November-December 2004 (Issue 20)
Editorial:
WELCOME to our Christmas issue, and isn't it just wonderful to think that Christmas is celebrated in a huge number of ways in different countries and that just how Christmas is celebrated depends largely on the weather that is typical for each country in December.
In New Zealand we will be enjoying our summer heat - barbecues and beaches, picnics and swimming; while readers in Britain and many parts of Europe will be experiencing log fires and skating and maybe even snow, port wine and hot brandy sauce.
No matter how you celebrate Christmas I would urge you all to spare a thought for the pet animals who are cast out of their homes over holiday periods for no reason other than inconvenience. When you offer a dog a home please make sure you are offering it a home for life. You will experience holiday inconveniences; illness (your own or your dog's); extra work; catering for an extra 'fur person' with different food requirements; dog fur in the car and on the carpet; an extra bath-time; walking where the dog can walk rather than where you yourself want to go; constant poop scooping; and extra time taken for regular walks, grooming, training and playing.
But in return you will receive total loyalty, unconditional love, the expectation that you and your dog will always be there for each other in good times and bad, a dedication to walking the family 'human' daily; and a whole heap of happy times that you may never have experienced without 'the dog'. A pet dog is a member of your family - nothing more, nothing less.
As for working dogs - they and their owners have a partnership too. Maybe it is an uneven partnership - the dogs usually do most of the work - but when did they ever care about that? All they ask is to be fed each day and to come home to a warm bed (or warm kennel) and a few kind words from their 'family' and they will give 100 percent of their time and effort. Sounds like a really good deal to me!
So when you are enjoying your extra large meals over the holidays, think of the dogs in shelters or refuges or the city pound. If you want to give them a real treat buy something especially delicious for them and drop it off at your nearest shelter. I know they would all love a juicy raw meaty bone (never cooked of course) and seldom receive such a treat in care. Why not go a little further and take just one or two for a walk? You could give a regular hour every week and it would ensure that you are also exercised (something most of us need) and you have the advantage of the dogs' company for a while without the demands of ownership.
There is so much that we could all do to make life a little happier for the world's homeless and badly treated dogs - why not make it one of your New Year resolutions to give help and support wherever and however possible to your local SPCA or animal shelter. Remember that every little helps. Just one tin of dog food means one more dog is sustained for another 24 hours. Worth thinking about isn't it?
I hope all our readers have a truly wonderful Christmas holiday, and remember to belt-up when you go for a family drive (yes, that includes the dog!). Wherever you are when you celebrate, make sure you have a healthy, happy and safe Christmas. - Elezabeth
