If
you read the title and are still reading this, I hope it is
out of anger or morbid curiosity, wondering, "How could
anyone say such a thing?" If not, this piece is for you.
To
anyone who says, "It's just a dog:"
You
are the reason rescues exist, why thousands of dogs die everyday
in shelters, homeless and unwanted.
You
are the backyard breeder or puppy miller, who looks at a dog and
sees dollar signs, who cares nothing for the inevitable decline
in the dog's health after having litter upon litter of puppies,
nor for the countless dogs who will now die in shelters because
the puppies you breed have taken up their homes.
You
are the supporter of these backyard breeders and puppy mills,
willing to pay $500 or more for a puppy rather than $90 for a
rescued dog, because having a pedigree to show off to friends
is more important than saving the life of a true and loyal companion.
You
are the one who trains dogs to fight, whether for sport or protection,
thus abusing your dog and bringing the call for the extermination
of an entire breed of perfectly wonderful dogs.
You
are the one who thinks nothing of putting your dog to sleep because
it doesn't go with the furniture, or it urinates on the carpet,
while at the same time balking at the thought of spanking an unruly
child.
You
are the one who dumps your dog at the shelter when you move, because
you're too lazy to find pet-friendly housing.
You
are the one who keeps your dog tied up outside, only bothering
to provide the occasional bowls of food and water and possibly
a tree for shade, because after all, it is just a dog, right?
To
the 90 year old woman in the nursing home, abandoned by her family,
yearning for companionship, stroking the fur of a new friend with
the words "Therapy Dog" on its side, it's not just a
dog.
To
the young child who has become literate by reading aloud to a
dog in the classroom, it's not just a dog.
To
the person with skin cancer who had it detected by a dog when
the doctors couldn't, it's not just a dog.
To
the blind man who now can see through his companion, it's not
just a dog.
To
anyone who has been in bed, sick with the flu, and has felt the
warmth of that cold nose as he curls up between your legs to give
you comfort, it's not just a dog.
To
anyone who comes home from a hard day of work to be greeted by
someone who's so happy to see you they can't stop wiggling, it's
not just a dog.
To
anyone who has cried at Old Yeller, because they know what it's
like to lose their best friend, to know that their friend is suffering
and though it may be hard, the best thing to do is to help them
go peacefully, it's not just a dog.
When
you say, "It's just a dog," you really mean, "Why
should I care about it? Dogs aren't important. They're useless.
They don't give anything to us, so why should I give them anything
in return? Why do I have to care about their feelings? They don't
matter in the grand scheme of things. It's just a dog."