The Birds and the Bees, etc. It is posted here, but it's rated PG: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewshortstory.asp?id=25144
The infamous Chapter 4......
- Thread starter snook
- Start date
Ack, did you really let him sire a bunch of litters?
No offence, but I wasn't THAT amused... It's not funny when you see tons of lab mixes being put down in shelters.
~Tucker
No offence, but I wasn't THAT amused... It's not funny when you see tons of lab mixes being put down in shelters.
~Tucker
No problem, I'm not offended. We had dogs all over when I was growing up; not one made it to a pound. The neighborhood absorbed them all. Puppies everywhere and all well taken care of. I remember going to the park without our dogs on leashes, it was a madhouse. We took in strays all the time and so did everyone else. Shoot, my dad was always bringing dogs home. In fact, I don't even remember a pound in my town.
I never did fix Bunkie, I just watched out for him. Like Aussie Red said, it really wasn't done back then. If your dog sired a litter, you were responsible for them and took care of the critters. That involved keeping them and finding good homes for the others. It never involved killing the pups; that was unheard of where I came from, everyone wanted the pups.
You know, this might make a great chapter in the next book. Back then you didn't have people willy-nilly dumping dogs at pounds at the first pee spot on the rug. Responsibility back then was a strong word and it applied to all that a person did or caused. It was unusual to have a house in my neighborhood that didn't have at least two dogs, usually three or four. We didn't have pure breds either, they were all mutts. I remember having kid dog shows in other kids yards, what a blast those times were.
My dad would always take us around to see the other dogs; when there was a preggie, kids were fighting over the pups a month ahead of time. The only time a dog was put down was when he was hit by a car or just in so much pain it was the right thing to do. The local vet would give us the pills and we'd do it ourselves. That's what responsibility was; you took care of them in life as well as handling their death.
My dad would always take us around to see the other dogs; when there was a preggie, kids were fighting over the pups a month ahead of time. The only time a dog was put down was when he was hit by a car or just in so much pain it was the right thing to do. The local vet would give us the pills and we'd do it ourselves. That's what responsibility was; you took care of them in life as well as handling their death.
Nowadays, there is such a stigma attached to dogs breeding. Handled with responsibility, I do not personally have a problem with a litter. I know that I'll do the best I can with whatever results. I won't be pawning off my responsibilities on others.
I also like pound dogs, I've had a number of great and not so great dogs from a pound. I know that when I leave a pound with a dog, that the dog will not be going back, no matter how much of a PITA it is. The only problem with pound dogs is that you can't take 'em all with you; some are going to have to stay. You can blame that on the people that don't take the responsibility for their dogs.
Just because you have a litter does not make you irresponsible; you accept responsibility for what you caused. You do not have to accept responsibility for others mistakes. They are responsible, not you. If I decide to have a litter of pups in the future, I won't be feeling guilty about it because I know that my dogs will be loved and well cared for.
I also like pound dogs, I've had a number of great and not so great dogs from a pound. I know that when I leave a pound with a dog, that the dog will not be going back, no matter how much of a PITA it is. The only problem with pound dogs is that you can't take 'em all with you; some are going to have to stay. You can blame that on the people that don't take the responsibility for their dogs.
Just because you have a litter does not make you irresponsible; you accept responsibility for what you caused. You do not have to accept responsibility for others mistakes. They are responsible, not you. If I decide to have a litter of pups in the future, I won't be feeling guilty about it because I know that my dogs will be loved and well cared for.
I remember when I got out of the Navy and Bunkie got out of the back yard; that part is in the book under the "Bunkies goes abroad" chapter. It was the first time that I ever went into a pound. The pounds were in good shape, I think that they were fairly new at the time. I remember thinking how sad it was that the dogs were cooped up in there. At this time the population in southern California was just exploding, and I guess that the dog pop was going ballistic too. My dad was horrified everytime he'd go with me. When he found out they were gassing the dogs after a few weeks, he never went with me again. He thought it was appalling. I did too.
If people kept an eye on their critters, they wouldn't have an over population problem. Just like their kids. Of course, I can't say too much as one of my daughters jumped the fence. Whatcha gonna do? I guess I could have gotten her spayed too but the vet might have balked at that and besides I love the little sucker.
If people kept an eye on their critters, they wouldn't have an over population problem. Just like their kids. Of course, I can't say too much as one of my daughters jumped the fence. Whatcha gonna do? I guess I could have gotten her spayed too but the vet might have balked at that and besides I love the little sucker.
You know, it's funny. My son is going to be 22 in a few months. When he was 16 through 19, he never listened to a word I'd say, so I had to thump him on occaision. Not physically, but mentally. When he was 20, he started to change. He'd hang around for dinner and stay at the table talking with me and actually listening. To this day he'll sit there and soak up all my sea stories and use catch phrases on his friends that I come up with or ones that I pass on from my Pop.
I told him that I noticed the change. He said that he finally realized that it was his history as well as mine and that the knowledge and folklore that I was passing on to him was his to take and pass on also. It was very gratifying. He'd bring his friends over and we'd all jaw awhile. I realized that these kids had no sense of their own history or familial legacies.
I told him that I noticed the change. He said that he finally realized that it was his history as well as mine and that the knowledge and folklore that I was passing on to him was his to take and pass on also. It was very gratifying. He'd bring his friends over and we'd all jaw awhile. I realized that these kids had no sense of their own history or familial legacies.
:lol-sign: It is very neat to see that after our children get over all their teenage weirdness and figure it out that we are not the enemy after all how much of our words and stories they did retain. I see my daughter (fruitbat here) passing all the same things on to her children and using the same phrases I used on her as a child. I guess that is a pretty high tribute to a parent and if they have not gotten into trouble and do the right thing you know your time and effort was never wasted. It is very rewarding as a parent.
