If you’re reading this, you’re no doubt a dog lover. But which kind: a dominionist, a humanist, or a protectionist?

 

In a fascinating New York Times story this week, Indiana University sociologist David Blouin groups dog owners into one of these three categories.

 

“Dominionists,” he says, view pets as beloved but ultimately replaceable. Families who live in the country tend to meet this definition.

 

“Humanists” see their dog as a primary companion, one to be pampered, allowed to sleep in the owner’s bed and “mourned like a dying child at the end.”

 

His third category is “protectionists” — people who have strong feeling about dogs, who are likely to rescue a dog tied to a tree and then lecture its owner. They tend to think in terms of what is best for the dog.

 

Blouin draws a distinct line between protectionists and pamperers, but I’m thinking I belong in both categories. I pamper our two pups — not with frilly outfits (on a border collie? You’d have to be kidding!) but with my time. Steve and I make sure our BC and husky mix get plenty of exercise, sometimes at the expense of our own priorities. When we’ve had to put a dog to sleep, we’ve made the decision based strictly on what was best for our dog; according to Blouin, that would make us protectionists. But that hasn’t eased our burden: I still mourn every dog we’ve lost. Bosco the sheltie has been gone nearly two years and I still can’t bring myself to throw out his worn-out fleecy bed.

 

I would add a fourth category to Blouin’s list. ”Exploiters.” It would include any breeder who cranks out puppies for profit, leaving their breeding dogs in cages, mired in misery. They claim to love dogs, but they don’t, really. And they need to be put out business.

 

Here’s a link to the NYT story:

 

Would-be dog owners always seem surprised when I advise them to never buy a dog at a pet store. A pet store would seem to be the best possible place to pick up a dog. The uninitiated don’t realize that in almost every case, pet store dogs come from puppy mills, commercial large-volume breeders who crank out often physically compromised dogs that are prone to illness and disease. It’s not uncommon for pet store puppies to die weeks or months after going home with a new family. A family that just shelled out hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in vet bills on behalf of their new pet.

 

The case of Pet Fashion, a pet store in the Galleria mall in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., is just the latest instance where dogs were found suffering right there in the store. Humane authorities have filed 70 charges of animal cruelty and selling diseased animals against the store owners of the store. The charges came after the Dutchess County SPCA and Poughkeepsie police removed seven ill puppies from the store, two of which were said to be near death. The puppies had upper respiratory infections and were dehydrated.

 

The SPCA had fielded more than 100 complaints about the store, according to The Poughkeepsie Journal. The newspaper reported that local resident Harold Craig bought a Yorkshire terrier at the store in November. The dog immediately started having seizures and vomiting; it was lethargic and refused to eat. Ten days after Craig brought the puppy home, his new pet was dead.

Pet Fashion refused to reimburse him his $5,000 in pet bills.

 

Here’s a link to the story

 

I wish I could say this is an aberration, but it isn’t. Please, whatever you do, don’t do business with a store that sells pets.