Are You Crazy About Dogs?
Since I moved to Fairfield County, CT twenty years ago, I’ve learned that a dog’s place in human society can be very different from the place occupied by the average dog of my Venezuelan childhood.
This is a world where dogs rule. A family almost appears incomplete without one. I mean, in some, the dog is the most important family member. My cousin, for instance, recently posted her family’s holiday card on Facebook. She has six children. The top half of the photo had a picture of the family’s eight human members (mom, dad and the six kids). The family dog took up the entire bottom half of the card.
Here’s something else I’ve experienced: Because I’m a special education teacher, I sometimes ask parents to send in or email a picture of their child, human family members, or the family pet. I usually get the dog pictures right away, sometimes multiple ones. For the child himself or another family member, I often need to send reminders.
I’ve also learned from two of my sisters who have dogs that the politics of dog ownership are complicated. Sandra’s dog, Odin, is a rescue -a fact she is compelled to mention whether or not people ask. And I don’t blame her. Having a rescue signals that you are a thoughtful, upstanding human.
