Only one of the five dogs pictured was ours to begin with.
I've had this post on my mind for quite some time now. Animal people are bombarded these days with a constant onslaught of animal rights minded "buzz" words. We all hear them, and most of us even fall into using them ourselves. The problem with the use of these"buzz" words is that they are absolutely manipulative, and doing so actively contributes to ridiculous expectations people increasingly seem to expect from the owners of animals.They are a far cry from reality, and are in fact are so divorced from the truth in general that we all ought to be screaming foul about it from the rooftops. So why aren't we?
Let me share a few examples of what I mean. We will start off with the "buzz" word and slash it with the truthful word. Rescue/ Buy, Adopt/Own, Foster/Care for, Rehoming fee/Sell, Furever home/As long as its working out, Furbaby/ Companion pet, and the list goes on.
Now I am going to use all "buzz" words to write an emotionally charged manipulative sentence and one you have likely heard come out of someones mouth.
" I adopted my neighbors furbaby that I was fostering for a rehoming fee. I had to rescue him so he would have a furever home"
Now the same sentence minus the "buzz" words and told without intent to stir emotions and manipulate the person hearing it.
"I bought a dog from my neighbors that I had been temporarily taking care of for them. They could no longer keep their dog. I really hope it works out for both of us."
There is a phenomena at hand these days when it comes to animal issues that demonizes truthfulness while applauding exaggeration, anthropomorphism, and well...down right silliness. If that was the extent of it I suppose it would be of little consequence. However, all too often it goes far, far, beyond merely that. Today we have people treating other people horribly over the slightest perceived notion that an animal has not been treated the way the accuser has decided is up to their expectations. They even often take it online with willful intent to widely slander the person, to demonize them as sub human, and wag their ever judgemental cyber finger in the face of the accused. Not to mention bask in the glory from all that will applaud them for doing so. It really puts the "self" in self righteous.
Now I would never tell anyone to zip their lip about a true case of animal abuse and neglect, but this is hardly what I am talking about here. As an example. I dare you to go to any pet swap facebook page and tell the above story minus the expected "buzz" words. Think Im kidding? Use the example I gave above and see what happens.The first sentence will be rewarded with many atta boys and pats on the back and what a good fur mommy you are, and the second one will be met with a lecture on adopt dont shop, what creeps your neighbors are, and a grand jury interrogation about what exactly you are going to do if it doesn't "work out" with the dog, as well as offers to take the dog out of your incredibly undeserving hands. Now mind you none of the many people doing this personally know any of the parties involved.
People we REALLY need to get away from this. It has animal rights written all over it. It is pretty nauseating when you actually stop and think about it, and frankly we need to get back to a realistic view of the human/animal relationship. Love thy neighbor is what the book said. Not thy neighbor's dog.
