It’s a dog’s life, no matter where they are
Many of us are aware that life in the Australian outback or on the African Serengeti plains would be very different from those living in the US or Europe. Following that line of thought, dogs also have different “lifestyles” around the world and with that, here are some interesting contrasts that may surprise you.
The inclusion of dogs as members of the family is a defining trend for the US pet market today. Retailers are scrambling to address this cultural phenomenon as it plays out in more and more segments of the pet industry. The dogs go on vacation with us. They cuddle with us in our beds. Is it any wonder that Fido now figures prominently in thousands of homes across the US? Yet in stark contrast to this, the United States is somewhat unique in that we euthanize 2.7 million dogs and cats in shelters each year. We love our pets, however we can’t seem to acknowledge the fact that pets are a huge responsibility and many pet owners, after just a few weeks, give up and let their dog or cat go just to be caught by an animal control. officer later. Puppy mills, excessive breeding, and lack of sterilization are other reasons that continually contribute to this alarming number of pets being euthanized annually.
Latin America is fast becoming its neighbor to the north, with a pet-sitting boom equivalent in many ways to the US reaching thousands of households with “more people bringing dogs into their lives as companions, rather than of security”. This trend is mainly attributed to two facts; rising middle class incomes and a younger demographic that is postponing marriage and family for a dog. Or as they call it there, a “pupanion.” “Chile currently has more dogs per person than any other country.”
Like the United States, Latin America also has its stark contrasts, there is nutrition. For many Latin Americans, access to large pet stores or even a small mom-and-pop store is unlikely, so they have no choice but to feed their dogs table scraps. As any veterinarian will tell you, having table scraps as your pet’s sole source of nutrition can lead to many health-related complications.
Heading east, “Far East” from America we come to China. Here is a country where the ethical treatment of dogs does not have a very humane history. This is mainly due to the fact that China does not have animal welfare laws, which generates and explains much of the controversy that surrounds this country when it comes to dogs. Fortunately, this unfortunate trend is changing every day. Animal rights groups, both foreign and domestic in China, are pushing the message about the humane treatment of dogs with three-quarters of China’s population now signaling a desire for better animal welfare protections.
India is by far one of the most interesting places for dogs. This is not so much about the dog owners as it is about the dogs themselves. Most of the dogs in India are strays. Not just a few here and there, but millions. They live with people in city centers across the country. As a result, 36% of the world’s rabies deaths occur in India. Fortunately, this number is declining due in large part to the existence of the Humane Society International and a program called Capture, Neuter, Vaccinate & Return (CNVR).
The people of India have great tolerance and compassion for street puppies. The local communities, despite the fear of rabies or bites, help these dogs on a daily basis by feeding and caring for them when they can. They may not be in a home, yet they are cared for as if they were in one.
Our last stop on this world tour is Saudi Arabia. Here the Islamic culture considers dogs to be “unclean”. As a result, “Saudi citizens often feel uncomfortable and fearful around animals.” But attitudes are beginning to change with wealthier families having dogs at home, however they need to be properly classified. Saudi Arabia has an interesting law related to dog ownership. All dogs must be classified as working dogs, guard dogs or hunting dogs, otherwise they cannot be kept as pets.” In an interesting contrast to India, the exact opposite exists. In Saudi Arabia, cats run free through the streets and Most Saudis are very fond of them, especially since the Prophet Mohammed loved cats.
Clearly we all live in a very diverse and complex world. Some may say how grateful they are to live where they do, while others may wish they were somewhere else. Cultural relativism, “the grass is always greener” approaches to understanding our world may work for some, but as a wise dog owner once said, “handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can’t eat it or play with it, just piss on it and walk away.
