Blog the Change gives me an excuse to write about my rescues every day!
I walked into the kitchen of my home one day and my boyfriend had a guest. I walked in on their conversation about a woman who had a dog that was poorly behaved so she had the dog put down, because she just couldn’t deal with it. No training, not attempt to rehome the dog; the woman put the dog down.
I was stunned, because (1) I’m a dog lover – can you not see the 3 dogs bouncing around me and the ashes of the fourth on the end table? – and (2) I couldn’t comprehend why you would come into the home of a dog lover and have this discussion.
I’ve come across too many people who have the attitude that “they’re just a dog” and love the poem that was written in response to these individuals. If you want to see me boiling inside, then send one of these people into the room. On the day I mentioned above, I chose not to address the comments, because I wasn’t part of the conversation and the person who made those comments is just plain mean.
This is Not a Time to be Polite
Keep the Tail Wagging is has passed it’s first anniversary and the past year has opened my eyes to what a real dog lover is; and I’ve looked at several people in my life with new eyes. I’ve had to walk away from relationships, because I couldn’t tolerate the opinions they had about dogs. Frankly, if you adopt a dog, then you’re taking on the responsibility to care for that dog through their life; not just until you get bored or something more fun comes along.
I look back to that day in my kitchen and kick myself for not saying something. I’m confident that she wouldn’t have cared, but I believe I’m here to speak for dogs, because they can’t speak for themselves.
Blog the Change has provided me an educating in dog care that I can share with other dog lovers.
Tired to Images of Abused Dogs?
If you’re as tired of images of abused dogs as I am, then start speaking up. We should start with our friends and families and move on to strangers. Nope, we won’t be popular, but as a community we’ll be loud and a force to be reckoned with and people will be put on notice. If you want to trash talk about dogs, don’t do it around here.
I’m so over with being polite on this issue. I’m tired of people judging us, because we spend money on better quality food and dog training. If the people judging me for having a pet care savings account stepped down from their platform, they would see three dogs that will not see the inside of a shelter, that will not be put down, because of behavior issues, and who are loved, healthy and happy.
The next time someone poo poos how you take care of your dogs, remind them that it’s a pleasure to be able to give back to a creature who gives so openly to us! How many humans give as much as a dog?
Say it Loud and Say it Proud – I’m a dog lover! If you’re not, then suck it!
January 15, 2013 at 9:00 am
With you all the way! There comes a time when a person just has to speak up. I’ve purposefully ended friendships with people over their attitudes towards animals and I’ve asked people to leave my home. Bravo!
(dofollow)
Sue at Talking Dogs recently published..Blog the Change: Puppy Mills vs Responsible Dog Breeders
Twitter: forloveofadog
January 15, 2013 at 8:13 pm
I ended a friendship with a great friend when I started to see that she saw dogs as accessories; a fun hobby until something better came along. Her blatant ignorance frightened me. I knew I couldn’t be friends with her, because I was slowly beginning to see her as a bad person. So we went our separate ways. I have zero regrets.
Kimberly
Twitter: thefurmom
January 15, 2013 at 9:36 am
WOOHOO!!! Kick em in the nads Kimberly!! I’m with you on this. I get tired of hearing about how pampered my dog is or he eats better than my hubs and I. Why? Because Titan loves me unconditionally! I can’t say that for people in my life. I try to be a VOICE for pit bulls, mostly because they are so hated and misjudged by so many however, I also stand up for all dogs, cats, and other abused animals. Breaks my heart! So yes, we need to stand up together and start kicking some bootay! Hoo Rah gf!
(dofollow)
Brenda recently published..Eureka!
Twitter: PibblesNMe
January 15, 2013 at 8:11 pm
I love your spunk and that you’re out there educating people about pit bulls! We need more people like you out there! Hoo Rah is RIGHT!
Twitter: thefurmom
January 15, 2013 at 10:22 am
love the post…
Twitter: suemagic
January 15, 2013 at 8:10 pm
Thanks, CeliaSue
Twitter: thefurmom
January 15, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Great post!
People who judge our Mom and other pet parents for the way they treat their furkids just don’t understand the love and bond that forms between a pet and their human. We feel bad for them because they’ll never experience the wonderful joy and meaning that having a pet brings.
They might think our Mom is weird or crazy because of how she treats us and how devoted she is to helping animals, but she told us that she doesn’t give a shit. We’ve had people come into our house and complain about us being there and Mom tells them, “Well this is their house, not yours, but you’re welcome to leave anytime you want.” Weird, we never saw them again.
Life is too short to not speak up for the one’s we love the most. Give ‘em hell girl!
-Grizzlebees and Dillinger-
(dofollow)
Grizz and Dill recently published..Blog the Change – Put an End to Animal Dumping
Twitter: grizzanddill
January 15, 2013 at 8:10 pm
Your mom is a brilliant woman and I admire her spunk and the great dogs she’s raising. You’re lucky! I know your mom is; I am too!
Kimberly
Twitter: thefurmom
January 15, 2013 at 4:06 pm
Amen sister! Loe me, love my dog…and if you don’t you’re not welcome in my life
(dofollow)
Gizmo ( recently published..SAVE OUR HOMELESS PETS–Blog the Change 1/15/2013
Twitter: GizmoGeodog
January 15, 2013 at 8:06 pm
I’m there with you!
Twitter: thefurmom
January 15, 2013 at 5:26 pm
It’s hard to imagine how callous and cold some people can be about pets. Then again, those same people are probably just as cold about their fellow humans, too.
The animals need someone to speak up for them. The world could use more tolerance and kindness. Let’s hope we get more of all these things!
Thank you for blogging the change for animals!
(dofollow)
Kim Thomas
btc4animals.com
cindylusmuse.blogspot.com
KimT recently published..Puppy Parlor Pet Shop: Puppy Mill in Lisle, IL?
Twitter: CindyLusMuse
January 15, 2013 at 8:05 pm
Thanks for stopping by, Kim
I definitely think people speak without thinking. The more involved I get in blogging and everything I’ve learned about dog rescue has really made an impact and I don’t have the tolerance for this that I had 2 years ago (or even a year ago).
I’m all for tolerance and kindness!
Twitter: thefurmom
January 15, 2013 at 6:50 pm
You make a great point. I have a good friend who told me once that she wanted a dog, but she didn’t want to take care of it. She joked that if she got a house she would get a “ghetto dog” and just leave the dog in the backyard. I told her if she EVER did that I would no longer be her friend. She hasn’t joked about it since.
I’ve come down on family members for some more antiquated views on dogs. I have no intention of buying Lulu jewel-encrusted collars or feeding her prime cuts of meat, but she is my child, and maybe the closest thing to a child I’ll ever have. She will be treated well, because any living thing should be.
Hopefully I think this attitude is changing all over.
Christie form lifewithbeagle.com
(dofollow)
Christie recently published..Florida’s Animal Rights ranking — How we can make it better
Twitter: lifewithbeagle
January 15, 2013 at 8:02 pm
I agree whole heartedly, Christie. I feel the same about our dogs. I’ll give them my best, because they deserve that and more.
Kimberly
Twitter: thefurmom
January 15, 2013 at 7:03 pm
I don’t get people like this either. I cannot even relate to this mindset. What I do know is that you are right. We should be speaking out and educating and offering resources. I think people do what they know until they know better.
We all have a responsibility to our own dogs, but maybe we also have a responsibility to the dogs who live around us and those who adopt or buy them. I wonder how much of a difference we could make if only we spread the word?
Thanks for writing on an important issue.
Mel Freer
(dofollow)
Team BTC
melF recently published..Blog the Change – Help Fight Minnesota Puppy Mills today!
January 15, 2013 at 8:01 pm
So very true, Mel
I think all the time if all of us donated $5, how much would be raise? If we all agreed to tell 2 people something wonderful about dogs, how far would our message spread if everyone paid it forward?
That’s what I love about blogging; we have the power to do just that with our writing. Write On!
Kimberly
Twitter: thefurmom
January 15, 2013 at 8:50 pm
Wonderful Post! I find it incredibly hard to hard not to jump down people’s throats when they poo-poo my Domeek’s philisophy’s about dogs and training! It’s definitely time that people stand up and speak up for dogs!
January 16, 2013 at 4:53 pm
Thanks. I’m there with you!
Twitter: thefurmom
January 15, 2013 at 10:11 pm
I am even more concerned about the vets that will euthanize a perfectly healthy dog at the request of an owner instead of talking about options. I just don’t get it. People need to realize that animals are living, breathing creatures with feelings.
(dofollow)
Julie recently published..Be the Change 4 Animals by Being Nice
Twitter: julesmelfi
January 16, 2013 at 4:55 pm
They should just take the pet and send the family home, then call a rescue group. I know it’s more work, but it’s just such a waste. I couldn’t imagine doing that to any of our animals.
Twitter: thefurmom
January 16, 2013 at 5:58 pm
I was at the pet store yesterday and a guy in the store asked me how many cats I have – I told him three and he said he used to have three, but they had to put one down because she was peeing in the house. I told him she probably would rather be an only cat. He said it started when the cat was two and went on for two years.
He put down a four year old cat because it was peeing in the house!
I asked if he had tried allowing the cat be an “outside” cat and he said, “Oh, I never thought of that.” I had to leave the store . . .I don’t have a good poker face and I know he could see how upset I was.
Again – what vet puts down a perfectly healthy cat without talking about options?? I just can’t believe it!!
(dofollow)
Julie recently published..Be the Change 4 Animals by Being Nice
Twitter: julesmelfi
January 16, 2013 at 8:04 pm
Me either! Wow!
Twitter: thefurmom
January 16, 2013 at 12:38 pm
Awesome post. Just awesome. Glad you didn’t lead with the ‘suck it’ comment, but let it finish as an eloquent kiss off.
I had a backyard breeder bring her unvaccinated, unweened puppies to the dog park pretending to be a rescue volunteer trying to sell her dogs. I immediately got up and left, and cautioned one person as I went to keep her dogs away… looking back I really should have given her a piece of my mind. Puppies are not some ware that you can just hawk from a street corner. This isn’t a faux Gucci purse. It’s a life, and a life long commitment. And how dare you endanger all the animals in such an irresponsible way… Yup, should have told her to ‘suck it’.
(dofollow)
Poochie Project. recently published..A rescue story that makes me cry every time
Twitter: poochieproject
January 16, 2013 at 4:56 pm
Thanks thanks thanks!
Twitter: thefurmom
January 16, 2013 at 2:42 pm
Luckily I haven’t encountered too many friends with this attitude. I guess I’m drawn to friends who are as crazy about animals as I am. I have encountered it with relatives though. Luckily we don’t live near them or see them often. I just can’t relate to having such a nonchalant attitude toward an animal – like it’s just a piece of property. Sad, really that they are missing out on the closeness you can feel with an animal. There’s a little soul under all the fur!
(dofollow)
Jackie Bouchard recently published..Wordless Wednesday: Basking in the Glow
Twitter: JackieBouchard
January 16, 2013 at 4:57 pm
I have family members too who I can’t speak with about my dogs; so we don’t speak
Twitter: thefurmom
January 16, 2013 at 2:52 pm
Say it loud and proud KG! Dogs are a blessing and we are so lucky to have them as companions. Thanks for blogging for change.
(dofollow)
Steve recently published..Losing Weight with your Dog
Twitter: myslimdoggy
January 16, 2013 at 4:57 pm
Thanks, Steve!!!
Twitter: thefurmom
January 17, 2013 at 9:53 am
I am stunned that someone would have their dog put down rather than try to find him another home. What is wrong with these people? Why do they get a pet to begin with? People like that make me crazy, and I’m not sure I could have held my tongue. Say it loud and proud – I am an animal lover (dogs, cats, you name it)!
Vicki Cook
(dofollow)
Team BTC4A
Vicki Cook recently published..ASPCA Survey Shows Most Pet Parents Haven’t Made Plans for Pet’s Future
Twitter: vscook
January 17, 2013 at 5:36 pm
My thoughts exactly, Vicki!
Twitter: thefurmom
March 23, 2013 at 1:39 pm
wow!!!!!! just a dog…….hmmmm…..would they put their children down for bad behavior????? my dogs are better behaved than many children i’ve met!!!!! i’ve taken some of my crew into petsmart and home depot…..and they are made much of ♥……if they didn’t behave, we wouldn’t go….. i keep my babies vaccinated, up to date on everything, and i avoid strange dogs because others don’t seem to be very considerate about that…..we fenced to keep ours in, didn’t realize we were fencing to keep the neighbors dogs out!!!!!! just because we live rural, it really burns me that i have neighbors who let their dogs roam loose…..which when i’m walking mine, could end up being pretty scary…..we’ve had issues with a couple and dealt with animal control…..thank goodness *that* one moved!!!!!
when i first met my husband, he had grown up with the *dogs live outside* thinking because that’s how his parents were…..when he met me, my dog lived inside, on furniture, and slept on the bed…..when he made a comment about it, i told him…..don’t make me choose you or the dog…..you won’t win……now 3 dogs later, i have five…..his thinking is now…..*what’s one more?*……he gladly shares the chairs and his bed with his four-legged children…..and he now realizes it’s a different love that i have for them vs him……it’s not a competition…..they’re our children!!!!!
yes, i get on my soapbox too about how people treat their animals……my biggest peeve is those who would come into my home and then tell me what they think *i* am doing wrong!!!!!!! they are the ones i direct to the front door…..GOODBYE!!!!! love your blog, kimberly……got me going here!!!!!! life revolves around the furkids!!!!!!! ♥♥♥♥♥
March 23, 2013 at 6:17 pm
I adore you!!!!! You soooo get me!
Twitter: thefurmom
March 23, 2013 at 5:37 pm
We have started our work in our community with every dog companion (I hate to say owner) that we meet and that’s a lot! I wanted to tell you Kimberly that my dog’s birthday is March 31st !
(dofollow)
Carolyn M recently published..We Got The Treats Product Review
Twitter: CarolynMullin
March 23, 2013 at 6:02 pm
Ahhh cool! Glad to hear about your work and I know what you mean about owner. I say parent
Happy Birthday – then we’ll be celebrating together!
Twitter: thefurmom