The Dish by Darcy

My husband is a couch potato and he really doesn’t like dogs very much. He’s getting fat, you should see his belly. Anyway, I have a great plan to get him up and moving. I’m going to buy him a puppy for Christmas! We’ve never had a dog before and I just know that when he sees a cute little puppy he will fall in love with it. We’ll finally have a dog and I’ll have my dear lean and handsome husband back. I found a man who breeds registered dogs with purebred papers. He’s going to bring the puppy to me; we’ll meet in the parking lot of the local discount store. He wouldn’t give me his address. He said, “Hey, with the high cost of gas, I’ll bring the dog to you.” What a nice guy! Don’t you think this will be a wonderful gift? My husband will be so excited!

Last week there was a story about a woman who bought a puppy. She found a “reputable” breeder and agreed to meet him in a discount retail parking lot to exchange the “purebred” pup for $500 and the dog’s papers. She met the man, love at first sight with the puppy, and gave the guy her $500. The puppy died a few days later of Parvovirus. It turns out that the man, and I use the term loosely, ran a puppy mill. He was shut down sometime later. There was a fire at his place and over 200 dogs were burned to death. The woman did not get her $500 back.

It’s not a new story, it happens all the time. Search for the words “puppy mills” on the internet. What you find will make you heartsick and mad. If you want a purebred dog, that’s okay, but don’t buy another puppy without a full inspection of the home, kennel, and lots and lots of references from people who know the breeder. If you do this, you will not be taken advantage of; you will not have to live with the fact that you gave money to a crook who abuses dogs. And you will not have to cry while a sweet little innocent puppy dies in your arms.

I know puppies at the pet shop are cute and it’s hard to turn and walk away, but if you don’t, this will continue to happen over and over again. The only way to stop puppy millers is to stop buying puppies from them and from their distributors. Please don’t shop at stores who sell puppies unless they insist, without you asking, that you go to the breeder and inspect the facilities where your puppy was born. If you never go into the store that sells puppy mill puppies, they will go out of business eventually. And you and the puppies will win.

Now, I’ll answer the question. No, no, no! I don’t think it’s a wonderful idea. A puppy or anything that breathes air should never be a surprise. The person who is getting a puppy should be involved in the decision. They should know which breed of dog might best fit them, their lifestyle, and their household. Dogs are not cheap if you care for them properly. There should be an honest and educated commitment to keep and care for that dog with good food, walks, love, good medical care, walks, training, walks, love, and walks for about 15 years. Did you see the part where there will be a lot of walks? Most couch potatoes aren’t into walking, no matter who else wants to go out for a walk. If you’re really serious about getting your husband off the couch, tell him that he looks hot and sexy in his dancing clothes. You join the dance club and go every Thursday night, laugh like crazy and smile a lot when you twirl back into the house. Let me know how that goes…

Or maybe, after Christmas when the holiday stress is over and your dear couch potato is feeling all soft and loving…tell him how much work a dog will take and how much you really would like to have a dog in your house. When you agree that a dog will be a good addition to your home, go to your local no kill shelter, you will find purebred dogs and mutts. You may not find your dog on the first visit. Be patient. It’s important for you to have the right dog and the right dog to have you. Choose a dog that is perfect for you and take it home and name it. Then kiss your couch potato husband on the forehead and tell him that you will love him as long as he lives, no matter what. Then put a leash on your new dog and go out for a nice long walk. Your beloved couch potato will only have to watch your new friend when you go out dancing on Thursday nights. That’s not too much to ask.