Today, when I was reading a magazine I came across a very interesting article called, “I divorced by husband to be with my pet.” As crazy as it sounds, it was a true story about a woman who had a German Shepherd and when her husband wanted to sell it; she divorced him. His reasoning was logical. Since the recession, the couple was having a hard time providing food for themselves and for the dog. So, one day the husband thought it would be a good idea to give the dog to their family friend, who they’ve knew for years. His wife on the other hand completely disagreed. What is even more interesting is that, the couple was married for 5 years, and they just got the dog 4 months ago. It was sad knowing that the wife chose her dog of 4 months, over her husband of 5 years. After reading this, I started to realize that most Americans value pets a lot more than many other cultures around the world. Many societies don’t own pets, and even if they do, it is usually a dog. As Americans on the other hand, we own MANY various types of pets. We range from simple household animals such as dogs to owning birds, mice and even snakes! When I first came to America in 2003, I had to leave my dog behind, and it was a heartbreaking time for me. After getting an opportunity to go over a friend’s house, I was excited since not only was she was my first friend, but also because I knew she had many pets. Therefore, when my friend invited me over to her house to play with her “pets,” I naturally expected her to have two dogs and not what I saw! She had three parakeets, eight fishes, two dogs, one bunny, and a cat. I thought I was in a very different world! I never saw anyone having bunnies, fishes, parakeets, and especially cats when I was in India! (Mainly cats, because cats were known to be “bad luck” or “evil” in the Indian culture). After seeing all the various types of pets, I started to realize how much the American culture values animals! They treat them as their own family whereas most pets in other countries are treated more as a responsibility then as family! I mean we even have their personal beds, clothing, and hospitals for them.
However, even though we treat animals with such care, I also feel as things sometimes get a bit out of hand...
Read this quote for example:
In the United States, 63 percent of households include a pet (up 7 percent since 1988), and pet lovers spent $38.5 billion on their pets in 2006 (up from $21 billion a decade earlier). Americans now spend several billion dollars more on dog and cat food than they do on baby food.
In San Francisco, pet owners – "pet guardians" according to city ordinance – outnumber children nearly 2 to 1
Wow! I mean having pets isn’t a bad thing! I love animals, but sometimes I wonder if things are getting out of hand. Sure pets can be a good thing, their used as aid for the blind, therapy for the lonely, and even as company for elders. I also think things are getting chaotic when pets start to outnumber children, when married couples split up because of their pet. In addition, when people spend more money on pet supplies then they do on their needs.
For example: In 2006, her family pet, a golden retriever, accidentally strangled a 6-year-old girl to death because her family didn’t see the dog as a threat than it really was.
Sometimes, I feel as if we love our pets so much, that we don’t see the hidden dangers that lay around them.
Am I saying that having pets is bad? No, of course not! I love pets! Although, I am saying that we have to look at the statistics once in a while, and think if we are going a little overboard when we start having to choose between pets over humans.
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