I hate traveling. Mostly it’s because I hate flying. But there’s another reason as well. Through the ‘magic’ of Facebook, and the era of ‘instant’ media we live in, I hear a lot about how animals are (mis)treated in other areas of the country/world. While I know all of my readers are wonderful pet owners no matter where you live, I’m biased about certain areas of the country and one of those areas is the south.
And last week I went to Florida.
Overheard at a children’s party:
Two women were discussing their dogs and how one woman’s (woman #1) son had questioned the other woman (woman #2) about her dog. Turns out they both had the same breed of dog. A blue nosed pit.
Woman #1 pulled up a picture of her dog on her phone and woman #2 immediately asked, “Is she spayed?”
Woman #1 responded, “Yes, we got her from the pound.”
Disappointed woman #2 responded that her dog was male, and still a puppy.
And in my mind, I immediately jumped to, she wants to breed that dog. She’s a back yard breeder who wants to make money from her dog.
See, I told you I was biased.
How do you stop yourself from jumping to that conclusion?
Sometimes the universe provides the answer.
On that same trip, I was visiting with some friends (who are wonderful, responsible pet owners) where I was introduced to and fell in love with Bailey.
Bailey is about five years old. Until recently she lived on an 80 acre farm where she hunted armadillos, snakes, and many other types of small game. Sadly she was also unprotected from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.
When my friends rescued Bailey from a relative of theirs, she was covered in fleas and ticks, and she had heart worm and tape worms as well. I’m sure you all know that dogs and cats with fleas can easily become infected with tape worms.
My friends treated Bailey for the fleas, ticks and worms and gave her a good home, where she is spoiled rotten.
A real “Daddy’s Girl” Bailey is so attached to her Dad that when he was in the hospital recently, she ran through the house searching for him. Trying to help Bailey feel safe, the mom held the phone up to her ear so she could hear Daddy, but instead of helping, it left Bailey running around the house, crying and searching for her dad.
Thankfully my friend is home and all is right in Bailey’s world once again.
Meet Bailey.
My friends also found a feral cat and her kittens, nursed them, found homes for all of them and had the mama spayed.
It is people like my friends and others like them, that help restore my faith in humanity.
Bailey is a beautiful girl. Glad your friend is back home. Hope you had a great trip!
I am the same way. Except, I worry when I am out and see other dogs, that they are not treated as well as I would treat them. On our walk, I used to stop and visit with a sweet girl named Annie. She was always in the backyard, alone. Her family would have big get togethers and she was never allowed in to share in the happenings. I would see her look back at the kitchen door, just waiting for someone to come be with her or be invited indoors. It broke my heart. I called the authorities and they checked on her, but said as long as she had some shelter and was being fed that they could not do anything. Sadly, she became ill and died with heartworms at age 10. Poor little thing. She was so sweet, but certainly not properly taken care of like a beloved pet should be.
I think I told you about the golden that my daughter adopted from the shelter. I was appalled to find out they do not check the dogs out at all. The shelter would not let them take him until he had been neutered. When they picked Hendrix up after his surgery, they were told he is heartworm positive. There is no way, that they could afford treatment, so we are paying for him to get better. My point is, what if someone else had adopted him that was not financially able or willing to care for his health problems? What would have happened to him? I am sure it happens all of the time. So frustrating and a real eye opener. So maybe, you are not really biased, but just aware of some people’s mentality.
Gus’ Mom
It is very much Difficult Not to Judge or Jump to conclusions. And really hard not to tell some people that they don’t REALIZE how much LOVE and Devotion they are missing out on. We always think… “those folks must have had a MISERABLE childhood/life”. Otherwise they would not be so UNLOVING towards another living being.
I love inspiring stories like this. It’s so sad when a dog is mistreated. I love it when in the end they find love, healing and an altogether better life.
These kind of stories also restore my faith in humanity.
I’ve been coming across stories like these lately and I hope it’s showing that more and more people are becoming humane when it comes toward animals. I would love to see this dream come true.
Bailey is so lovely!! I wouldn’t worry too much, the more time I spend with people the more I like my dog!! (I know that isn’t originally a me quote but it’s bloody true!!)
That is so great to hear about Bailey. It is so sad that not everyone is responsible. Backyard breeders are one of the worst type of dog owner. Have a terrific Tuesday.
Best wishes Molly
What a wonderful story Bailey has, and it truly does restore your faith in humanity to hear a story like that. Since Luke came up from the south where there are way too many puppies, I tend to think the same way you do. But there are good people everywhere, and the people that helped down there to foster Luke so he could be with us are also great examples.
I am glad Bailey found a place to be spoiled rotten. 🙂
Maybe the woman with the puppy pit was waiting until he was older to neuter him for health reasons and wished he was at that point now? 🙂
Welcome back!
That was a beautiful story!
Just beautiful! And I thank you for sharing it with us. Your furiends seem like great people!
I am sometimes quick to judge in a situation like that of what you overheard as well. It’s hard not to with so much of that going on in the world.
Bailey is gorgeous! I am so glad she is with your furiends now and safe!
Great post!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
We all have our prejudices. And media will reinforce them because it makes us feel good to get outraged about all the other jerks out there.
But I find most people, when pushed, will do the right thing. Sometimes, though, they need help to know what the right thing is.
One day I overheard someone say they had got a small puppy so their kids would have something to do. Yep, hackles raised on that one!
Being an optimist I think most people try to do the right thing. Many just don’t realize that their behavior is irresponsible or they are so self-absorbed that they don’t look beyond their own desires. Spaying and neutering is almost universal today among people who have the money and transportation.
I’m biased too. Great post and I agree with you on every point. I guess those of us who have been part of the Twitter and Blogging Community – Anipal area have seen and heard it all. We can’t help but become biased. in an Ideal World, I’d like to see each prospective pet owner have to take a mandatory class on Responsible Pet Ownership so they would know what to do. Dream on!!!!
Yes, I have had similar concerns, mostly when overhearing conversations at work. I have to really bite my tongue sometimes.
Bailey has the face-of-love! So sweet.
As I was reading your story about the two women’s conversation, I jumped to the same conclusion you did. It didn’t matter where they were from, I am a cynic and tend to be pessimistic about people and their motives (and intelligence…). It’s not a good trait to have, I know, but I’ve always been this way.
On the other hand, I love travelling (just got back from 3+ weeks in Europe!). I loved watching the relationships between people and their dogs in Germany, Italy, and France – how dogs are more publically accepted in way more places. If there were leash laws, I saw them voilated everywhere, but also saw some amazingly well behaved dogs in very busy places!
Although… I also saw a LOT of intact dogs everywhere, which made me jump to judgments. And dogs in pet stores in Paris, which was disappointing.
Hope you had a great trip jodi…have been busy here and trying to even keep up with my group…so im not up to date with everyones blogs…did you take your dogs…and if not where did you leave them. Something im sure is one of the reasons we all dont like to to take vacations…taking the dogs is hard and leaving them, i think. Is harder…unless you have amreliable person at home