel. I haven't heard that I'm keeping him alive out of selfishness in a while. I am thankful for that, but I received some painful comments on this blog recently, such as I "have too much money" if I'm spending it on health supplements, pee pads and specialty foods "for a 15 year old dog who can barely walk." I honestly believe it was one of my neighbors because most people who read I'm a D.O.G.! don't ever see us. I've mentioned Satchel's arthritic challenges, but the rude comment gave me the definite impression it was written by someone who sees us... I've opened myself up to comments, I know, but Wow, I'm not used to that...
While that one was down right mean, there has been some "gentle ribbing" about a few other things involving how I care for my dogs.
The Flashers:
When Luna and I walk early in the morning or later in the evening, it's dark outside. She wears a red "flasher" on her collar and I wear a blinking one on my coat. She's black. I wear a black coat. We're walking on suburban neighborhood roads, and cars do go by. I think it's smart to wear flashers. A few people have stopped and commented about how we're "So cute. It's obvious you don't have kids. Your dogs are like your kids and you're like the overprotective parent! So cute!" Hmmm. We're cute, yet I'm overprotective because I don't want to be run over by a car. Hmmm. And let me just say, my dogs are not my kids. My dogs are my dogs. When people say that, I think they think I'm somehow substituting dogs for humans. I'm clear in my choice to have dogs. Didn't want kids. Want lots of dogs. Clear. Like the Crystal River. I don't see humans and dogs as interchangeable. Luna and I are cute, but I don't see putting on a safety flasher as overprotective.
The Seat Belt:
In the last couple of weeks, 3 people have noticed that I seat belt Luna in the car. One person, who I loved anyway and now love even more, said I was "such a good person" for seat belting her. I don't need praise, but it was nice to hear that! The others - strangers and irritating.
How about the person who said it was "stupid" to seat belt my dog and that I must not be able to control him (I'm usually not bothered when people assume Luna is a 'him,' but this one bothered me of course)? Since when did people become so outspoken???!!!! My response wasn't the strong comeback I wished I could come up with. As I strapped her Service Dog vest on I said, "Yeah, it sure is stupid to keep my dog from flying through the windshield. She saves my life every day. How stupid of me to try to keep her safe." The long comebacks are rarely remembered. I'm wordy dammit.
The Fleece Jacket:
When Satchel was a bit younger, our little family spent one weekend/month in Glen Arbor, Michigan walking the many wonderful trails within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. There is a lot of hunting, legal and illegal, out in the wilderness. The dogs and I could hear the shots as we walked some of the deep-in-the-woods trails. I decided to buy lightweight jackets for the dogs in the bright orange safety color of hunters. I hoped this would alert potential hunters to the pet status of the moving animals their eyes might catch. I thought it was just smart to be safe out in the woods. Got lots of comments. Some not so nice. I started to think that some people might simply be irritated that I was smarter and/or safer than they were. I have learned more clearly with Satchel that people often criticize what they wish they were strong enough to do, but are not.
The Life Jacket:
The Life Jacket:
Luna and I haven't been on a boat in a while, but when we were making plans to go on a group vacation that would involve some boating, I bought a life jacket. Yes, Luna is a Labrador Retriever and she is an EXCELLENT swimmer, but the same things that could happen to a human could happen to her. If there was any kind of boating accident, she could be hit on the head and unable to swim. Water could be choppy, and she could grow tired. Why is it that parents always put a life jacket or a helmet on their kids, but never themselves?
There seem to often be questions about why I do what I do for my dogs. I've been teased quite a bit about my "doggy parenting." I let it go, but I think, Why is it so odd to care for my dogs as if they are important and irreplaceable members of my family? THEY ARE IMPORTANT AND IRREPLACEABLE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY!
