Be Your Dog's Advocate

I often see being an advocate for my dog as being it's spokeperson. I know, there is more to it, but if I can be one, I can definitively become the other. And so should you.

Because dogs (or pets) cannot speak for themselves, it is our responsibility to speak loud and clear for them.

To understand the reasons as to why becoming an advocate is important, we have to go back in time, back when dogs became domesticated by humans.

Dogs have been domesticated for thousand of years. Recent studies using DNA suggested that wolves and dogs split into two different species around 100 000 years ago.

Anubis

The Egyptians considered dogs has symbols of Gods and as domesticated animals. They were not as important as cats, but they were mummified and were often buried with their owners or sometimes, in their own coffins. Dogs even had their own reserved place in the Abydos's cemetery, near the graves of women, archers and dwarfs.

Since those times, the relationship between dogs and humans have flourished and dogs became not only working companionship to humans, but they became friends. In exchange for their friendship and loyalty, dogs are expecting love, respect, food and shelter. And as history was running its course, the relationship between human and dogs evolved in something different, into something that showed us, human, that dogs can be much more than only a hunting companion or a cattle protector . Dogs are serving and helping people in need, offering them comfort and in some case, saving their lives. And as they were helping us, we helped them to. We help them to stay away from certain diseases by bringing them to a veterinarian for their shorts, x-rays, spaying, neutering and various surgeries meant to save them.

When human did domesticated dogs, they took upon them a responsibility that, still to this day, is valid. But some humans have not hold their part the deal. They let their dog without care, without love and without respect. Worse, they have been using them in ways to hurt them, to make them suffer and to let them die. They have been using them for money, not caring about the possible horrible and horrifying outcome.

There are ways to help dogs, to raise awareness. And it all starts with what we teach our children. Teach them to love and respect, not only their pets, but all pets.

• Step in when you see or hear about animal abuse.
• Give your pennies to a rescue association.
• Don't adopt from puppy mills. Save a dog/pet by adopting from a shelter.
• Spay and/or neuter your dog. It can actually save him/her from a breast or a prostate cancer.
• Don't adopt more dogs than what you can care for.
• Expect that your companionship might last for a very long time.
• Bring them to the vet for their annual shots and don't forget to protect them against seasonal diseases.
• Train them. Sit, stay, come, fetch. It might sound futile, but it is a way to channel their energy, to make sure they will be calm and responsive around other people.
• Exercise them.

By speaking for our pets, we give them a voice and a face. We create not only awareness for their cause, but for the abuse they are suffering in the hands of unscrupulous people. We show the next generations that caring for animals is the right thing to do.

I am my dog's advocate. Are you your dog's advocate ?


*ref : http://archaeology.about.com
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