Alan & Brenda Leonard

> That's where
> responsible ownership should come in. For us as people to make good
> decisions on their behalf.

Again, Mary, I agree with you. However, I also think it's possible to be a
responsible owner and not use dogfood, which some folks consider a
consumerism thing. I think that's what several people here have been
getting at.

It's not about feeding your animals responsibly and then periodically acting
"irresponsible" by giving them table scraps. It's more about considering
how your dog could be fed differently; using leftover people food, food that
is inedible for people or disagreeable to them as (part of or entirely)
their pet's regular diet.

My point about weight was merely to point out an inconsistency in us humans
-- we're so worried about doing the right thing for our animals and yet we
know the right thing ourselves and don't necessarily do it. I wonder if
dogs, given free access to food, would eventually demonstrate what we
already know children do: self-regulate. They did in the wild, right?

My dog lives with my Mom these days, though, so I guess I can't test this
theory!

brenda

[email protected]

In a message dated 10/1/02 3:39:02 AM, abtleo@... writes:

<< I wonder if
dogs, given free access to food, would eventually demonstrate what we
already know children do: self-regulate. They did in the wild, right?
>>

We leave food down all the time, for the dog and the cats. We keep food in
the bowls. Food stays in the bowls. If one gets empty, someone refills it.


We have one fattish cat (not REAL fat, she had two litters and kept a belly),
and two skinny ones. We have a dog who is NOT fat. They eat out of each
other's bowls sometimes. The cat-feeing station is downstairs in a
bathroom, and the dog's is upstairs in the kitchen.

Sandra

Mary Bianco

>From: Alan & Brenda Leonard <abtleo@...>

<<Again, Mary, I agree with you. However, I also think it's possible to be
a
responsible owner and not use dogfood, which some folks consider a
consumerism thing. I think that's what several people here have been
getting at.

It's not about feeding your animals responsibly and then periodically acting
"irresponsible" by giving them table scraps. It's more about considering
how your dog could be fed differently; using leftover people food, food that
is inedible for people or disagreeable to them as (part of or entirely)
their pet's regular diet.>>


Oop, I totally agree with everything you just said. Didn't want to sound
like I'm against people who feed their dogs differently than I do. I use to
actually cook for my Dobie every day. Then again, I only had one child
too!!! And every now and then, the ones we have now do get a few scraps of
certain things. Not poptart but leftover steak and stuff, just very small
amounts. I find it agrees with them better as they are still puppies and I
still have a hard enough time making sure they get outside when they need
too. <BG>


<<My point about weight was merely to point out an inconsistency in us
humans
-- we're so worried about doing the right thing for our animals and yet we
know the right thing ourselves and don't necessarily do it.>>


Well I have to agree once again. Kind of like Dr.'s smoking. <BG>




<<I wonder if dogs, given free access to food, would eventually demonstrate
what we
already know children do: self-regulate. They did in the wild, right?>>


Well kind of I think. Dogs in the wild once again weren't fat so I guess
they did self regulate, or was it just that they didn't have access to food
all the time? Finding food was a hard thing to do then for them. Just like
wolves now can starve on their own. Also, dogs today are not the dogs from
the wild. There is great speculation that domestic dogs didn't even come
from the wolves and jackals we know of now.

And I'm not quite sure I'm ready to take the step to find out on my own
right now. Maybe when the kids are older and I have more house to myself and
more yard!!!!!

Mary B





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