Ok, I know this is going to sound a bit different from my usual rants about people blaming the working class for everything, but I SWEAR TO GOD—can we PLEASE put out a nationwide PSA for people to STOP BUYING DOGS THEY CAN’T FUCKING TAKE CARE OF?
In an ideal world, there would be legislation around dog ownership, but when the government can't even fucking work out how to sort out the appalling situation of dog breeders in the UK, what hope does that idea have.
FYI, banning the sale and advertisements of dogs online that aren't through official channels such as the Kennel Club or rescues would be a start.
I don’t care if it’s an XL Bully, a cocker spaniel, or one of those designer mixes you saw on Instagram. I don't care if you think your dog is a perfect little prince. It’s beyond a joke at this point. The fact that there are zero real consequences for letting your untrained, chaotic dog run wild off-leash in public spaces is driving me up the wall.
I don’t care if “Fang” once smiled at a child. Dogs are not magical therapy creatures here to fix your problems. They’re animals with instincts and behaviours that don’t just vanish because you sprinkle good vibes all over them.
Just because a conversation is uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s not necessary. A dog’s breed matters. Having the finances to properly care for your dog matters. Building a lifestyle where you’re not disappearing for hours and leaving your dog alone for too long matters.
What’s happening in the UK right now is maddening.
And fundamentally, it's cruel to dogs. So many dogs are not having their needs met because they were a naive (at best) purchase. It's so fucking unfair to them. I'm so tired of seeing lazy argument after lazy argument surrounding legislation being put in place without talking about the real issue - many people in the UK are buying dogs they can not look after.
I love my dogs more than anything. The thought of living without them genuinely hurts. But I drag my agoraphobic ass out of bed every day to walk them for up to two hours, and I train with them daily because they’d be bored out of their minds otherwise. If I didn’t think I could give them the happy, fulfilling lives they deserve, I wouldn’t have gotten them.
Here’s the truth people don’t want to hear and will find ways to make out this is cruel to say, when it's the reality of looking after a living, breathing animal: owning a dog means you WILL spend THOUSANDS in their lifetime, on their care—vet bills, unexpected illnesses, trainers for trauma or behaviour issues. That’s the reality. If you’re not ready to take that on, then don’t get a dog.
The number of absolute muppets I see picking up high-energy working breeds “because my mate has one” is embarrassing. Working dogs need purpose, activity, and training. They're sentient, living things that should be treated with no less consideration than a human if they are yours.
And don’t even get me started on Cavapoos and Cockapoos. They’re EVERYWHERE—ticking time bombs of health issues. They’re not plushies, they’re intelligent, active animals that require care and attention.
The amount of people who gleefully tell me what 'nutters' their dog is when it's actually being driven up the wall by boredom is infuriating.
Dogs are not accessories or band-aids to your feelings of inadequacies. They’re living beings with needs. If you can’t meet those needs, don’t fucking get one.
