Now when did we decide that animals were so worthless they could be fashion accessories? That their feelings, their comfort, their mental wellbeing mattered so little we could carry them like a bracelet or treat them like a pair of shoes? I would say to those who have "purse" dogs, welcome to the wonderful ranks of those who are so self absorbed they destroy others trying to make themselves look better. Stand tall among your fellows, people who beat and neglect animals because you stand among them, you officially abuse a living thing because you value yourself above it and can not even concieve of how it may not be totally thrilled with the situation. By dabbing your Chanel no5 behind it's ears after your own, stuffing it into a $1200 Luis Vuitton and dressing it like a doll in clothes purchased at some place named to sound like the best thing since Tiffanys, you feel you couldn't possibly be abusing it, abuse doesn't involve shoveling money and status at something right? Wrong.
Sitting at my feet are two well adjusted dogs. They get walked, on their own feet, 6 to skies the limit times a day, go to the park, dig in the dirt etc... They eat good dog food, you know, the kind formulated for dogs? Not the cute stuff with the commercials that make you want to cry, stuff I know from research is actually good for them, I don't take the manufacturers word for it or end my research at the best pictures on the bags and best marketing campaigns. Their coats are clean, free of knots and parasites. They wear collars with ID tags and have microchips under their skins. They are trained, know sit, stay, heel, down and most importantly "NO", they know their names and come when they are called and most importantly, they know they are dogs. They are not children, both are adults and I treat them that way, I do not try to make them into things that they are not. When I got each of them I was not looking for a child, I wasn't looking for a living toy, a status symbol, an accessory or a babysitter, I was looking for a dog as a companion, for it's entire life. I will never move somewhere they can not live, if I ever have a baby I will not turn my back on the commitment I made to them the day I brought them home. I respect that they are small predators, and have a carnivores needs and drives, I respect that their perceptions are different than mine and as I expect them to adapt to living in my home with me, I will adapt to accomodate their methods of communication and understanding so we can coexhist happily. Its a give and take relationship, a partnership, in human society I own them, in theirs, we are pack members with me in the lead and they see themselves as quite free to contest that if I loose their respect. I understand that, respect it, and will honor this "understanding" we have between us for as long as they live, and that is the term of our understanding, I will be with them, care for and provide for them for as long as they live, any concept of giving less would devalue them and cheapen me to the ranks of any betrayer, any disloyal or cowardly vermin that might toss out such an honorable agreement just because my circumstances changed.
I do not see, blinking their $100 mascara laden lashes behind their Gucci sunglasses, this commitment shining in the eyes of those who tote dogs around like scarves. I sure do though, see strain, tension and discomfort on the faces of the dogs in their handbags. The dogs do NOT enjoy this arrangement, they would rather be on their own four feet taking a walk in the park, or running through the grass, digging in the dirt. The airconditioned bowels of a mall is the last place they would like to see, they have no interest in the latest fashions or whether or not you have chosen a good nail salon to have your manicure done in, at home they have a bed to lay on, toys to play with and the ability to stretch their legs, within a bag they can only be accidentally crushed as you press through crowds, stiffled, overheated and made nauseous. Not the tiny dogs? At my feet lay a 5lb Toy Poodle and a 4lb Yorkie who would beg to differ with your concept of the good life. Both are rescues from the trendy world, their mental wounds were deep when they came to live with me. Good food, activity, sunshine and attentive understanding care has seen them to the well adjusted, calm and happy dogs they are today. Purse dogs? List those with "Fighting dogs" and "Labratory animals", put them in the same category as puppy mill breeding stock and the dogs kept on chains. It's just pretty abuse.
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