Valentine’s Day is almost here, and nothing tells your dog you love him or her like spending lots of money at the pet store.
In case you didn’t pick up on that, I’m being facetious.
Let’s be real, here. Your dog could care less that it’s Valentine’s Day.
So, no, I’m not going to publish any of the canned blog posts sent to me by people trying to promote their businesses- ESPECIALLY not those cheesy ones designed to make lonely people feel not so lonely because they have their faithful companion as a valentine. He’s a dog. OK? People who place unhealthy expectations on their relationships with animals (think that creepy dude dating a porpoise) need professional help. Or to be shot. Though it’s still debatable whether I can legally do that here in Florida.
I’m not going to buy special heart-shaped cookies made just for Rumpy. Now if you want to send me some free, I’ll gladly post photos. But no gimme, no gettee. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles around this blog.
Oh, and the pet health crap? I mean, really? Even on Valentines Day you have to try to make me feel bad because I’m not using YOUR product to make my pet the healthiest she can be? Please go away. Far, far away.
And yes, I did notice all those emails were promoting products and services for dogs. No one seems to give a rat’s ass that I have more cats than dogs. No companies send me free litter, or cat trees to promote, or even treats. Though Tidy Cats DID send me an email telling me they weren’t going to honor my refund for True Nature (a public promotion they recently ran). Note to self: don’t say anything bad about a company until AFTER they send the refund.
.
The Valentines expectations just keep getting more and more unrealistic. It used to be a time for men to get laid by buying flowers or lingerie. Then it grew to women expecting to have flowers sent to them at work to show off to others.
Later it became necessary to have gifts delivered to kids at school. It’s gotten so bad that some schools have banned the practice.
And now we have to buy for our dogs. I wonder if next we’ll have to send the gifts to them at doggie daycare?
True confessions: I’ve never had an intimate partner woo me on Valentines. No flowers, though I did once send some to myself just to piss off my co-workers. No fancy nights out on the town. When I was younger, it hurt. A lot.
Today it just pisses me off that we STILL allow advertisers to treat us like shit so they can make a buck. And to now drag dogs into the mix makes me livid.
So to you who stuck out this blog post this far, I say this: Buy your companion animals gifts if you want to, but don’t do it out of guilt, or because you’ve been manipulated by a consortium of advertisers who could care less about you OR your dog.
No, gifts to companion animals should be given in the spirit the day brings, so give them out of love- and give them whenever.
Dogpaddling Through Life 
Love this!
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Thanks, Roy!
I have absolutely no plans for valentines day and I couldn’t be happier!
I’ll be working and that’s OK with me.
In our house we don’t do “holiday” presents of any sort, not even for Christmas. Instead they get fresh grass plants whenever I see them, homemade catnip pillows, tasty food and litter boxes that are cleaned at least twice a day. What more can they ask for. Looks to me like they are happy. As for reviews, I have four cats! I can do a review on many things. I know which cat food isn’t good for them and which ones they find tasty (which isn’t always the healthiest!). My last purchase (it’s typically useless to buy anything for cats because they prefer what they find on your desk or in your closet) was a cat tree and it is being used. I couldn’t be happier about that. The one before that had shelves so small that 3 of the cats couldn’t fit they butts on it comfortably! I took it back. Happy Valentine’s Day to Rumpy and the whole crew!
And a happy Valentines Day to you too!
I love my Millie (big dog) and Ello (tiny cat) so much – but they get SPOILED every other day of the year…V-day is not special.
Rumpy will get a cookie. But then, Rumpy gets a cookie every day. LOL
I grew up without valentines day, so it never was a special day for me. we will sit together and we are happy that we have each other…like every day :o)
I like your cat(s) and your Rumpy Dog!
Boomer
Linda ❤⊱彡
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/sherlock-boomer
Thanks Boomer! We like you too!
For Valentine’s Day, I plan to accidently drop on the floor a clean towel for tug-of-war, instead of the dirty one by the door from wiping their feet. And for a Vizsla, that’s special.
Of course, sometimes a beagle gets in the way and accidentally gets mugged:
http://livingtheseasons.com/2013/02/28/mom-assaulted-him/
Nancy
Well said! Millie concurs: ‘Give me treats EVERY day, not just on Valentine’s!’
And of course you oblige!
I’m with yah girl. Valentines is a “Hallmark” holiday. There is something called “ESD” I like to celebrate and show my husband, my doggy and kitties how much I love them…”Every Single Day.”
Rumpy LOVES that holiday! LOL
🙂 “Best day ever!” (EVERYDAY!)
Valentine’s Schmalentines!
Agreed!
My dogs get treats and presents whenever the feel like giving them and I don’t need the media to pressure me into buying their products for my dogs just because it’s a ‘special’ day that we humans make a big thing of. It’s just another day, like any other.
Great post!
Thanks Barb! Yeah, they’re already getting us to spend more and more on our companion animals. When will it end?
When we stop pandering to the pressure to buy their products.
The Scotties get everything out of love. As far as they are concerned, every day is a holiday.
❤ ❤ ❤ one from each of us. wag wag wag
Hear hear!
My problem is when friends or relatives give Jack a toy. Jack is very possessive about his toys as it is, and Maureen and I have to be very careful to give him safe toys that he can’t destroy. But we also have to make it clear that the toy is a gift and that we – not unlike the Lord – giveth and we can taketh away. When he gets a toy from a family member, he’s even more prone to think it’s his.
Yes, Valentines Day can’t be a day off from training. That could be confusing for Jack.
Hear, Hear. And love to you Rumpy, Jen, June Buggie and All. Sincere Love and Admiration.
terrific…gee, I always agree with you…so you must be brilliant! <3!!
Finally…someone who actually gets it and tells it real! I’m with you…this shameless commercialism is ridiculous. The only person who should get spa days is me, not the dog. Every day is a spa day for Sam! And don’t get me started on over pampered, entitled kids these days. Ugh.