Over the past couple of decades, dogs have evolved into humans.
Well, at least that’s how we think of them now. Some 97 percent of Americans consider dogs (or other pets) part of their families. A majority of dog owners celebrate canine birthdays, and nearly two-thirds report that they take more photos of their dogs than of family members.
If you’re dating someone with a dog, bring a biscuit: A majority of dog owners say they would consider ending a relationship if the pet disapproved of the partner.
America now has more dogs than children, and households are spending lavishly on pets. Warning that dogs may suffer storm anxiety, one company offers canine noise-canceling headphones for $200. Dog people spend thousands of dollars on oil paintings of Rover, not to mention large sums on dog spas, dog restaurants, dog bakeries and dog fashion.
“When your pooch is wearing clothes from Dog & Co., you know they’re going to be part of the most fashionable pack in town,” one site explains.
Then there are high-end dog foods and sophisticated health services and, if the chemotherapy doesn’t succeed, pet cemeteries. Because people don’t want to be separated from their pets, the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery outside New York City says that it has accommodated more than 800 people who asked to be buried with their pets.
I understand all this. Our last dog, Katie Kuvasz Kristof, was a saint (but not to squirrels), and if Pope Francis is right about dogs going to heaven, Katie is now barking in paradise. There are a few statues of heroic dogs around the world — in Tokyo, in New York City, in Scotland — and in the United States I would love to see more. Perhaps we could replace some statues of Confederate generals with ones of dogs who represented a higher standard of, er, humanity?
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