But Seriously, When Are You Going Too Hard For a Pet?

August 23rd, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

 

I’m not sure which I dislike more—dogs or their owners who think everyone loves their pet as much as they do—but no matter which it is, I’m just letting you know from the get-go I’m horribly biased on this topic. That being said, I really need to know what is up with the love affair people have with their dogs, and how that ever surpassed their concern for human beings—you know, the creations that were supposedly made to rule over the beasts of the land, air, and sea?

Don’t roll your eyes just yet, I’m not going Mike Vick deep with this. We all know the bias in that entire situation is worthy of more than a simple blog post, what I’m talking about are just general day-to-day niceties, and the occasional person who has really sacrificed his life for a pet.

I’m a firm believer that if it weren’t for dogs, New Yorkers wouldn’t even talk to each other –and even then, they still barely do. The interaction is usually totally one-sided, as the pet is the only one being spoken to. People drop everything they’re doing to crouch to their knees and throw their faces in that of some stranger’s dog and when they’re done googoo-ing and gaga-ing like they’re talking to a baby, most promptly stand up, give an obligatory smile to the owner and go on about their day as they mean-mug the other humans they pass on the way to wherever it is they’re going. All I know is it’s a pretty sad commentary of the times when a dog gets more courtesy on the sidewalk than a person.

To be fair, I can somewhat see the temptation to value a dog over other people. After all, from what I hear, dogs have an undying sense of loyalty, they don’t talk back, and who else is going to act a giddy mess every time you come home like you just ended a tour in Iraq, when really all you did was go to the corner bodega? No man, friend, or parent I can tell you that. But when I hear Sarah Mclaughlin talking about running into the arms of an angel and I can’t tell whether I’m listening to a feed the children commercial or an ASPCA spot, I get just ever so slightly perturbed because I’m pretty sure I know what cause is getting more money and it’s not the children of our future. Yes, seeing that a downtrodden dog named Tabitha has been in “jail” all her life, as the commercial states, (which is really a cage inside a humane society) is unfortunate but did anyone see those naked children starving next to Alyssa Milano? No?

Putting my anecdotal evidence of my annoyance aside, I came across this piece the other day that ran under the headline of pets being good for you mentally and physically. They’re so good in fact that 30% of smokers would be willing to give up cigarettes to prevent their dog from suffering from second-hand smoke. Good stuff, right? Unfortunately, if those same smokers were asked to stop lighting up for the sake of their children, less than 2 percent would oblige. Forget MOB, now we’re living in a state of POC—pets over children? I really can’t deal with that or the guilt trips that people try to put on me for not getting all googly eyed when someone has a random so-called cute story about their pet. I’m sorry, I’m too busy writing a story about the children dying from second-hand smoke in their home. In the words of Marvin Gaye, what’s (really) going on?

And then, as though it was destined by the universe, I saw this story of a Massachusetts couple who drowned trying to rescue their dog from the lake. The story goes that the couple’s dog fell out of their pontoon boat, the husband jumped in after the dog and became distressed, then his wife followed trying to save him and neither one survived. Correction, the dog was fine. He was found unharmed and taken to an animal shelter. I could respond like one commenter on MSN who quoted John 15:13 saying, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” but the cynic in me is really having a hard time wrapping my head around the nobility in this act. And since, like I stated earlier, dogs are far from my cup of tea, I shall leave the verdict up to you.

What do you consider going too hard for a pet?

Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

More on Madame Noire!

Tags:

, , , , , ,
More from StyleBlazer
More from MommyNoire

MadameNoire Video

Comment Disclaimer

Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN

  • NiceNasty

    Okay I’m a huge dog lover, but if that sucker ever got in his mind to snap, growl, or try to attack at harmless kid I’m going Rambo on that a$$. I hate when people want to get mad at the kid when it’s their dog who has the problem. Also it jus annoys the hell out of me when I see people carrying their dog around in their bags or pushing then in a damn stroller, WTF!!!!! Seriously, that is a dog he has four legs that I’m sure work jus fine. But they are the first ones to tell you your child is to big/old to be doing the same thing the dog is. Last time I check your dog is older then me, you, and the kid put together. So you jus need to shut the f^ck up, ASAP!!

  • kristen

    haha, this article really made me chuckle! One time, I had my 6 month old baby at a friends house, there were two dogs there. This one dog was sitting close to my son, he was petting her, then she snapped at him. I told my friend to move the dog away. 2 minutes later, my son is crawling towards the dog (going to my friends open arms) why did this damn dog try lunge at my baby? Girl do you know I threw that dog off the couch so quick! I didn’t mean to hurt the dog but my motherly instincts kicked in. So my other friend who’s obsessed with her ugly butt dog jumps up and starts making a fuss. I said, “do you know I will kill a dog when it comes to my child, I DON’T CARE” well that was the last I heard from her… lol

    • NiceNasty

      Wow, i would have killed that dog and I don’t even have kids. That happened to my lil sister and I swear I really did try to kill that damn dog. Good thing his owner grabbed him before I did, cause it was over for him!!!! Lol

  • Nehemiah53

    Thank you, you are a breath of fresh air, enlighten, learned, and wise but I can’t say the same about the rest of these mis educated Negros who have lost a knowledge of self and is living the life of beast! And think they are so smart, wise and intelligent.

  • jackieOsassin

    i thought this article was about people who put clothes on their dogs and feathers in their fur.

    doing THE most.

    but i agree with everything said.

  • lady

    I love my dog, oh and thank you for posting this article so people can say what they always say about black people not liking or respecting animals, great stereotype. I volunteer at a shelter and when blacks or anyone of color comes in they get questioned more the whites on why they want to adopted because they assume that the animal won’t get as much respect as it should etc. I can’t go on to tell you what they think trust me I’ve been there and I have heard what people say and done. Even though Madame noire has some good articles. I also have seen article here that have made the black community look bad and this is one of them the top first is the video “Do you change your behavior when you’re around white people”

  • sammi_lu

    If I could only be as awesome as my dog thinks I am..=)

  • Cherry

    OMG, I loved this article simply because I’ve always had the same ideas as the author expressed. I’ve been in elevators (in the city where i work) with little kids, cute ones at that, and the other occupants of the elevator act like they don’t even notice them there, but let someone walk in with a dopey looking, lazy eyed, shedding all over the place dog and everyone goes all “goo goo ga ga” in a heartbeat, tripping over each other to pet it! I’m always rolling my eyes at that same ASPCA commercial thinking the same as the author, would you all me crying over a feed the children ad like that?? Like the author, I don’t care for pets of any kind so this whole “people considering animals over than humans” thing has always bugged me!!

  • linda

    love it, work for it, pay medical bills for it, feed it, walk it in the
    cold rain and snow and scoop up poop and call it their baby and then
    call them self civilized, that sound more like a savage beast in human
    form to me! ~ blackwhiteplanet _℃om ~~~~~ is for thousands of upscale men and beautiful
    women, who understand that ambition, success, and glamour are key elements of
    attraction. It’s worth a try!..I wish those loving pet owners knew a nit more about the love of their life and had saved their own.

  • Cat88L3

    I love my dog, so I’ll refrain from commenting. I’m too biased…

  • guestdfw

    Happy dog owner here. I’m single and no kids. My dog is my kid but I will NOT risk my life for my beloved dog. Why do I like him more than people? Go to work, church, your cousins house, baby mama/daddy, or turn on Fox News and get back at me. My dog dont give a ish and just want a treat and a belly rub. When I get home from work I am not bombarded with stupid questions; just “hi” tail wag, “miss you” dance, and “letme go pee” stare. When I am mentally ready to talk to people I call or visit. But until then I love my dog and like unrelated or affiliated people. I still cry at a good Dateline story and volunteer but some humans are for the birds.

    • LA2DC777

      I 2nd that!

    • kimberleee

      You ain’t never lie guestdfw! My dog has never cheated on me, hit me, called me fat, or stole from me. I never thought I would love an animal (my yorkie) so much, but I do! If I had the choice to save him or my husband (soon to be ex) from a burning building the dog lives! LOL!! I love my humans, but at the same time they can be the cruelest and most uncivilized pieces of turds alive!! I get that sometimes the ASPCA embellishes and takes things a little too far, but the bottom line is animal cruelty DOES exist (Once again we call ourselves human beings, right?). Humans can open their mouths and ask for help! Animals can’t!!!

  • Charla

    I have a bichon who is great company but if his little butt were to jump out of a boat or even the car window, his little butt would be on his own!

  • Nehemiah53

    Just think about it, how can a so call civilized person go and kidnap a beast [dog] young offspring [puppy] and take it from it’s mother while she cry, and love it, work for it, pay medical bills for it, feed it, walk it in the cold rain and snow and scoop up poop and call it their baby and then call them self civilized, that sound more like a savage beast in human form to me! Just do some sanely though about it.

    • LA2DC777

      Actually, dogs are weaned from their parents at 8 weeks and at that point the mother no longer cares for it. After weaning (the female dog stops allowing the puppies to nurse), then puppy is typically left to his own devices.

      There are some bad breeders who sell puppies before that process is complete, it is illegal and the puppies usually die or develop behavior problems later in life.

  • lalatarea

    I thought I was the only one who felt this way its a freaking DOG a PET! I’m not dying or going broke to save a dog when I can just get another one.

    and those comments are CRAZY I mean wow!

    • chanela

      you must not have a dog. they are the most loyal,intelligent,protective,and sweetest creatures ever! my dogs make me soo unimaginably happy! they show so much love when you walk in the room and my big dog saved me and my familys’ life on more than one occasion. you really DON’T get it.lol it’s hard to explain

  • Nehemiah53

    It became fashionable for uppity black folks because white folk did it [fall in love with beast] and for educated single black women it [dog] takes the place of a child and a man, and for hip hop black men the pit bull is an extension of his ego!

    • Chocolate Giddyup

      There is nothing uppity about loving animals to the fullest extent of your heart. Yes, when I finish with school, and live alone, educated, I will live alone with my pit bulls and rottweilers. It has nothing to do with ego, or being uppity. I just know that my dog will always have my back and will lay down its life for me and my family. It is only reasonable that I give them as much love as they show towards me and mine.

      • Nehemiah53

        Just fall in love with a “beast” that said alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • MLS2698

      I swear you must be going through a breakup, or something. You have been so negative in the past week or two. Forget about her, already!

      • Nehemiah53

        MLS2698 no breakup, just expounding wisdom, now just step back, set your emotion aside and do some sanely though on why are these people falling in love with “beast” [a lower animal] and in fact some have elevated the beast above humans, what kind of mind set could do that and brag about it? Think about it!

  • Na Na

    Seeing that the term Doggy Paddle is in reference to real life actions that dogs do when they are in a body of water…I wish those loving pet owners knew a nit more about the love of their life and had saved their own.

Get the MadameNoire
Newsletter The best stories sent right to your inbox!
close [x]