As some of you may have read on the crossing the bridge thread, my family dog of 13 years just passed away on Thursday. My parents received Taffy, a german shepard/lab mix, as a free puppy back in 1991. I know she lived with us in the house for awhile when we first got her, but it wasn't long before my brother-in-law built her a dog house (complete with siding and shingles) and my parents tethered her outside to it.
My hometown is in Western NY where the summers are hot and humid and the winters can be quite frigid. Poor sweet Taffy lived her entire 13 years tied up outside. My mom or I would feed her every night after supper and I'd let her off her chain to play most days after school but there was little joy in her life. During the summer months she would shed her thick winter coat in patches but she never received a proper brushing out. I highly doubt she even had fresh water on most days although I was at that self involved age that leads me to remember little from those years. During the winters she would shiver alone in her little house while the snowbanks drifted around her. Occassionally we'd heat her some gravy or even some water to warm her food but she still remained outside. There were nights when I knew it was well below freezing outside, and I'd beg and plead with my parents to let her come inside for the night and sleep on the porch which is quite easily shut off from the rest of the house by a sliding glass door. I only remember them allowing her in less than a handful of times because they always complained that she smelled or that she wasn't housebroken, or that she would make a mess.
Growing up in such an environment skewed my idea of dog ownership. While I felt bad for Taffy living outside all alone it wasn't uncommon in my area and I was young and didn't know just how neglectful we were being. We never walked her because she was strong and hard to control on a leash, the only command I was able to teach her was sit because I honestly didn't know any other obedience techniques myself, and she never had any toys to play with. As far as I am concerned it was a horrid exsistance and when I got old enough to know better her quality of life made me incredibly sad. As a result I was actually somewhat relieved at her passing because I knew how badly she had been treated.
I'm not saying that my parents are bad people they were just raised in a time and place when animals were treated like possessions rather than family members. Nate grew up with a chocolate lab that lived indoors and he helped me to learn the right way to live with a dog. Our two labbies are indoor dogs, they each have their own crate to sleep in, toys galore, treats, and all the love and attention they can possibly want. My parents actually tease us about the manner in which we spoil our animals. They assume we do so because we don't have any children and that we are treating the pets as such until we have some. I truly don't agree. I love animals and think they deserve to be pampered and spoiled simply because they are so loving and such a big part of our family.
That being said, my dad has already been pushing to get a new dog. Taffy has yet to be gone for a week, but he was already visiting local shelters this past weekend to look for a replacement. The only dogs he was considering are German Shepards because they remind him of Taffy. Mind you, he rarely fed Taffy, he never played with Taffy, and yet he's the one intent on getting a new dog. My mom and sister on the other hand are still sad over Taffy's death and not quite ready to bring a new dog into their lives.
I was actually quite happy when my dad was told he couldn't adopt a dog from the shelter because he intended on keeping it outside at all times. I started searching petfinder.org for some medium sized dogs that could live indoors with them and that weren't German Shepards because I don't feel it's right to so blatantly replace a dog with another one. I also started educating them on invisible fencing which would make it possible for a dog to run and play in their big yard without escaping or getting out into the road. I had found them the most beautiful dog ever and I really thought I was making some progress in changing their view on pet ownership.
However, I just received these emails from my mom and I can't even tell you how livid I am!!
"Your sister just called me a few minutes ago to tell me that Dad has a new dog and guess what its a German Shepard. I know nothing more about it except it only cost him $35 and he got it somewhere near here. I'm sure Julie will fill you in on all the details." and later "I really thought that Jamie Leigh (the beautiful dog I had found for them) was the dog for us she was a middle sized dog who didn't look like Taffy which would be a blessing to me. I don't think it bothers him as much as it does me that Taffy is gone. But then he never really fed or did anything for her even though it was his watch dog. He needs a dog to watch over his garage. Now tell me how the dog on a chain is going to scare anyone away from his cars in the garage."
I'm speechless. There is no way in heck that my dad should be owning another dog. I've already told a friend of mine that if he even thinks he's going to treat this new dog the same way he did Taffy, that I will, myself, call their local animal control and have it removed. I am angry enough with myself for letting Taffy be so neglected, I cannot in good conscience allow it to happen again. I know my family isn't meaning to be malicious, they don't seem to view their actions as being hurtful, but that does not give them any right to do this to another innocent dog.
Aaaaargh!
My hometown is in Western NY where the summers are hot and humid and the winters can be quite frigid. Poor sweet Taffy lived her entire 13 years tied up outside. My mom or I would feed her every night after supper and I'd let her off her chain to play most days after school but there was little joy in her life. During the summer months she would shed her thick winter coat in patches but she never received a proper brushing out. I highly doubt she even had fresh water on most days although I was at that self involved age that leads me to remember little from those years. During the winters she would shiver alone in her little house while the snowbanks drifted around her. Occassionally we'd heat her some gravy or even some water to warm her food but she still remained outside. There were nights when I knew it was well below freezing outside, and I'd beg and plead with my parents to let her come inside for the night and sleep on the porch which is quite easily shut off from the rest of the house by a sliding glass door. I only remember them allowing her in less than a handful of times because they always complained that she smelled or that she wasn't housebroken, or that she would make a mess.
Growing up in such an environment skewed my idea of dog ownership. While I felt bad for Taffy living outside all alone it wasn't uncommon in my area and I was young and didn't know just how neglectful we were being. We never walked her because she was strong and hard to control on a leash, the only command I was able to teach her was sit because I honestly didn't know any other obedience techniques myself, and she never had any toys to play with. As far as I am concerned it was a horrid exsistance and when I got old enough to know better her quality of life made me incredibly sad. As a result I was actually somewhat relieved at her passing because I knew how badly she had been treated.
I'm not saying that my parents are bad people they were just raised in a time and place when animals were treated like possessions rather than family members. Nate grew up with a chocolate lab that lived indoors and he helped me to learn the right way to live with a dog. Our two labbies are indoor dogs, they each have their own crate to sleep in, toys galore, treats, and all the love and attention they can possibly want. My parents actually tease us about the manner in which we spoil our animals. They assume we do so because we don't have any children and that we are treating the pets as such until we have some. I truly don't agree. I love animals and think they deserve to be pampered and spoiled simply because they are so loving and such a big part of our family.
That being said, my dad has already been pushing to get a new dog. Taffy has yet to be gone for a week, but he was already visiting local shelters this past weekend to look for a replacement. The only dogs he was considering are German Shepards because they remind him of Taffy. Mind you, he rarely fed Taffy, he never played with Taffy, and yet he's the one intent on getting a new dog. My mom and sister on the other hand are still sad over Taffy's death and not quite ready to bring a new dog into their lives.
I was actually quite happy when my dad was told he couldn't adopt a dog from the shelter because he intended on keeping it outside at all times. I started searching petfinder.org for some medium sized dogs that could live indoors with them and that weren't German Shepards because I don't feel it's right to so blatantly replace a dog with another one. I also started educating them on invisible fencing which would make it possible for a dog to run and play in their big yard without escaping or getting out into the road. I had found them the most beautiful dog ever and I really thought I was making some progress in changing their view on pet ownership.
However, I just received these emails from my mom and I can't even tell you how livid I am!!
"Your sister just called me a few minutes ago to tell me that Dad has a new dog and guess what its a German Shepard. I know nothing more about it except it only cost him $35 and he got it somewhere near here. I'm sure Julie will fill you in on all the details." and later "I really thought that Jamie Leigh (the beautiful dog I had found for them) was the dog for us she was a middle sized dog who didn't look like Taffy which would be a blessing to me. I don't think it bothers him as much as it does me that Taffy is gone. But then he never really fed or did anything for her even though it was his watch dog. He needs a dog to watch over his garage. Now tell me how the dog on a chain is going to scare anyone away from his cars in the garage."
I'm speechless. There is no way in heck that my dad should be owning another dog. I've already told a friend of mine that if he even thinks he's going to treat this new dog the same way he did Taffy, that I will, myself, call their local animal control and have it removed. I am angry enough with myself for letting Taffy be so neglected, I cannot in good conscience allow it to happen again. I know my family isn't meaning to be malicious, they don't seem to view their actions as being hurtful, but that does not give them any right to do this to another innocent dog.
Aaaaargh!
