Supernanny Goes to the Dogs
OK, this goes in my “Give Me A Break!” file. The latest reality help-tv, Supernanny-styled show is all about the dogs. “It’s Me or the Dog” nips at the heels of the “Dog Whisperer,” seeking to bring domestication and harmony into chaotic animal owning households. Playing the part of Supernanny Jo Frost, is Victoria Stilwell, who brings her wisdom and training to bear on these unbearable critters.
Allow me a moment to rant.
PETS ARE NOT PEOPLE!
I understand there can be similarities in behavior; I have three young children. I understand emotional attachment; I grew up with dogs and cats and loved every one of them. But, I feel compelled to repeat myself.
PETS ARE NOT PEOPLE!
Pets - even the best pets - are and must be considered as something less than even the worst person. How can we justify doggy day spas and jewel encrusted cat collars while millions suffer from preventable poverty? How can we justify expensive medical procedures and medications for aging animals while millions die for want of basic vaccinations and clean water?
Here’s how: Only by screwing up our priorities. So, one last time.
PETS ARE NOT PEOPLE!
Thanks for listening. We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.
Tags: abc, animals, children, dog-whisperer, its-me-or-the-dog, poverty, supernanny, television, tv, victoria-stilwellRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Parenting
3 opinions for Supernanny Goes to the Dogs
Mary
Sep 29, 2006 at 6:44 pm
re::Pets - even the best pets - are and must be considered as something less than even the worst person…”
au contraire, some pets are quite angelic and better than the best person! they are here to show us how to behave, to accept others unconditionally.
I care about both pets and people. I donate to charities which help humans (starving people and people displaced by disasters). I also volunteer for my local Humane Society and I help rescue pets and place them in loving homes. Pets have no voice; they depend on us to take care of them.
We don’t have to compare pets to people in order to value pets. It would only demean one or the other species. Just their existence is their validation for deserving kindness. same goes for people.
thanks so much for letting me vent!
my other websites (volunteer and nonpay)
are http://ChowRescueDogs.org and
http://adoptachow.wordpress.com
Cory
Sep 29, 2006 at 8:29 pm
Mary,
Thanks for the comment. While I appreciate and understand the sentiment I’ll never cross that line. It has nothing to do with behavior, for humans will always be capable of things worse than any animal. Rather it is a conscious choice to say, humans must be considered greater than animals. This doesn’t mean animals are worthless, but when the two, animals and people, are on opposite sides of a decision, as they occasionally are, this choice must be our guide.
Dermacia
Jan 18, 2007 at 5:16 am
This post, however off-topic it may be, is about Internet freedom. \”Network Neutrality\” — the First Amendment of the Internet — ensures that the public can view the smallest blog just as easily as the largest corporate Web site by preventing Internet companies like AT&T from rigging the playing field for only the highest-paying sites.
But Internet providers like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast are spending millions of dollars lobbying Congress to gut Net Neutrality. If Congress doesn\’t take action now to implement meaningful Net Neutrality provisions, the future of the Internet is at risk.
In the end game, only large companies will afford domains if the communications monopolies have their way with this. This of course isnt new news, but its coming to a head and blogs like this one will be a ghosttown unless all of us figure it our pretty darn quick. I wont post any links, but advise that if you value the internet, and blogs likw this one, that you search Google for \”Network Neutrality\” and educate yourself on this issue as it effects all of us.
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