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Are You Neglecting Your Dog?

This post was written in memory of Alpha, the abused husky owned by a neighbor who broke my heart for months before some kind soul rescued him.

Do you have a dog back home who is locked in a yard, or in a flat? Are you his one and only contact with the outside world? When you get to go out every day, he sits at home waiting for you.

A great way for you to show your appreciation would be to take him out to see the world a little. Let him interact with other dogs and people, see other sights, smell other smells, get some exercise, and have a sense of adventure on a daily basis.

Why Do You Own a Dog?

A dog is a living being. He is not an alarm system. He is not a security guard or a status symbol. He has needs, wants, desires and preferences. He has the ability to feel joy and fear, pleasure and pain.

If an alarm system is what you need, then consider contacting a security company for an electrical installation with an armed response unit that will be far more effective than any guard dog. In the long run, it will also prove to be more cost-effective.

Alpha, the backyard husky

Humans have bred dogs for our own purposes: for companionship, for protection, and for sport. We have bred dogs with the characteristics we desire in them. Primarily our reasons are narcissistic because we have bred dogs to love us unconditionally.

Some people call this a symbiotic relationship; however, we gain all the benefit. We hold all the power, and they are totally at our mercy. We say they are members of our family when really they are legally classified as our property and the only rights they have are the ones we give them.

You not only hold your dog’s life in your hands: at any point in time, you have the legal right to abandon him at an animal shelter, or have him put down. You also hold the quality of his life in your hands.

Your dog is utterly dependent on you for all his needs from the most basic bodily functions, to obtaining any pleasure in life. He relies on you to feed him, walk him, water him, house him, play with him and clean the yard.

You are the only one who can give him these basic rights as well as any joy he ever hopes to experience in his life. This places dog owners in a position of immense power which the majority of owners abuse.

Your Dog’s Wellbeing Affects Your Neighborhood Too

When your dog howls, cries and barks, pleading for your attention; it is not only your dog who is hurting. His desperate cries for help send a wave of sadness and misery throughout your entire neighborhood.

Every neighbor is filled with a sense of anger, hopelessness and despair. The children, mothers, fathers, teenagers, and everyone else who lives within a 4-block radius of your home will have to deal with the consequences of your neglect. Every day.

On the other hand, walking your dog is a great way of getting to know your neighbors. People are naturally drawn to animals, and it follows that they will also be friendlier to you when you are accompanied by your dog. Everyone is touched in a positive way when they meet a happy dog.

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Let Him Be a Dog

Allow him the dignity of being a dog in as many areas of his life as you can. And get him a companion. Dogs are pack animals, they are miserable when they are alone.

Here are a few guidelines on how to take care of your dog

  • Take him for an hour-long walk every day.*
  • Feed him every morning and every night.
  • Make sure he has access to water all day. Put his water bucket in a tire if he tends to knock it over.
  • Make sure he has shelter from the wind, rain, and sun with a comfortable place to sleep.
  • Give him a chance to socialize with other dogs.
  • Allow him to interact with other people.
  • Give him toys to play with and chew on.
  • Keep his living area clean.

* It is important to note that some dogs, like huskies, were bred to travel miles every day — it’s bred into their genes. These dogs need to be RUN every day for at least an hour.

If you are unable to make these basic commitments to taking care of him, then please do not get a dog.

In addition, do not give a dog to someone unless they have agreed to these basic commitments beforehand.

Adopt Your Next Dog, Don’t Buy Him

Are you thinking of getting a dog? Please do not buy or breed another animal while thousands die in shelters every week. Please consider adopting your next companion animal from a shelter.

You will be rewarded with years of affection and unconditional love.

Karen Johnson - The Elated Vegan

Author Karen Johnson
Karen is passionate about vegan education, health, nutrition and fitness. She is a Nutritarian Coach certified with Joel Fuhrman M.D. Karen founded Elated Vegan in 2007 to raise awareness for farmed animals, and added the Elated Vegan Health marketplace in 2020 to source vegan supplements, and help people be healthy vegans.

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