You’ve heard about the notion that pets tend to take on the looks of their owners. Well some people have taken it a step further and anthropomorphized the feelings and attitudes onto their pets.
In a piece by Tara Kelly in the Huffington Post we discover that there are those owners who spend millions on changing the appearance of their pet to ‘improve a dog or cat’s quality life.” This of course does refer to the need to make physical changes to a pet that suffers physically but for some owners , it’s all about the animal’s self esteem.
“Jim and Jaime Davenport of Atlanta, Georgia opted for the testicular implants for their English Bulldog. In an ABC News interview, the couple explained that it was just too “out there” that their dog, Munson, had been neutered.”
The Davenports were apparently extrapolating a failed sense of Munson’s manhood and thus decided he needed a neuticle transplant. Neuticles are “the fake, bean-shaped testicles made out of solid silicone, which come in a range of sizes for the neutered dog to maintain pride and self-esteem.”
Really? Pride and self-esteem for animals lies in their appearance? Sounds a bit like human vanity to me and a poor explanation to put their pet under the knife; a practice that organizations like the ASPCA says can be life-threatening. I have two dogs who are considered a part of our family. I have always had pets since I was three years when our grandpa bought us a Collie pup that we named Zip from the kindergarten reader “See Zip Run”.
I have never seen any of my pets are those of people I know who have ever spent time primping themselves or admiring their features in mirrors. Animals may have sense of themselves as it relates to other animals but for some humans to automatically assume it is line with how Homo sapiens see each other is the height of narcissism.
Your pet could be a three-legged mutt with one ear shorter than the other and they only thing that matters to them that I can honestly attest to is how their owners treat them. Treated with care and affection my pet is most happiest when I give them attention on a regular basis.
People who “neuticle” their male animals or pay to have a tummy tuck done to “Princess” the poodle are only affecting a sense of self-esteem within themselves. Failing to realize that it is the affections and acts of love that gives their pets a sense of value speaks volumes to the fact that such people who put appearance over deeper human values of compassion, wisdom and tolerance.
If pets could talk might we not hear something like this.
“Get a life you bi-pedal twit. I’m a freaking canine. Give me a place to lick my ass, sleep and wide open spaces to run until I drop and I’ll be as happy as those people who spend way too much time in front of that reflector glass altering their image, maybe happier. Oh Yeah. Could you clean my water bowl out every now and then. If you really cared about my self-esteem you wouldn’t force me to drink from where you’se guys relieve yourself”
adpraisal
I cannot imagine ever considering cosmetic surgery for dog- I love him how he is. Plus he likes to groom himself way to much as it is!!!
lbwoodgate
Most animals are pretty basic. I think we contribute to any low self-esteem they may have simply of the way we fuss over them in ways that they simply cannot relate too.
Donna
This is such a good post. Hopefully, it will inspire pet owners who seem to have either too much time or too much money to put their resources into other things besides their dogs’ “boys”. I love my dogs, but I think this borders on abuse rather than pet emotional health.
lobotero
All that is wrong on so many levels…..I have two dogs that found me after Katrina and they each have a distinct personality……actually the female is smarter than most people……she opens closed doors and has different tones in her voice that symbolize what she wants….I just had to be trained to recognize them……Great post!
lbwoodgate
I too recently rescued a young female from the animal shelter here and I find her smarter than my male dog. She has little nuances with her sounds and actions that indicate she is trying to communicate in many subtle ways.
Snoring Dog Studio
Bravo to you, lb, for rescuing a dog! I hold people like you in high esteem. The people who do unnecessary operations on their pets – I hold nothing for them but disgust and loathing. It’s bad enough to put an animal through this for your own ego and vanity, but to waste that money when it could have been donated to an animal shelter is pure rottenness.
My little Stella’s face has acquired a few more skin tags over the years – my sister once called her “Nanny McFee” – but unless the tags are preventing her from seeing or breathing, I’ll just leave them.
lbwoodgate
skin tags are signs of character on humans and dogs.
Spinny Liberal
The Davenports were apparently extrapolating a failed sense of Munson’s manhood and thus decided he needed a neuticle transplant. Neuticles are “the fake, bean-shaped testicles made out of solid silicone, which come in a range of sizes for the neutered dog to maintain pride and self-esteem.”
Seriously? OMG. I thought this was a joke, but they actually do this. I don’t get it. Unnecessary surgery. Sick stuff.