Why having a dog isn't for everyone.

Tonight my Mom and I are at the keyboard trying to decide how to write this. We have sadness in our hearts. So bare with us this could be a bumpy ride.

Do you remember getting that new dog or cat when it was all shiny and new? You know, still had puppy or kitty breath, oh how sweet it was. This was going to be your pal, your buddy, your number One... Most likely you got this little gem on a weekend, you had a few cute but tiresome days, but hey Monday came and it was back to work for you.  You came home and that little face was looking for you. But you had a bad day. The wags and sniffles made you forget.

You might have had a few rough times but hey this would be ok, this was your baby. You remember that right? You cradled this little creature like a new born. You worried about the food to feed and when you took them out if that was what you did.

Then one day something happened, you met a person, and decided to spend the rest of your lives together, except... that number One wasn't number One anymore. Oh it's just a dog/cat, it has no idea. It's just an animal your friends say. So suddenly the dog/cat moves down the list. Next comes the baby, oh yeah a baby. Wow a little one to sniff and snuggle with. WAIT what? No touching the human baby, wait, what? I might harm the baby, oh, I see stay in your crate.

The dog in this story is wondering what did I do? Why am I being shunned? We use to ride in the car, and play in the park and have fun. Why can't I do that anymore? Why don't you love me anymore?

Forget even going to the vet for shots and things, that money is needed for the baby. No more sleeping in bed because the hair might get on the baby and make them sick or worse allergic.

Your parents mention to a neighbor that "they have to get rid of the dog because it nipped at the baby when it crawled on them"... The neighbor says I would bite too if someone crawled on me.

Then the cold night comes and they forget you are outside. You bark, but lately you have barked a lot so what's the difference. Except this time, you bark because you are freezing to death. Who loves you anymore?

That very cold evening when the dog was barking because it was freezing to death, some crazy neighbor steals the dog and shelters it from the cold. Feeds it, warms it, soothes it, finds it needs medical treatment and gets it treatment.Then takes stolen dog to a resort under an assumed name and decides if they should return the dog. In some states stealing a dog is a felony, protecting a dog is a hero, neglecting a dog is overlooked.

There could be a happy ending to this story, the dog could find another home and no one be the wiser, the crazy neighbor could go to jail for saving the life of a dog who was neglected in 32 degree weather without food or shelter, or the neglectful parents could be eaten by a pack of wild opossums (my personal favorite)

All because having a dog isn't for everyone... Please think about the dogs in shelters, on the streets and in homes that are not wanted, love an animal for life, not just for the shiny days...