The debate over giving your pet marijuana shows our "pet-as-friend" culture has gone too far - Michael's essay
A heated debate is currently underway on the internet, the chosen venue these days for heated debates. The discussion involves medical ethics, universal rights, freedom of choice and pain management.
It's about whether to give your dog or pussy cat, turtle or ferret, marijuana.
The arguments for and against have been batted back and forth for some time now and they are detailed, compelling and wide-ranging.
A central element, for example, has to do with the method of delivery. Do you blow the pot into your pet's ear, or is it better to feed him, her or it some properly dosed morsel of something, always remembering that chocolate is toxic to dogs.
The practice is widespread. According to the ASPCA to the south of us, cases of stoned dogs have increased dramatically since the mid-2000s, especially in those states where marijuana has been legalized.
On the anti side, some vets say there is no evidence that marijuana is an effective treatment for any pet affliction. There is also a real danger of marijuana poisoning.
But the idea of pet pot-heads isn't going away. Some pot shops are selling laced doggie toys to keep Rex floating on high, all day long.
It has been established that pets can suffer depression just like the rest of us, so lighting up one's kitty cat is just another bit of evidence of how much we treasure our pets and how much they mean to us.
Pets are no longer simply pets. They are members of the family. We have anthropomorphized them into near-humans with many of the attendant characteristics: empathy, humour, loyalty, bravery, steadfastness. In the last half dozen years, we have seen the rapid rise of the pet spa and day care industry. They have cute names such as Happy Tails Spa, Tail Spin Dog Spa, Pawfect Spa Ltd.
One dog day care facility, Petopia, offers a "focus on wellness to achieve mental and physical balance." There are small and large pet chiropractors (the animals I mean) and even psychologists who will treat your pet.
Now I have no intention of denigrating family pets or owners.
I loved the dogs in my life, Skippy the wonder Beagle whose life I saved when it was attacked by a German shepherd; I have a forearm scar to show for it; and Daisy, a big, dumb, faithful Old English Sheep dog.
But I think we have taken this pets-as-best-friends thing a Kibbles and Bits too far. Pets are wonderful animals especially for children, but they are not human no matter how much we would like them to be.
The latest trend in pet love is co-burial. New York State has just passed a law that says pets can be buried with their owners. New York Governor Mario Cuomo said in a statement; "Who are we to stand in the way if someone's final wish includes spending eternity with them?"
There could be some problems with the new plan however, with burying certain pets. The head of the New York Turtle and Tortoise Society has pointed out that turtles quite often outlive their owners by decades.
She added wistfully; "If it's a multigenerational family plot, it may be a while before the turtle goes in there."
Click the button above to hear Michael's essay.