Are Dogs Taking the Place of Children? (an alarming reality)

CE ^ | June 30, 2011 | Jennessa Durney

[antiRepublicrat]

At least the social ramifications of a dog spoiled rotten to the core are nowhere near that of spoiling a child. Just look at Obama and imagine how much better the world would be if his mom had just bought a poodle.

[Mears]

I love it.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Apparently a similar trend was ongoing at the end of the Roman Republic: Plutarch reports in his “Life of Caesar” that the great man had just returned from Gaul when he saw a group of Roman women making much over a monkey. He asked those with him: “What is the matter have these women no children?” Juvenal in his Satires reported and satirized, many years after Caesar, the childlessness of Roman women-the Roman race simply died out.

[Gaffer]

But my little girls don’t slobber all over the bottle!

[freeangel]

“Yea, I’m guilty of treating them like one of the family.”

Me, too. One of our recent family photos included the dog

[stuartcr]

About a zillion years.

[Joe 6-pack]

"WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

[discostu]

Pets are a better bet than kids. They’re cheaper, they like you more, and if they turn out to be a loser you can give them to the Humane Society.

[ully2]

Education is less expensive.

[annieokie]

You watching that trial too? Day 43 now. I’m glued to the computer. What a circus the duhfense has put on.

Whatever college Baez went to for his degree should send his money back and double it, just so he will never disclose where he went. LOL

Ashton: “Do you toss your dead dogs in the Swamp”? hahahaha.

[stuartcr]

You never have to put them on your insurance and they won’t make your wife cry.

[9YearLurker]

Loving kindness to animals is not IMO a false expression of love. Though it’s nice and fulfilling for people to love other people too, I don’t see it as a zero sum game.

[ErnBatavia]

I grew up in the fifties, and dogs were pets....since then, of course, they've become family members. The mega-pet stores and amount of aisle space in places like Walmart astound me.

Another observation - people seldom have just one; the dog needs "company", after all.

Final observation - the emergence of veterinarians by way of practice growth. I grew up never hearing of dog surgery (other than a busted leg maybe), let alone chemotherapy. I'll bet our childhood vet bill never exceeded 15 bucks.

[NYer]

was the very happy owner of a very great golden retriever for 13 yrs....but...I never lost sight of the fact she was a dog.

Ditto! I was owned by two basset hounds and even established a basset hound rescue in my community.

My daughter, who grew up with dogs and cats, was devastated when the last basset died. She replaced him soon afterwards, with a Great Dane! I have no problem with a dog sharing our home but I recoil when she refers to him as her baby and me as his grandmother. We have had multiple discussions on the preciousness of human life and God's gift of animals in service to humans. Given what is happening in society today, is it any wonder she demonstrates confusion as to the role of the dog in our lives.

[Charlespg]

I know several individuals who match this description. With legalized same sex marriage, how much longer before states recognize bestiality?

I love my dog,but come on,thats a hell of a dammed stretch

[Bean Counter]

This phenomenon is not necessarily a bad thing. Some people ought not reproduce, and at least they aren’t making too much of a nuisance of themselves; although a case can be made for sympathy for the dog, depending on the breed.

On a side note, one of those yappy little dogs with lots of hair make excellent bait for Chinook salmon. You just put the yapper in one of those doggy life vests with a sturdy hook tied on with a sturdy leader to your favorite rod, and just heave the little bastard over the side. The more he splashes around in the current, the better your chance of landing a real citation fish. You can even rig up a spinner for some extra action.

If you reel fast enough you can usually recover your live bait with minimal damage, but they are usually good for only one fish per weekend of fishing. You really need to let the little yapper rest for a few days if he manages to land a big one...but be advised that after a while he may become afraid of your boat.......

[mgstarr]

I prefer to think of all the money I’m saving not having to send my dogs to school :-)

[NYer]

I’m willing to bet that this over-educated hectoring bimbo Jennessa ever had a dog.

I'm betting you have forgotten the role animals serve in the life of humans. They are faithful companions, designed to perform necessary services. They are not a replacement for children or grandchildren.

[katiedidit1]

Article is a clear exaggeration. The over whelming majority of people put humans first. I have a dog that is a part of my family and tease my children about him being “their brother” it is a JOKE!!!!!!! my dog is spoiled...so what? I love him..so what? and IF the elderly want a dog for company...so what? now excuse me while I go find my dog a steak bone:) ha ha

[ZX12R]

Ashton: “Do you toss your dead dogs in the Swamp”? hahahaha.

And don't forget:

Linda Burdick: "Did you euthanize any of your dogs with chloroform?" LOL!