Dog Love

CEBU, Philippines - I was walking down 34th street in Manhattan when I saw a dog wearing—and I’m not lying—shoes. A terrier was wearing four tiny black sneakers. The owner was holding a pink leash connected to the dog.

After my initial incredulity, I reflected that dog shoes wouldn’t be totally illogical, for hygienic reasons. This was my obsessive compulsive personality talking. After all, humans don’t walk around barefoot and bring germs in the house with their feet; why should dogs?

It reminded me of a recent incident with friends of ours. They were preparing to move to Singapore, and stayed with us for a night before their flight. They brought their dog with them, which was moving to Singapore with them. They had spent around $2,500 to move the dog (more than a hundred thousand pesos), which included plane fare, medical exams, etc. Though I liked the dog, I cringed when he hopped on my couch, which my husband and I keep clean. We hate having even crumbs fall on it. And here was the dog, tracking nasty bacteria all over our unsoiled couch. I immediately pictured him earlier sniffing on duck excrement while we were walking around the lake close to our apartment. That would have been an acceptable situation for a dog to don footwear.

Upon hearing my argument, my husband was not amused.

We both shared the opinion that animals should never wear clothes. What did they need clothes for? Their fur is their best protection. Besides, it might be my imagination, but every time I see dogs wearing clothes, they look embarrassed. However we all know clothing is no longer utilized for function, but for fashion. Humans use clothes for aesthetic purposes, and they impose the same practice on their dogs.

Here in the U.S., it is common to see dogs wearing shirts, hats and frilly skirts. On Halloween they even wear costumes. Having grown up in the Philippines, this is ludicrous to me. We Filipinos love dogs, but we don’t clothe them. We don’t kiss them, give them our last names, or let them sleep in our beds. Most of the time they’re not even allowed in the house. Our pet dogs sleep outside and eat leftover food.

Friends of ours feed their dog only rotisserie chicken and rice. They claim it’s the only food that agrees with his stomach. In the Philippines, rotisserie chicken is something that’s served at a fiesta.

It’s clear to me that in the U.S., dog love is out of control. Americans love their dogs so much that they celebrate their birthdays, let them sleep on their beds, kiss them on the mouth, etc. When their dogs die, they mourn for weeks. Or get a tattoo: Jennifer Aniston recently had her dog’s name tattooed on the inner side of her foot after he passed away.

I can’t deny that people get attached to dogs. When I left to work in the U.S. my parents started collecting pet dogs as if they were vases. At one point they were taking care of a dozen dogs. My friend, who is studying to become a veterinarian, said it’s transference of affection. The “Empty Nest Syndrome”: parents whose children have grown up and left the house transfer their affection to others, like a pet. It’s the same in the U.S.: dogs may be used as substitutes for affection and companionship. Mickey Rourke thanked his dogs, for example, when he accepted his Golden Globe award for Best Actor in 2009. Someone I know wants to have kids but has yet been unable to conceive. So her office is full of pictures of her and her dog.

It is this devotion to dogs that have made dog products and services lucrative businesses in the U.S., endorsed by influential celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Paris Hilton. There are dog clothes and accessories, grooming, even spas. On 58th street in Manhattan I saw a sign: Pet massage. It elicited the same level of astonishment as the dog shoes. In the supermarket there is a section devoted to dog toys. (Dog toys? They’re dogs. Give them an old shoe—they’ll be happy). In the freezer section there is dog ice cream. On the internet one can order gourmet dog food, or organic food like their health-conscious owners.

I have a co-worker who is also Filipino. She enjoys telling stories to our American co-workers about life back home in the Philippines. How we bathe using the tabo (kabo, in Bisaya), how we eat rice with every meal, what the weather is like (summer, year-round). She also shared the fact that some Pinoys eat dog meat. But she made it sound like it’s usual practice for us, something everyone does when bored or wanting of food. “We’re out of beef? Well, let me go strangle Blackie real quick…” So I had to intervene and stress the fact that killing dogs for their meat is taboo. I had to dash the impression she gave that this practice is supposed to be normal.

In the U.S., PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) would crucify anyone who even neglected to care for their dogs.

I’m a dog lover, by the way. My family always had pet dogs while I was growing up. And what’s not to love? Pet dogs are wonderful playmates. They’re soft and cuddly and think you’re the best. You might look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and they’ll still think you’re cute. I look forward to having a pet dog again. But I can’t adopt the American way of dog love. 

My friend in the Philippines, a dog lover, has sometimes shown her disdain for the househelp. She once commented, “the dogs are smarter than them.” I didn’t like her very much at that moment. This is my main problem with dog love: when a person values dogs more than he or she values other human beings. I’m all for dog love, but let’s not go overboard. Let’s not look down on other humans while feeding our dogs ice cream. Let’s refrain from putting clothes on our dogs.

They’ll probably thank us for that.