The facts are in and the statistics are overwhelming. Here
in the United States we love our dogs. Dog stickers are on the back of our
cars, dog clothes are in our closets, and our kitchen boasts healthier dog food
than human food. In 2012, according to the American Pet Products Association dog lovers spent
more than $50 billion on our fur-babies. But truly, who can resist
those adorable pet clothes our babies are dying to wear, or the third purchase
of the dog bed you know your love will tear up and de-stuff within in the first
5 minutes in the house. This pug hat,
for instance, would go perfectly with my pug’s
sweater on these cold winter day’s we’ve been having. Don’t worry, you can find
plenty more on etsy.com,
a site that boasts a range of handmade pet clothes and products just for your
angel.
As our Facebook feeds are filled with cute puppy videos and
our houses with dog toys that never seem to stay in the toy basket, one must
ask, why do we love our pets so ceaselessly, unconditionally, and tirelessly?
In fact, we are not only giving dogs a higher pedestal in our households, we
are also loving more of them. According to the humane society, pet ownership in
the United States has risen 3-fold since the 1970’s. Back in the days of shag
carpet and polyester suits approximately 67 million households had pets. Today
approximately 164 million households are graced with fuzzy companions. There is
more fur, more snuggles, and more treats to go around. So what has slowly
changed since the 1970s? Why are more people welcoming furry friends into their
homes and treating them the same, if not better, than any other family member?
Though I’m certain more thorough sociological,
anthropological, and psychological studies could answer these questions with
much more scientific veracity, throughout my 6 months as a dog walker with All Breed Care and 25 years as a dog
owner I believe I have stumbled upon my own subjective version of the truth. We
have all heard the basic arguments of why we love dogs: their ability to love
unconditionally, act selflessly, forgive immediately, and always be thrilled to
see you. Being around that energy is bound to lighten your day. In fact, studies show that being a
dog owner can increase both your mental and physical well-being. Personally, my
dogs have always been the bright spot of my day, calming my anxieties, fears,
and melancholy moments by their mere presence. Throughout my personal battles
they have been the one constant I can always count on. The one thing that will
never let me down. There will always be fur in my bed, a desperate looking pug
at my feet while I eat, and barks serenading me as the days go by. And these
things bring me more comfort than I know.
It is a compilation of a million little things. The cute
antics- (have
you seen this bull-dog puppy roll down the hill?!), kind spirits, and the
comfort they bring to us daily. To me, this is why we love our dogs so much.
And the love of our fur-babies is the same as any other, the more we give the
more we get in return. And so, I will continue to let them sleep on the bed
(sometimes under the covers), give them the long walks they love, the expensive
food they eat so fast they probably don’t even taste it, and as many hugs and
kisses I can manage. Who knows, maybe one day they’ll be YouTube stars like
these cuties http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsj0bZrORAY.
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