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Yeap. Pure animal cruelty.

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One thing that always bugged me was how other dog owners would not pick up their dog poop, some by mistake and some blatantly intentional.

Sure sometimes I miss a poop here and there, especially when I’m walking my 3 dogs at night. It’s dark and these tiny dogs’ poop in darkness are close to invisible. So sometimes, I just leave them and next morning I would come and pick it up. But usually I pick it up.

I made it a habit of picking up not only my dogs’ poop, but other dog poop I see along the usual daily walk route. No matter how big or nasty, I pick them up. Why?

For one, neither I nor my dogs wish to step in other dog’s poop. Very simple. Sanitary reasons.

Second, it’s not because others might see me walk past by, then assume it’s MY dog’s poop. Not all. I pick them up because I feel like I have a responsibility to this collective of fellow dog owners. We all (well, mostly) love our dogs. Having a dog is a privilege and with that comes privilege comes responsibility. I choose to be accountable for my and my dogs’ actions, no matter how gross. Even more so, i feel this civic sense of duty in making the neighborbhood cleaner because, quite frankly, no one gives a damn. So I give a damn. I pick up other dog’s poop. It’s the little things I do that can make a world of difference. So I choose to do it.

As “inspirational” as that intent sounds, the acutal duty is actually quite disgusting. Especially the big dog poop after he/she’s had some bad food that gives them diarrhea. Yes, gross. If you think reading about it is gross, try picking it up in person and see how much worse it is. And imagine the gross ness times 12 … or even 20. Because that’s how many times I have to bend over to pick them up. Especially at dog parks.

I don’t know if people notice, but usually when my dog are at the dog park playing and having fun, I don’t watch over them 24×7. Instead, I like to go around and pick up dog poop that other owners’ have “conveniently” forgotten to remove. On weekends, I would get 10+ lbs of dog poop in one dog poop bag. Yes, lovely. I can probably start my own fertilizer business just by visiting the local dog parks.

So this has been going on for months.. never once have I been noticed for doing it. It doesn’t matter, because I wasn’t doing it for recognition. Instead of recognition, I would prefer that people pick up after their damn dog.

A couple of days ago…. a bright light shined on my face: a lady said “thank you for taking the initiative to pick up the dog poop.”

Wow. Thanks lady. I feel like my work hasn’t been in vain.

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I often catch myself telling friends and others at the park that dogs are dog. If they want to hump each other (not procreate, but just social pecking order type of hump), I let them. If they want to link random places or objects, I usually let them.

I’ve even written a post about how I REFUSE to neuter my dog based on one and only one principal: that it’s a form of “species”-centrism and a violation of the natural principals. God made them that way for a reason. How DARE we think that we know what’s best for God’s awesome DIVINE creation.

So when I see people doing things that seem rather, unnatural to the dog’s design, I find myself a bit disturbed.

*deeep breath * Here we go..

Doberman Pinscher, for example, is one of those dogs bred for looks. Sure, not for “pretty” looks… but a look of intimidation and fear:

But the “cost” of creating this Doberman look is rather cruel + unusual. People call it “ear cropping”. I call it “chopping the ear off”:

For example, this is how Doberman look as natural puppies:

Once the ear gets “clipped”, people “re-resurrect” the ears to a certain shape:

Does it look like this dog is enjoying this process? This isn’t aesthetics. This is borderline animal cruelty. And for what? Make them look scary? Do you want your dog to look scary to your family + friends?

OK, so this post is more about my personal vent than anything. If you sense negative energy, I apologize. Lately, I’ve been reading a lot about dog abuse and it really ticks me off. Had to vent.

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If your dog (or cat) has not been neutered, I’m sure you’ve been nagged by Neuter Nazis the same thing over and over again: “you gotta neuter your pet.” Blah blah blah.

No offense, but do these people know what they’re saying or are they just regurgitating what their vets have told them? Or just summarizing what they’ve seen on TV or read on some website somewhere? How can these people say for certain that neutering is good for their pets?

There are plenty of people on the “Neuter Nazi” regime who tells you “Because it is” as a reason. Perfect example, this Yahoo Answers response to a question from a user whether or not he/she should neuter his pet:

I could sit here and give you a million reasons and possible situations your dog could run into, but Im only going to say that I work in a shelter, and yes, even that breed comes in a lot! You never know when your dog may get off the leash or escape and knock up another dog. Not to mention you lower the risk of cancer and other health problems when you neuter. Fixed males tend to be much easier to get along with to other fixed males as well.

What? What are these “MILLION” reasons? This is internet lady. Go ahead type away and Yahoo will gladly store your resposne for others to see and don’t you worry about Yahoo running out of hard drive space. Go ahead and tell us.

And as far as these prostate cancer reasons, there are articles that support that this is one big ball bull:

People often hear that neutering prevents prostate cancer in dogs. Neutering does have an impact on the prostate gland and avoiding future prostate concerns, but there is no evidence to prove canine prostate cancer can be prevented through neutering.

I have yet to find good, scientific, and compelling reasons to convince me that neutering is actually good for dogs. I even asked my vet if I should neuter my dogs. He says “of course.” When I asked why, he gave me the same old stuff I read online or hear on TV. When I asked if he actually has medical findings to prove this is true, of course, he didn’t.

No disprect to industry “professionals”, but I feel like a lot of the messages are just regurgitated common notions. I’m not a big believer of populist sentiment, because I like to think for myself. And according to my brain, I think neutering is quite dumb.

In fact, my brain tells me that this is quite arrogant for us to think that this is good for them. How do we know? Do dogs show signs of happiness and peace once their nuts enter the Kingdom of Nutly Heaven? Do they show their owners more love? Are they more social and gregarious with other dogs? For every owner that says yes to all these, i can find 2 or 3 more that say “no” or “not sure”.

I equate to subjecting our pets to this ruthless practice comparable to genocide of the Jews by the Nazi’s. Sure, with neutering, at least you get to live nor was it systematic like genocide. But the same principal applies (in lot smaller scale): control the population because the “masters” felt that it was in their interest to do so.

Extreme comparison? Perhaps.

One last argument I would like to say is… dogs (and cats) were designed that way for a reason. That’s the way God/nature/Allah/whatever-you-believe-in designed them. Our tinkering of the divine design is a slap to Mother Nature and her mysterious ways. How dare we think that we know the better way.

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As much as it is the ‘right thing’ to say that this is a form of animal abuse, I would have to refrain from pointing fingers at anyone because who’s to say what’s right or wrong in war? If men only killed men, is that any better or more fair than getting animals involved? Who’s to say. No, instead of making subjective or even political statements, I would like to point out the stupidity of using animals in something they are so foreign to: wars.

When I first researched this, I thought this was a joke. A story made by some military PR person.. or some comedy written during the times of war to lighten up the soldiers and the cilivians.

First I heard of the dolphins trained by the Navy in the past to act as kamikaze torpedos to blow up enemy ships and cut off air supply hose from enemy divers:

They are being turned into Kamikaze torpedoes, or trained to attach magnetic explosives to the bottom of enemy ships. Dolphins are also being trained in the swimmer nullification program, where a long, hollow hypodermic needle is placed over the snout of the dolphin for injecting compressed CO² into the enemy frogmen, the pressurized gas forcing the frogman’s internal organs out of his body orifices.

Right out of a sci-fi movie? Perhaps. It gets even better. The Soviets and the Germans trained dogs to act as kamikaze anti-tank bombs during WWII:

Anti-tank dogs (Russian: Собаки-истребители танков or Противотанковые собаки; German: Panzerabwehrhunde or Hundeminen, “dog-mines”), were dogs taught to carry explosives under tanks and armored vehicles where they would detonate and inflict the most damage upon the vehicle, killing the dog in the process. They were actively trained by the Soviet and Russian military forces in 1930–1996 and used in 1941–1942 against German tanks in World War II. The US military trained anti-tank dogs in 1943, but never deployed them. Dogs strapped with explosives were unsuccessfully used by terrorists in 2005 in Iraq.

This is serious stuff people. Not made up.

To me, this is dumb (more than cruel and unusual). Why go through ALL that training, treats, and pat-on-the-head just to blow up your hard earned trust? I’m no genius but doesn’t this equate to nearly zero ROI? It’s not like these animals secretly approach the enemies, drop the bomb, and safely return home to go on more missions. It’s a one time bing-bang-boom! Wouldn’t it better just to shoot a long range canon?

If dogs were so dispensable, why did the US military even bother making gas masks for dogs?

Protect them against gas attacks, so you can blow them up later?

Smart? No. Practical? No. Expensive? Yes. Just like Hummers.

If the leaders of the militaries of the world were ever to read this blog, I have a suggesti0n for a new crazy weapon that’s going to give you guys a new edge in modern warfare:

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1) I am asking for them  … or

2) If the message is delivered with sincerity or without scorn/mocking.

Point in case, an owner of some white poodle at the Pasadena dog park.

I do admit my dog Cocoa (seen in this post, the miniature pinscher/chihuahua dog on right) is a bit humpy. He’s a puppy and has this Adonis Complex, making him want to hump pretty much any male dog that fancies him. It’s not ALL the (male) dogs that he humps. He has a taste for furry white dogs. Why? Who knows. Why do some men like women with big boobs while some prefer small? Who knows. Probably the same reason.

Cocoa and this poodle has had history in the past. They like to play together. Usually Cocoa wins, because quite frankly, my Cocoa is stronger and more agile than the other dog. So usually Cocoa would wrestle him down and get on top (not to hump) but to assert authority. The poodle would get defensive and start growling at Cocoa.

So apparently, the owner of the poodle (some lady) walks over to me and with this sour look on her face says “Keep you dog away from my dog.” I need to remind you this is the in the FIRST two minutes of me entering the dog park.

Usually, I don’t apologize for my dog. Why?

1. God made the dogs that way for a reason. I am not about to apologize for her opinion on the flaws of the Divine Design.
2. It’s Cocoa, not me, who humped the dog. All you dog owners, stop apologizing for your dog’s behavior (as long as it’s just dog play, not physical harm.)
3. That’s what DOGS do. They play, wrestle, and hump.
4. You’re at a DOG park. If you want you dog sheltered, shrink wrap him and put him in a box.. and leave that box at home. If you want your dog to be free and play and mingle with other dogs, then understand that there IS a potential for rough play. This is life, dammit. You might get hurt but at least you’ll LIVE your life.

So I stayed quiet for a while, not saying a damn word. I even used my trusty squirt bottle to keep Cocoa away from the ugly butt mutt Poodle. I did a pretty good job.

Her reasoning was the Cocoa LOOKED like he was gonna bite… TO HER. For reference, it was that poodle that was growling and showing the fearsome canines to MY dog. She kept complaining so I pulled Cocoa to the side.

Then the irony strikes.

The moment I look away, the poodle comes to Cocoa and starts humping. So I look at the lady and her comment?

Oh, I don’t mind them humping each other.

Right. I guess you readers can pretty much predict what I would say at this point. Feel free to guess what I would’ve.. or should’ve said.

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