A Puppy is not a Toy; The trials of animal care often neglected

Christmas is fast approaching.

Many will be considering a pet. Dogs, or actually puppies, are often the choice. They can make loyal friends, are fun to have around and, in some situations, can be really useful. They can also have problems; chewing up shoes is a common one. Little accidents on the carpet are no laugh if it keeps happening either. They can become a noise problem, causing friction with the neighbours, especially if left alone for long periods. The cute little puppy has a habit of growing into a dog within the year. If they aren’t properly trained, they can become a real headache, a danger to themselves and anyone whose path they cross. If they are to be a child’s gift, the package should include at least basic obedience lessons for both. When I was a child, every pet I had was eventually killed by a dog; usually at night and always in our yard. The near neighbours didn’t have dogs; the main offenders came from some distance away. I have long since realised that it is not uncommon for a medium to large dog to travel 10-20km in a single night. Some will cover 40km, especially if running with a pack; dogs are social (pack) creatures. However, it is the owner’s, not the dog’s fault, if they get into trouble. If your dog is a sleep at home all day kind of dog that wouldn’t hurt a fly, beware, chances are it is worn out in night escapades. No dog should be able to leave their owner’s property between sunset and at least an hour after sunrise, unless the owner is with them. Realistically unless they are under your control and within sight they should wear a muzzle as even a relatively small dog can cause quite a bit of damage in fun when excited. In or near rural areas pet dogs are often a nightmare. Their play can cause loss of stock, especially around calving or lambing times. If a dog is on someone else’s property causing a problem, at least in a rural setting, they have the right to destroy it. Most will try to contact the owner, often tying it up in the meantime. However, a large or aggressive dog may not get a second chance if livestock or children are to be considered. It seems unjust that a creature has to be destroyed simply because its owner is too stupid, lazy or arrogant to take proper responsibility for it. If you choose to have a dog, it is your responsibility to train it, feed it (and that doesn’t mean take it out into the country and let it catch its own dinner), make sure it gets enough exercise and doesn’t cause harm or annoyance to wildlife or others. That pet that a child desperately wants, generally the novelty wears off by midterm and it becomes the adult’s responsibility from then on, either by continually reminding (nagging) or doing it themselves. Sometimes it would be better to borrow or rent one from RSPCA for a trial first. I think a better first pet should be a bird, chicken or guinea pig, where the child can demonstrate their commitment and responsibility. Many years ago while I was working in the far west, the cattle station dog delivered a litter of cute black and white puppies. They were first discovered by the children, each of whom chose one and begged to be able to keep it as a pet. Their father conceded reluctantly on condition that they each take sole responsibility for their own pet. Months went by and day to day care had fallen to the jackaroo. The two boys in turn decided that their dog would become a working dog, consequently each decided to agree to the dog being shot. Apparently a cattle/kelpie cross is a hazard on a working sheep property; they kill the lambs. Daughter, however, wanted to keep hers as a pet, she would take good care of it etc. After some time, her father informed us that, subsequent to a trial, the dog had been shot, however, we were sworn to secrecy. Weeks passed, then one evening at dinner, the question was asked: “It’s been a hot day, how is Abdul? Has he plenty of fresh water”? “Yes,” was the reply. “Are you taking good care of him, taking him for daily walks?” “Of course,” was the reply. Then the bombshell was dropped, the dog had been dead for weeks and hadn’t even been missed. What a terrible demise it would have suffered if it had been relying on her care. She was 11-years-old.

Letter, 27 Nov 2014
Clara Jones, Kulnura