| Use your common sense | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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Many complaints that come across my desk, have to do with lack of proper shelter and lack of water. This time of year, id does not take a brain scientist to realize that your pet needs a lot of water to be able to cope with extreme heat. People must realize that, when they are trying to decide where to place the family's dog house in the yard, they must put a lot of thought into selecting the best part of the yard for the dog's comfort. They shouldn't worry about how good it will look if it is placed in a section of the yard that has no shade whatsoever, but looks good. Appearances must go out the window, when selecting the spot for the dog, especially if the dog is going to spend any real time in the yard/doghouse area. When selecting a spot you should try to pick an area that has shade and is free from debris and things that will eventually get your pet into trouble. Many people put their dog/runhouse area in spots where there are small shrubs and broken fences. They forget that "Fido" will be running around tied to a chain, which does not have the smarts to avoid the obstacles that are in many people's yards. This becomes a problem when the dog gets tangled up, and can not get back to the house for shelter from the sun or can not reach its water bowl, because it is caught on the fence post, or the laundry pole, that was overlooked when selecting the spot for the doghouse. If the dog must be kept outside -----while you are away at work, getting a facial or maybe eating your bonbons in front of the TV, while watching your favorite "Dope Opera"------you have to again think out the selection of where the dog will be spending its time. The bottom line is that the responsibility of the dog is yours. You took the animal into your home and must, like your children, own up to the responsibility of caring for it properly. While I am on the subject of doghouses, it is a good thing to remember that it is the law that you provide proper shelter for your pet. The fines can be as high as one thousand dollars and the lowest fine is two hundred and fifty dollars, plus court costs on top of that. The animal if deemed fit by the judge, can be removed, and it can be ordered that you are not to have any more animals in your possession. This is probably, as far as the animals concerned, the best thing for them, due to the fact that many people have a hard time taking card of their children, let alone a pet, that also needs a lot of attention. People have to realize that when considering taking on such responsibility, that they must have the proper area to support a large dog, like a Shepherd, or a Lab sized dog. I find many people have dogs that they cannot handle because they don't have the room/area for them. I can not tell you how many calls I go out on in reference to abuse, that, when I get there, I find a dog living on a balcony in a garden apartment. The dog is forced to defecate on the balcony area, it is literally the dogs yard. The sad thing is that the dog has no choice in its living conditions, and it is forced to live its life out in a four by five foot area, in the hot sun and the dead of winder. The question goes through my mind everyday,"Why do these people had a dog if they do not intend to make it a part of the family unit?" A dog or any other pet, in my opinion, should be considered part of the family and should be treated as such. A pet should not be treated as a lawn chair that does not feel and need. A lawn chair does not care if it is placed in the direct sunlight, and it has no water or house to get out of bad weather. Your pet does feel and it does need the same considerations that you would give any other living member of your household. So when people tell me that the reason they do not provide the proper car to their pets is because, "Its just a dog", I reply, "its just a ticket". Buddy Amato is a Hazlet business owner, who operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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