Tablescraps

From the desk of Wrigley Addison Beauchamp:

Tablescraps; can you imagine anything is this world more glorious? Remnants of the divine meals from 3 feet above. How do humans expect us to eat the same mundane and bland dry kibble, day in and day out when they have something new and spectacular every day like mashed potatoes and gravy? 

If our humans love us, why are they denying us the sweet tastes of variety they indulge on every night? When they go grocery shopping, why is it acceptable for us to have lamb and beef niblets every single time we eat but not for them? It sure would make things a lot easier for them; they might even have more time to give us belly rubs.

It has gotten to the point where it is time for action! Let's get ruthless, my fellow canines! No quitting, give your humans your biggest, wateriest puppy dog eyes and most relentless whimpering until you are presented with the liberating taste of your human's meal.

The Value of a dog's life

Recently, as Ebola has been a problem facing the world, a dog was humanely euthanized because it had potentially contracted Ebola. The dog belonged to a Spanish nurse who had contracted the virus. Many animal rights activist and others angrily protested and petitioned against this action, though it was carried out anyways.

There are many things to think about when deciding who is "right" in this situation, if anyone is. Some people would side with the decision to euthanize the dog to eliminate any potential risk of spreading the virus to others. I'm sure lots of people would feel a small portion of sadness for the lost life of an animal, but would not dwell too much on the idea or be incredibly troubled by it. Lots of people see human life as more important than the life of an animal such as a dog so the choice would be simple.

On the other hand, some people such as animal rights activists see the life of a dog as an equal value to that of a human. These people often say things like "we are their voice", meaning since they can't physically speak out or protest, it is their job to do it for them. In certain cases like neglect or cruelty, this seems obvious; but for the case of life or death to not just this dog but any potential new victims of the Ebola virus, the answer is not quite so black and white. For those who feel called upon to speak up for our furry friends, this is basically seen as murder. To someone who values a dog's life to be the same as a human's, that would be like killing a person because they may or may not have Ebola. For humans suffering from Ebola, we do everything in our power to cure the patient of the disease, not just kill them so others can be spared.

With this said, it is in our power to lessen the chance of another human contracting Ebola, doesn't that include having to euthanize an animal to stop the risk of the disease spreading? Medical professionals must take an oath to do everything they can to save a person's life, so would this fall under that category?

It has been reported that even the owner of the dog, the nurse's husband was among those who pleaded against the dog's euthanization. Some people may not understand this and think "wouldn't he understand?" or "wouldn't he want to minimize his own risk?". The nurse's husband is already being quarantined for possible infection of Ebola as he lives with his wife that contracted and developed the virus. If I was told that my dog must be put down because of something like this, regardless of  whether or not I was already at risk of contracting the virus, I would protest, petition, and do whatever I could to save or protect her. Around the world, we are all incredibly attached to our pets. An incredible and potentially unhealthy bond. So, yes, I can empathize with this man. Ultimately, though, I believe the humane euthanization of the dog was the appropriate choice. It is an unfortunate circumstance to be in no matter how much you value the life of an animal.

Dogs in the Media

Probably more than you realize, a dog sold you a product. Whether it was dog food, beer, or even a house, dogs are used in advertising quite a lot. Why do companies do this? Simple: mostly everyone loves dogs.

Right outside the town I live in, there is a neighborhood that has houses for sale. Something that catches your eye is the signs in the front yards picture a large dog. Would you buy a house simply because the sign has a dog on it? Maybe not consciously. Another great example of this is probably one you wouldn't even think about; the millions of products that are sold that have pictures of dogs and puppies plastered all over them. These are things such as folders, clothing, lunch boxes, etc. Things that have nothing to do with caring for dogs or pertaining to dogs in any manner.

How does this make you feel?

What am I feeding my dog?

These days there are a bunch of different commercials advertising "healthy" or "natural" dog food. These products claim to have no preservatives or fillers and the only choice to make if you truly love your dog. These foods and treats can be quite expensive and like most companies aren't telling the whole truth of what "all natural" really means. Are these products truly better for our pets' health? Are they worth the price?

My family feeds both my dogs a normal dry dog food. Both dogs are happy, healthy, active, functioning dogs. Personally, I don't think it's necessary to spend the extra money on foods such as these when their current diet regimen seems to be working just fine.

Normal dry dog foods are usually composed of animal skins, lots of times from pigs. Dog food commercials advertise that they put things like vegetables and "rich proteins" into their foods. But if I set a plain bowl of corn gluten and hog skins in my dog's food bowl, I doubt she would want to eat it and I wouldn't blame her.

A part of me feels guilty for not feeding my dogs the most natural and healthy products available, as I try to do the same for my own health. Is that the goal of these companies? If the goal is to simply guilt pet owners into buying so-called natural products, then are they really that much more beneficial to your dog's health? If a were a successful independent person with only one dog maybe I could afford to spend more money on my dog's diet and feed them less processed products and more nutrient-rich natural ones instead.

Some dogs have sensitive stomachs and only have one brand of dog food that won't upset their stomach. My grandma's dog has a sensitive stomach and she used to only be able to buy food for her dog at the vet's office. Do dogs' sensitivities come from all the preservatives or other ingredients in dog food? Would a natural alternative help these dogs?

So the next time you see a commercial on TV for such products or look across the shelves at all your options, don't consider yourself a horrible pet owner if you choose a normal dog food. If it wasn't safe for your dog, something would have been done about it by now. You can, however keep natural dog foods as an option or treat for your dogs if it is in your budget every week. We could all afford a little less of processed food and preservatives in our diets, dogs and humans alike.

Dressing our Dogs for Halloween

The time of year has come again where we spend an evening getting all dressed up just for free candy. Now, not only can we dress ourselves up, but our furry friends too. Though we can't give our dogs candy, it is still quite fun to dress up our dogs, especially since people are getting more and more creative every year.

My dog, Wrigley has dressed up as a devil before, emulating what my mom says is her inner persona. She has also dressed up as a bat. This seemed to go well, as she is black like a bat. But, with her body and snout she ended up looking more like a flying monkey.

Now, designers of such costumes are taking into consideration a dog's body shape into making more clever and funny costumes. Costumes such as miniature saddles and cowboys as if your dog was a horse are becoming quite popular. Taking advantage of your dog's body orientation and using their front legs to create a costume that appears to have your dog's head on the body of someone like Superman or Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.

Some people think it's ridiculous to dress their pets up and others can't get enough of it. Some dogs may hate the costume and feel tormented while in such a contraption while others don't seem to care. For those that have finicky dogs but still want to have fun with their pets, try something simple like a collar with pumpkins. If you have a white or light colored dog, you can really have some fun on the cheap by drawing crazy eyebrows on them with eyeliner. Surprisingly, this provides hours of entertainment.

So this Halloween season, while you're making candy apples and carving pumpkins, don't leave your dog out of the all the fun.

Dog Breeds

Something great about our own human population that also exists in dogs that we don't really think too much about is our diversity. We have many different sizes, colors, and personalities and the same goes for dogs. Lots of us are a mix of more than one thing, once again, this occurs on the canine level.

I myself own a mixed breed as well as pure bred. Which one is better? From a scientific standpoint, mixed breeds are more genetically diverse, which makes them less susceptible to health problems common in certain breeds. Mixed breeds are not allowed to compete in dog shows and obviously don't show distinguishable characteristics of a certain breed. In a society we have today where some people can be quite materialistic and we have the science to get us there, pure bred animals can be quite desirable for some. For lots of people, the things they're most concerned about when looking for a dog is a lovable animal to bring into their family. Mixed breeds can provide that, as they are not the prettiest and most prestigious pooches around they are still incredibly lovable and adorable. If you're not looking for the best hunter or the silkiest coat, and only the best lover, consider a mixed breed.

 It should be brought to attention that yes, people breed dogs. This means they are looking for specific characteristics in dogs. This could be for any reason such as the cute wrinkles of a Pug or the great herding ability of the Corgi. Even things like temperament are sought out for in certain breeds. Terriers are known to be quite anxious dogs where as Labrador Retrievers are excellent family dogs.

The most interesting thing about all the breeds that exist of dogs is the infinite combination of furry friends you can get. The most important part is that whether they're hunting with you or just cuddling on the couch with you, is that they're your best friend.