Have you noticed that in the last decade or so dogs have been elevated to offspring status?  Their status in the family is on par with the children or have even taken the place of them.  Why is this happening in our Western Society?

Richard Nixon

In a nutshell, thousands of years ago, wolf and man reached an agreement by where man gave scraps to the wolves and in turn they protected them and became domesticated.  Since they were after the same prey, they started to hunt together.  Eventually, man manipulated canines to create breeds that could help them in all manner of jobs such as, herding sheep, killing rodents, guarding property and of course specialized hunting.  But through all that, a dog was still a dog and wasn’t on equal footing with man.

So what has changed?  As our culture became more affluent and the need for certain dog functions diminished, they became our companions, our best friend.   However, in the last decades they have become a replacement for children and in some cases, a spouse.  I’m not judging because I’m certainly one of those people that was madly in love with my dog.  She could comfort me in times of sorrow like nothing else could.

Have we become so disillusioned with humans that we’ve turned to the one creature that never judges and loves us no matter what?  Has the moral fabric of our society been so disappointing that we look at those innocent faces and yearn for a better time when people were more polite, more trusting and cared for their neighbor more?

Me with Kayla and Thanda - Rhodisian Ridgebacks

Society used to rely on their communities for spiritual and emotional sustenance.   Now, we don’t even know our neighbors half the time or are communicating with people through a computer instead of having close, intimate relationships.  Have we created an emotional hole that only a pet can fill?

Think about the events that have happened in our lifetime about our role models and leaders from all walks of life.  If you’re old enough to remember, I could put out one line or a name and you’ll be able to know how we’ve been disappointed time and time again:

“I am not a crook”

“I did not have sexual relations with that woman”

Jimmy Swaggert

James Baker and Tammy Faye

Tiger Woods

Michael Jackson

John Edwards having an affair and child while his wife is suffering from cancer

Mark Sanford hiking in the “Appalachians” – he was really in Argentina with his “soul mate”

Chappaquiddick,

and the list goes on and on.

I know people throughout the ages have been corrupt and have disillusioned their followers, but with the internet and television, their corruption is inescapable and we must face the fact that our leaders, hero’s and role models are, in fact, just human and therefore fallible.  The veil has been lifted and there’s nowhere to hide.

Are people losing hope in the human race because of a few wayward individuals?  Has this caused people to turned to the one thing that symbolizes innocence and goodness?

Maybe it’s time to take a good hard look at our society and start doing the right thing and connecting with people face to face in an honest, authentic way.  Of course, with our faithful best friend at our side.

If you have a different take on this subject, I’d love to hear it!