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Throw the Baby Out with the water


Don't throw that baby out with the water. Family whether planned or surprise is still family. Do you bathe a smelly baby or get a new one? Keep Tony from climbing by chaining him? When Billy gains 50 pounds, do you stop feeding him? Sara spills water so leave her thirsty? Linda’s cold, leave her outside? 105 — don’t provide Chris shade? If Karen misbehaves, return her to her birthplace? You’re busy, forgot dinner, it’s OK to wait until morning?

Imagine living chained in heat and snow, isolated, alone, no contact unless you’re remembered at mealtime, denied exercise, companionship, craving any contact positive or negative. Is it abuse to leave Linda fending alone in the desert? Give Sara to strangers that may harm her? Hope someone adopts Tony before he is killed? Why have them if you weren’t prepared for a life commitment — not your life, theirs? Their lives are short, after all!

When you take a puppy from the pack, it bonds with your family; your family becomes its pack. If the pack abuses, isolates or neglects the pup, it changes and cannot thrive. Like children, they depend on you for everything. Changing your mind doesn’t change its bond or commitment. They depended on you more than you know.

Think someone will save them? Chances are they won’t. Shelters sleep multiple dogs in cages meant for one. Imagine, brought home, then abandoned by its pack, people that didn’t mean to commit or bred by people who don’t care what happens to pups after they’re gone, as long as they’re gone. Why care if they’re neglected, isolated, froze, unloved, starved or used as targets by someone killing for fun claiming it helps them hunt food. Pets, like children, aren’t disposable.

Nothing is born mean, but human neglect and mistreatment can make them that way. Commit for life or don’t commit.


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Book: Reflection on the Important Things