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By Morgan Wendt Across the United States, more than 50 million homes choose dogs as their companion animals, according to a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association. In addition to providing exercise and stimulation, taking the dog for a walk can help decrease destructive behaviors, help with weight loss, and improve socialization. Furthermore, walking can help caretakers feel closer to their animals and can improve the physical and mental health of humans. Taking the dog for a walk, however, may not be as straightforward as it seems. Retractable leashes are an option often promoted in pet stores as easy to use and providing the most freedom to your dog, but can actually cause harm to both animals and humans, and should be banned from use.
So, what exactly is a retractable leash, and how is it different from a regular one? A standard leash is exactly what you think of when you imagine a dog leash. It’s a woven cord that’s a few inches wide and 6-12 feet long, usually with a metal clasp on one end to attach to a collar, and a loop at the other end that serves as a handle for the caretaker to control the leash. A retractable leash is usually a thin cord, just a few centimeters in diameter, that is attached to a reeling mechanism. This mechanism automatically retracts when there is no tension on it, hence the name “retractable leash”. These mechanisms also come with two buttons on the handle, one to lock the mechanism so the leash no longer retracts and the pet can stay on the current length of leash, and another button to release the lock. These leashes can vary in length, but can be anywhere from 12 to 30 feet. By Reed Seifert Let’s start with a quick narrative to set the scene- the story of Rudy and Louie. As a child I was desperate to bring a furry companion into my life, so at the tender age of 10 I lobbied my parents relentlessly to get a dog. I used all the plays in the play book and pulled every trick from my sleeve, and eventually they caved. I was thrilled to have gotten my way, however my mother and father agreed on one condition- the dog was to be kept in a kennel in the garage. Unfazed by this stipulation we bought our first dog, a Yellow Lab bred specifically for hunting and named him Rudy. My life was complete with the new addition to the family, or so I thought. When Rudy became too large to keep in the house my parents enacted their one condition, and bought a 9’ x 6’ kennel for the garage.
Five years later my younger sister began to press our parents for her own dog. She must have taken notes on my tactics, because she too was successful. Her breed of choice was a cute little white Cavachon with big black eyes and a round face. The fur ball named Louie quickly earned the nickname “Lou-cifer” for his constant carpet-pooping, carpet-peeing, and (worst of all) sock-eating tendencies. Despite all the mayhem and destruction Louie brought to our house, he received the keys to the castle. And so I thought, “Why was Rudy locked in a 50 Square foot kennel eating kibble, while Louie lived in our 2,000 Square foot house eating home cooked dog food?” This is the question prompted my research into how socially constructed roles for dogs have led to such a radical disparity in living conditions. By Emma Fendrick Tail docking is a total or partial amputation of a dog’s tail. It is illegal in areas such as England and Australia, however in the United States the legality of tail docking becomes unclear. This procedure is legal for veterinarians to perform if they have the proper license to do so. However, in many cases dog breeders are taking it upon themselves to do the procedure themselves. I will be discussing the tail docking procedure, risk factors of docking a dog’s tail and also why as a society we dock dogs’ tails. Tail docking is animal abuse and should stop being a common practice.
By Mariah Krzanowski Ever wonder what non-human animals are used for currently for in the workforce or what kind of jobs they do on a day-to-day basis? Well that’s what I’m here for, I am here to tell you what non-human animals do today to contribute in law enforcement and military; also how they have made an impact in this area.
By Sam Orinstien When most people seek out a companion animal such as a cat or dog, the first thought in their mind isn’t based on rescuing a nonhuman animal; but maybe it should be taken into consideration. Animal shelters in the United States take in an average of 324,000 animals a year from previous owners for a variety of reasons. The reasons for giving up an animal to a shelter can range from financial/housing issues or death of an owner to behavioral issues. There are many people who don’t have the patience or the means to take care of a pet and the result is millions of animals in our shelters. It seems wrong to buy animals from a breeder trying to make a business off of these living beings instead of saving one of the many who desperately need a human companion.
By: Chelsea Zblewski Fox hunting is the act of tracking and killing foxes, typically red foxes. It is a common tradition in many countries, such as, Canada, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. This type of hunting is prominent in the upper-class community. The foxes are hunted as a form of pest control, population control, and as tradition.
By Amanda Glowa Purebred dogs often win best in show, but typically come last in the comparison of health and well-being. Twenty-nine percent of people purchase their dogs from breeders (ASPCA), often not realizing the severe genetic diseases that can accompany that choice. Are we sacrificing health for looks when it comes to our dogs? In this article, we discuss what breeding is, why it’s done, and how it affects the health of our beloved canine companions.
by Kallie Wolseth What is a puppy mill? According to Kailey A. Burger, “’Puppy mill’ is a term used to describe a commercial dog breeding facility that profits from selling puppies on a large scale. Those operating puppy mills frequently prioritize profitability at the expense of their animals’ wellbeing. As a result, breeders, seeking the most affordable means of production possible, create deplorable and unsafe living conditions for their animals.” So essentially, puppy mills operate with profit as their primary goals and pay little regards to the well being of their animals, thus creating an unsafe living situation.
These are the companion animals of students in the Spring 2017 Animals and Society Cohort. Meet the nonhuman animals who we share our lives with.
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This is a website about nonhuman animals, written by human animals taking a Society and Animals class at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Archives
April 2024
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