I’ve never considered myself an animal lover. In fact, I hate cats (they’re creepy) and find dogs annoying – all the tail wagging, slobbering, peeing and pooing – not for me. The puppy presently lying at my feet is no exception; Maximus the Maniac is really a pain in the ass. But, he’s MY pain in the ass and I love him. There are days when I can’t wait to get home and throw open the door, knowing that he’ll come bounding toward me, tongue wagging, ready to give me a big, slobbery kiss. Of course, once he finds out there are no treats, he turns tail quickly to seek them out. So much for being man’s best friend.
I say all this because there’s something you need to know. When the entire Michael Vick controversy bubbled up, I wasn’t sure what all the hoopla was about. So he had a dog-fighting ring. Okay, it was bad, but worse things had happened, right? I mean, isn’t there a guy who MURDERED someone who’s still playing professional football? These were dogs for goodness sakes. I was one of the ignorant-ass people who thought that Michael Vick got a bad rap. Now that I own a dog, I’m ashamed of myself and especially sensitive to the needs of bully breeds.
After painstakingly training my dog not to be aggressive, I can’t imagine training a dog to fight. The idea is horrifying. Imagine the sheer terror that the animal, pitted against the rage of another animal, must feel. I find it hard to believe that anyone could be involved in the training or observing of such evil. I find it hard to believe that they could still call themselves human.
Expert dog trainer, Cesar Milan says that dogs don’t have emotions–that they only live in the now. Now don’t get me wrong: I love me some Cesar–but, I disagree. Maximus the Magnificent remembers, gets angry, gets happy, gets sad. Dogs are complex beings, just like us. Through dog ownership, we learn how to put something other than our own wants and desires, first. For me, my dog has truly been a blessing.
Today, 22 of Vick’s former dogs have been taken in by Best Friends Animal Society. This group works diligently to rehabilitate the dogs and train them to pass their Canine Good Citizens test. Upon passing, the dogs are then eligible for adoption. Dogs that are unable to be rehabilitated will spend their lives at the “Sanctuary” in Utah, where the animal society is based.
To donate to the “Vicktory” dogs, visit http://www.bestfriends.org/, or click the link on my homepage.
I love those dogs, they have persevered against all odds and evil, and Best Friends is the best animal sanctuary. I recommend anyone who can go out and visit them in UT. They make miracles for animals and animal loving families, and you can witness them first-hand! Ciao!
ps – My Gavinator may not have emotions but he has feelings. He can feel pain, hunger, happiness, excitement, etc. Hmmm, emotions vs. feelings. Perhaps that is the difference between dogs and humans, and kids and adults.
Isn’t it amazing how man/woman’s best friend changes our lives? It used to bug the heck out of me when people used to tell me, “Cate, it’s just a pet. It’s not like he’s your child or anything. Just put him to sleep and don’t waste any more of your money, blah blah blah.” I love animals and I have never once considered any one of mine as just pets. They are a part of my family and I would do anything for them. I believe that animals and children are the most innocent and vulnerable beings. They deserve all the love and patience we can give them.