Happy Memorial Day

It's a long weekend for many.   Friends, families, and neighbors are looking forward to picnics, camping, cookouts, BBQs, etc.   Just listing some of these fun events makes me hungry.    Good food and good company.

In getting together, be considerate of others if you have pets.     Others have the right to expect an enjoyable time without having to tolerate pets that don't behave.    It's not the pets fault - it's the owners.   Forgive me for saying this, but in some ways, this is like children that run wild with little parental control.    We dislike the children for their actions;  however,  it's the parents , for the most part, that are allowing this behavior.  

There is a difference between discipline and punishment.    Discipline isn't cruel or violent.    It doesn't require raised voices or the threat of physical abuse.   Punishment, on the other hand, is harsh.    It may only teach fear and not provide structure.    We may be able to "beat" something - that may not provide the change we are looking for.    

Getting off the subject of Memorial Day - let's say you have a dog and it likes to chase and perhaps kill cats.    If, when we catch the dog chasing or killing a cat, we proceed to beat the dog.    Let's yank it around.   Let's chain it up and deprive it of food and or water.    We're going to teach it a lesson.    That just doesn't work.    Ever wonder why a dog that chases cars, gets injured by the vehicle, hopefully recovers, only to go back to chasing cars?     The dog doesn't connect the dots.     He doesn't see or remember the car as causing the injury.     This is where we (the owners) come in.  Well-behaved pets, like children, require rules, boundaries, and limitations.    Mix in - a generous supply of love.    Cesar - not Simon - says.  

Our actions affect how others respond and treat us and our pets.    The more responsible we are, the more our pets will be welcome into the public.