Jul 07 2006
Puppies In Cages
Puppy mills not always obvious:
We both felt good about this place. A small family farm out of yesteryear; the real thing. We liked the idea of steering clear of commercial breeders, some of whom have reputations for being motivated more by profit than love of animals.
We began absorbing more of the scene. The puppies were crowded into a makeshift pen and some looked lethargic, with runny eyes and noses. Excrement covered the ground, so thick it was almost impossible not to step in.
Dawn and I visited a Newfoundland dog breeder about 10 years ago near New Glasgow. It was the opposite of the above description: as soon as we got out of the car a pack of 150 pound Newfoundland dogs bounded toward us. It’d probably scare the shit out of non-dog lovers, but I opened my arms and let them plow me down. We heard the owner shout the dogs’ names and they backed off a bit, after slobbering me with gallons of drool. We told the owners we were interested in getting a Newfoundland dog, so they showed us around their property, inviting us in for coffee, where we talked about… dogs. It was great.
The article’s author, John Grogan, wrote Marley And Me, an amusing, thoughtful book about raising a rambunctious Labrador dog while trying to start a family at the same time.
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Tags: dogs, john grogan, marley and me, pets
After hollywood’s mom visited our house with her half collie half newfoundland dog, I decided I definately don’t want a dog anymore. I don’t like their dependance. I’m not responsible, nor bored enough, to want to take care of a dog almost every second I’m home.