Thanks to everyone who sent in photos of their pets for our 2014 Pet Issue. We squealed with delight at...
The house in Mississippi where I spent the first four weeks of my life was run by dogs. There may have been a person’s name on the mortgage, but there was only one of her and over 80 of us, so who do you think was really calling the shots? I found out later that our person was what is known as an “animal hoarder.” I was not aware of this at the time. I just thought it was a party that had gotten a little out of hand.
Pandemonium broke out when the men with cages arrived. At least a dozen dogs all thought they were pack leader, so there were a lot of conflicting instructions.
Meanwhile, my mother trotted happily toward the men—she was friendly in the extreme, and not terribly bright, which explains why she had borne six litters of puppies.
My father lifted me by the neck and pulled me through the chaos to the kitchen pantry.
Anyone who has been to Midtown can see that in the LGBT community, pets are often surrogate children. From the largest St. Bernard to the tiniest toy poodle, canines enjoy the privilege of being more than human’s best friend — they are family and are as close as can be. But there are some practices humans partake in where the barrier between species creates a misunderstanding for which the dog pays the price.
Some pet owners think that by putting a dog on a chain, they are protecting it from harm by keeping it close by and still giving it the freedom to roam. Kate Trahan of the Atlanta chapter of the Coalition to Unchain Dogs says otherwise.
“Tethering can create bad tendencies that make dogs most prone to depression or aggression,” she says.
Go ahead, spoil your pet — at least a little. Whether you consider your cat or dog a best friend or surrogate child, splurge on them with these products that can be both practical and pampering.
Shelby the Hemp Mouse
$4.99 at Red Bandanna stores and online at www.redbandanna.com
Your kitty may not understand the green-friendly qualities that make this cat toy so special, but you will. Shelby is made from hemp, filled with organic catnip, is completely biodegradable, and even has a face printed with food coloring, so you don’t have to worry if this cute little mouse gets devoured.
Choo Choo
Choo Choo needs a nice dog-knowledgeable lesbian family without small children to adopt him. He is a gorgeous senior chow/Bernese mountain dog mix rescued from a high-kill shelter in Atlanta after he was dropped off by his former owner’s son when his owner became ill. Choo Choo is a big, sweet teddy bear who really loves women. He is terrified of men, so he’s looking for his female-only forever family. His new family will have to be very patient with him because he’s adorable at home, but he is nervous in public. He also needs a backyard to run and play.
First aid at home is no substitute for professional veterinary care. But a few supplies and knowing how to provide first aid in an emergency may help save your pet’s life until you can get to your vet or an after-hours pet emergency center.
We invited GA Voice readers to send in pictures of their beloved pets. Here are some of our favorites.
Buddah
Scout
GA Voice editor Laura Douglas-Brown was featured on AM 1690 | The Voice of the Arts this week in a new bi-weekly segment highlighting upcoming arts and entertainment events and LGBT community news.
In this week's segment, Laura discusses our second annual Pet Issue and how being on the cover has affected our office dog Sophia.