[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.

[oh8eleven]

I'll bet our childhood vet bill never exceeded 15 bucks.
Hell, back in the day (50s-60s), our family's doctor bill wasn't much more than $15.

[Secret Agent Man]

On the flip side of that, dogs back then didn’t normally live as long as they do today. You couldn’t get the kind of vet care then because half of it wasn’t known yet, many drugs they use today weren’t around then, equipment and procedures weren’t available, and people didn’t sue the crap out of doctors when their pet died during atempts to save it.

[OldPossum]

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

Right now I am in the process of getting another dog, for two reasons: 1) I have had my last dog with me for a year and a half and we've grown to know each other, so there is emotional room for another; and 2) Harvey would like a dog playmate.

And I really don't care what you folks who don't understand the dog-man connection think, dogs constitute my little family. And they're all I need.