Video posted to YouTube by Rottweilerlvr.
“A nation can be judged by how it treats its animals.” Gandhi
“I think I could turn and live with animals,
they are so placid and self-contained
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,
Not one is dissatisfied,
Not one is demented with the mania of owning things,
Not one kneels to another,
Nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or industrious over the whole earth.”
Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass
“Almost all the creatures – including me – in our family were adopted. The humans have been quite content with us. They’re even happy with me, and I’m famous for mischief-making. If you would like your own furry friend, please consider adoption.”
Gypsy photograph Lookin’ Sweet courtesy of Karen Fayeth.
Mother’s love is alleged to be unconditional. We all know that frail humans often fall short of that ideal. Not so with our animal companions. They love us no matter what. Our clothes may be beautiful or shabby. Our home decor may be inspired or pedestrian. Our bank accounts may be fat or non-existant. Our IQ may be three-digits or two. None of that matters to our furry friends. Their devotion is unrelenting and unconditional. They deserve the best.
The reasons for avoiding the purchase of puppies from resources like pet stores that are supplied by puppy mills is clear from the video. Another consideration is using animal shelters and rescue services as a preferred resource for dogs, cats and other companion animals. Encouraging breeding when the animal population in the United States exceeds our ability to provide care seems short-sighted and unconscionable. Even if we want a purebred animal, we can get one using animal shelters (twenty-five percent of dogs in shelters are purebred) and rescue services. In animal shelters alone three-to-four million cats and dogs are euthanized each year. Please save one.
