| I think that's a valid question, and I don't ask it lightly. | | | | them to continue liking you, be sure to consider this |
| The short answer is yes. The long answer maybe no, | | | | when choosing the breed of dog you get. |
| and let me tell you why. I think I'll start things off | | | | 2. Dogs eat. If you have trouble paying your own |
| with a short story. It's interesting and I think it will | | | | grocery bill, think about the extra expense of a big |
| shed some light on what I am thinking. | | | | bag of dog food once a month. |
| Way back in 1999, I was attending graduate school | | | | 3. Dogs need to go to the doctor. If you are having |
| at Binghamton University. I lived on the third floor of | | | | trouble paying for your own health care, think about |
| an old house in a very small apartment. The house | | | | what you are going to do the day your dog needs |
| was in a rather congested part of town, so all of the | | | | to have an operation. |
| residents could get a very clear picture of what was | | | | 4. Dogs need to relieve themselves. If you like to |
| happening in the neighborhood around them. From my | | | | snuggle under your warm covers at 5AM in the |
| apartment, I had a pretty good vantage point of a | | | | middle January, think about the feeling you will have |
| few backyards that were close by. | | | | when your new dog starts barking to go outside at |
| As you could imagine, while attending graduate | | | | that time. |
| school, I was required to study for a good portion of | | | | 5. Dogs need to play. If you work late and no one is |
| the day and night. There was no way to get around | | | | home, who will be there to take the dog outside to |
| it and much of it had to be done in my apartment. In | | | | burn off all the energy they have? |
| order to have a good studying session, I needed | | | | 6. Dogs need love. Are you ready to spend at least |
| quiet. Thinking back, I should have moved into a | | | | two hours a day with your dog? |
| more sparse part of town. | | | | 7. Dogs need space. Do you have the room for a |
| The day after I moved in, I remember looking out | | | | dog that may become hyper when it gets excited? |
| the window into the backyard across the street. | | | | 8. Dogs are not welcome in many rental units. Do you |
| There were two dogs lying down on a dirt area. | | | | rent? Be aware that by having a dog, you are limiting |
| They were tethered together by the same dog | | | | yourselves to about 10% of available units for rent. |
| leash, a piece of one tied to the other. Their heads | | | | 9. Dogs require patience. Take a good look at |
| were about a foot apart and they had no where to | | | | yourself. Have you ever lost your temper? Many |
| go. Every time someone passed on the sidewalk, | | | | dogs may do things that will upset you. |
| they would stand up and run to the chain link fence, | | | | 10. Dogs need to be licensed. What are the rules of |
| barking. This went on day after day. Eventually, | | | | your area when it comes to dog ownership? |
| someone from the neighborhood called the ASPCA | | | | The above list is not meant to be depressing. It's |
| and had the dogs removed. The owners were | | | | meant to give you a realistic view of what you can |
| charged with having the dogs outside without shelter | | | | expect after you bring that cute, cuddly little puppy |
| and a few other things. | | | | into your home. I have owned many dogs and I |
| This brings me to the point of this piece. Why do | | | | write from experience. |
| people bring dogs into their homes, when they clearly | | | | A good friend of mine owns two rather large dogs |
| don't have the means to properly care for them? I'm | | | | that he adopted from a friend during his senior year |
| sure we have all seen it a thousand times; the | | | | of college. They are both about five years old now. |
| messiest house on the road with three viscous dogs | | | | He loves the dogs, but feels he may have made a |
| chained to a stump in the front yard, the college | | | | mistake. He may not have been ready for them. I |
| students who thought it would be fun to get a | | | | remember asking him how he feels about owning the |
| "house" puppy, the overworked parents who thought | | | | dogs, to which he replied, "Yeah, that was pretty |
| it would be a good idea to get their young children an | | | | much the biggest mistake I ever made." |
| active puppy to play with. | | | | Now, let's discuss the brighter side of things. If you |
| What's the common theme that runs across all three | | | | have looked over the above list and think you might |
| examples above? Bad choices. I think the mistakes | | | | be ready to give a dog a new home, good for you. |
| many people make are 1) they don't understand that | | | | Just be sure to look for that dog in the right places. |
| owning a dog is a huge responsibility and 2) dogs can | | | | There are many dogs in shelters across this country |
| lead miserable lives, if not taken care of properly. | | | | that are just waiting for someone like you to walk |
| Here is a (hopefully helpful) list of reminders that you | | | | through the door. Do the right thing and adopt. You'll |
| should consider before bringing a dog into your family: | | | | be glad you did. |
| 1. Dogs bark. If you like your neighbors and want | | | | |