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Are Dogs Now Just Furry Kids?
The Smithsonian ^ | 6-25-13

Posted on 06/30/2013 9:50:17 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic

The Summer of 2013 officially began only last Friday, but already it has a good shot at achieving a dubious distinction in the annals of parental indulgence. This could be the summer that ice cream trucks for dogs go mainstream.

Ever since the K99 ice cream truck set up shop in the parks of London during the summer of 2010–to the tune of the Scooby Doo theme song, no less–the trend of cruising trucks full of specially-made canine ice cream treats and cookies has been spreading and appears to be hitting its jaunty stride. Last summer, they started dropping by dog parks in more and more American cities, confident in the knowledge that all it takes is one person ponying up $3 for a doggie cone and in no time, every other dog owner in the vicinity will feel compelled to do the same for their own little precious. And now, according to a story on NBC’s website this weekend, some of the more successful dog food trucks are talking about franchising their brands.

This was inevitable, I suppose, given all the singles whose significant other has paws, and all the aging Baby Boomers whose own kids have moved out, or at least down to the basement. These days, dog love swings easily into sweet, excessive indulgence.

Among recent examples of ideas whose time apparently has come are a device developed by a San Francisco firm that allows pet owners to track how active their dog is during the day while they’re at work, and a high-end dog food whose main ingredient is ground-up chicken feathers. It’s designed for dogs with food allergies.

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.smithsonianmag.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Food; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: ccd; culturewar; dinks; doggieping; dogsaspeople; dualincomenokids; eternaladolescence; idiocracy; pets; smashthepatriarchy; spoileddogs; treats; vetresearch
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1 posted on 06/30/2013 9:50:17 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: afraidfortherepublic; Joe 6-pack

Doggie reacting to sound of approaching Doggie Ice Cream Truck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgYYBVBRo3w

Doggie ping


2 posted on 06/30/2013 9:52:07 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: afraidfortherepublic

People are replacing human children with animals. Then they act like the pets are people.


3 posted on 06/30/2013 9:57:32 AM PDT by tbw2
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To: afraidfortherepublic

With no wee ones left in my home, my dogs have become like children for me. I enjoy it, they enjoy it...so why not.


4 posted on 06/30/2013 10:01:00 AM PDT by Irenic (The pencil sharpener and Elmer's glue is put away-- we've lost the red wheel barrow)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

There are dog spas everywhere where I live. New ones still opening every year. I used to laugh, but no more.

A wise man once told me that if he were to open a business today, it would have something to do with either kids or dogs. They are the only things consumers will go to the hip for - even in a bad economy.


5 posted on 06/30/2013 10:02:17 AM PDT by FlJoePa ("Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good")
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To: tbw2

When Sharia law takes over , we can have sex with children and animals. And marry them. The question is, are they tax deductible ?


6 posted on 06/30/2013 10:02:37 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 (The monsters are due on Maple Street)
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To: tbw2

I find there is an amazing correlation between woman who are rabidly in favor of abortion with no limitations and PETA supporters.


7 posted on 06/30/2013 10:03:00 AM PDT by CaptainK (...please make it stop. Shake a can of pennies at it.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Research says dogs have learned to behave like children. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Sebastian Dario

8 posted on 06/30/2013 10:03:30 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: FlJoePa

I am looking at an adoptable dog right now whose family had to relinquish him because of the foreclosure of their home. There is another family that has first right of refusal.


9 posted on 06/30/2013 10:05:49 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: tbw2

I throw up a little in my mouth when the kennel refers to me as a “pet parent”.


10 posted on 06/30/2013 10:06:48 AM PDT by Kozak (The Republic is dead. I do not owe what we have any loyalty, wealth or sympathy.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic
"dogs have learned to behave like children. "

Good children who sleep more hours a day than you do.

11 posted on 06/30/2013 10:08:20 AM PDT by Paladin2
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To: afraidfortherepublic; a fool in paradise

“Are you this dog’s daddy?”, I was once asked (sorry, Rachel... axed) at the dog park.


12 posted on 06/30/2013 10:09:22 AM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: Kozak

I really ticked off some people in the vet’s waiting room when I spoke up and told them that animals are not children.

I wouldn’t have said anything, but one of them directed the question to me.


13 posted on 06/30/2013 10:09:25 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
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To: UCANSEE2
When Sharia law takes over , we can have sex with children and animals. And marry them. The question is, are they tax deductible ?

Under Sharia law, no one will be allowed to have dogs.

14 posted on 06/30/2013 10:10:26 AM PDT by denydenydeny (Admiration of absolute government is proportionate to the contempt one has for others.-Tocqueville)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

I am on the road at the moment and am amazed at how many hotels, and restaurants now allow animals to eat right alongside their owners. Business establishments are becoming much more dog-tolerant. I visited an upscale bakery yesterday in the Bay Area of California that had an entire section devoted to home baked, certified organic dog treats (!).

BTW, I am an absolute dog lover and mother to two rescue dogs. I just told DH that next time we travel, the little pooch is going with us, LOL.

Many of these dogs are BETTER behaved than the kids I’m seeing!! (I DO have children too, BTW)...


15 posted on 06/30/2013 10:16:37 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (Every workers paradise had to shoot escapees. Why?)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

regards to dogs & amnesty

Ladies, I hope the free birth control Obama gives you is worth it, because all these immigrants aren’t going to be too keen on paying the Social Security for bunch of old white childless women so they can sit around and throw birthday parties for their pets.


16 posted on 06/30/2013 10:21:17 AM PDT by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: onedoug

I think I’ll sell fetching sticks.


17 posted on 06/30/2013 10:35:55 AM PDT by windcliff
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Both government and culture have succeeded in driving the normal replacement birthrate far lower. This is done by both making it very expensive to have and raise children, and by raising the bar on what is expected, for children to be raised “properly”.

In concept, raising children should naturally be about as difficult as raising dogs. Plus some extra attention because they are thoughtful beings that need education to lead normal lives.

But each additional requirement added to this means fewer children. But dogs remain the same.


18 posted on 06/30/2013 10:39:31 AM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Best WoT news at rantburg.com)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

You made me curious (not comprehending the differences between Sharia, Sunni, Wahabi, etc) & knowing that Salukis- & possibly some other hounds, are kept by Arabs &/ or considered sacred), so I looked & found this, amoung other articles

http://www.inst.at/trans/18Nr/II-18/ismail18.htm

Other than this though, I knew that they consider dogs “unclean”.


19 posted on 06/30/2013 10:49:41 AM PDT by KGeorge (Till we're together again, Gypsy girl. May 28, 1998- June 3, 2013)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Our two mutts are SBAR (spoiled beyond all recognition) :-)


20 posted on 06/30/2013 10:53:51 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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