The True Cost of Pet Ownership: A Reflection
Pets can give a great deal of joy to their owners, and solace to the lonely. But are we doing the right thing by them? Despite how much we provide for and love them, is it actually about us?
If you have a fuzzy friend, you probably adore it [ sic]. I know the feeling — I loved mine to bits. But I’ve decided never to have a pet again. Let me explain why.
My Dog Gloopy Wasn’t Stupid
One day, my mother picked me and my twin up from high school, which was rare. In the car was a black Cocker-Spaniel cross. We feel in love instantly. She said his name was Gloopy, which means stupid in Russian. But he turned out to be very intelligent — and a survivor. The family had gone through a series of dogs who lasted only a year each. I’m not sure why, but I think it was a combination of bad matches, lack of local by-laws and a lack of commitment from the family. My siblings and I didn’t ask for a dog. It was a ploy by my mother to keep us close to her — entertained and busy at home. When it came time for us to start our own lives, Gloopy’s future hadn’t been planned for. Looking back, he certainly deserved a better end than he got.
Gloopy was my sole companion through a very difficult adolescence. Yes, I had a twin, but that’s another story. Gloopy’s affection and playfulness was priceless to a lonely, confused boy. He had a free run of the property and wandered the suburb at will. Occasionally he was on a chain in the garden, but he howled non-stop until we couldn’t stand it anymore and let him off. He lived inside with us like a member of the family.
He was one smart little fella. One time, he found his way back home 50 kilometers away from where we’d lost him on an outing. But whenever we took him for walks and met another dog, his curiosity instantly turned to fierce aggression. Looking back, knowing what I know now, I think we probably lacked dog-training skills. He didn’t have an Alpha to obey.
I think I was his only friend. I spent hours with him, talked to him, cuddled and played games. He was fiercely loyal. I remember a scene on the front lawn when a strange man entered the gate. He made a threatening gesture and Gloopy instantly charged at him with an angry bark. The man jumped back in surprise and left. Great watch dog.
By 1978, Gloopy was going a little grey and losing some teeth. Eventually, he developed eczema. He was declining. I had become more attached to him than my brother and had done most of the caring. But I was getting ready to move out of home for the first time. I was at university and gradually coming out of the kind of social isolation that’s hard to explain. When I told my brother I wasn’t interested in girls, he asked, “What are you interested in, the dog?” Actually I had less time for Gloopy. No one had a plan for him. My mother declared “he’d served his purpose”. I wasn’t comfortable with that, but I’d spent too much time at home. Talk turned to putting him down. My brother said he wasn’t going to be involved, but when I accused him of not wanting blood on his hands, he accompanied us to the RSPCA. My last memory of Gloopy was him snapping at my hand as I put in the cage for doomed dogs.
I don’t ever want to go through that again. My compassion for cats and dogs — particularly dogs — comes from my time with Gloopy. In some ways, I credit him with saving my life, and yet I took his early because we had no end-of-life plan for him.
I’m single and without children, so a pet might seem very tempting for company. But there are a number of reasons I hold back.
It never seemed quite right that Gloopy had no pack. “The dog is a domesticated descendant of the wolf.” ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog) Wolves are pack animals. Accordingly, he had no social and sexual relationship to other dogs (that I know of). I’m not sure how much he instinctively missed this. Dogs are famously demanding of attention. Is there a connection?
I didn’t know until recently that dogs have been selected by humans into the wide variety of breeds we see today:
Most breeds were derived from small numbers of founders within the last 200 years, and since then dogs have undergone rapid phenotypic change and were formed into today’s modern breeds due to artificial selection imposed by humans.
Purebred dogs have more health problems than mongrel dogs, and require more veterinary visits, and tend to have lower longevity.
Never forget that dogs are animals and they can go berserk.
Cats are nocturnal predators, but in suburban captivity, they are not allowed to roam free at night. Nevertheless, I’ve seen disemboweled possum pups in my backyard; the victims of cat attacks.
Escapee Pets
Escapee pets (feral cats and dogs) are a primary cause of our native species extinct crisis here in Australia:
Living together in harmony
On the other hand, interacting with an animal species can be very rewarding. Especially when it’s on more or less equal terms, as Jane Goodall, Steve Irwin and Joy Adamson ( Born Free) have shown us.
However, when pets become a substitute for human affection, is it taking things too far? Some might say in the wild their lives are more brutal and dangerous. True, but do we have the right to choose for them? I have resolved to resist the temptation of their affection, at least for the time being. I think we need to work on ourselves… and our relationships.
This may seem unusual, but it is quite the norm in most intentional communities. Pets, particularly cats and dogs, are regarded as incompatible with the natural settings of these communities. Currumbin EcoVillage (Gold Coast, Queensland) states, “ Hundreds of native animals exist on the site (including echidnas, goannas, wallabies and kangaroos) and for this reason and others, dogs and cats are not permitted within the whole Ecovillage. The only exception is a registered Guide or Assistance Dog.” These communities are attempting to live sustainably and in harmony with the natural environment. They are also deliberately fostering better social connections between neighbours.
In the suburban Brisbane, I maintain connections with people in numerous ways. I live in a sharehouse. As the owner, I have regular Bnb guests and Help Exchangers. I have tenants in a separate unit downstairs. I know most of my neighbours and volunteer in organizations that are meaningful and enjoyable. I hold a Neighbour Day event every year, sponsored by Relationships Australia. Of course I have friends, too, some nearby who I meet regularly. I have a garden and keep chickens and enjoy observing the creatures that call it home; birds, insects, mammals and reptiles. I also maintain an open heart to the possibilities of intimacy.
The financial cost of pet ownership has skyrocketed. Gloopy wasn’t tagged, chipped, neutered, innoculated or insured and only once went to a vet.
Next time you think about getting a pet, please think carefully.
Originally published at http://equanimity.blog on November 12, 2024.
