(MY) doggie do

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Having fun at a doggie do - Malay Mail (opinion page)

 

 

ANGEL is having a `kennel warming', my nieces informed me recently.

 

 

 

 

Having a little get together of family and friends when doggie gets a

new kennel, is a done thing these days.

 

Needless to say table manners don't count when you're at a doggie do.

In fact, some of the guests would probably appreciate you licking the

plate clean, drooling and even scratching yourself joyfully.

 

The things people do for their pets may surprise you.

 

I've known people who celebrate their pet's birthday like it's a

perfectly natural thing to do, surrounded by excited guests (of the

human kind) in party hats trying to snap photos.

 

Household pets never had it so good. People go out of their way to

treat them like children, spending money to ensure their pets have

every possible comfort.

 

It's now normal to drop your pet off at a `day-care centre' when you

have to be at work or to go shopping.

 

Why are we willing to go this far for animals?

 

If you've ever had a pet, you'll know the answer immediately — because

pets are pure joy.

 

What they give us in return is so priceless that we think nothing of

the time and money spent to make them happy and comfortable.

 

Ever had a dog run up to greet you when you come home after a hard day

at the office? Nothing beats that feeling, and forget meditation, this

is stress relief on tap every day.

 

But at the other end of the spectrum from pampered pets, we have the

neglected, abused and pathetic animals which make the news because of

our inability to show them compassion.

 

The fact that our animal shelters are full, is a sign that abusive

behaviour is increasing.

 

No matter how many times I've tried, I can never understand people who

take in a pet despite having no real feeling for it.

 

The end result is an animal which will never know what it's like to be

petted or made a fuss of.

 

Sadly, the end result is also a person who will never know the joy he

could have had.

 

 

 

 

 

Meera Murugesan

Senior writer