The cushion plotters and the pooch index
May 5th 2010 03:26
Life has been complicated here of late, and I am blaming certain “fans” of this blog who suggested that Scratchy, convalescing with a broken leg, would enjoy the comforts of a heated dog cushion.
“Yes!” barked Scratchy.
“I demand one too!” barked Daisy. “In two-toned sepia shades, stripes on one side and closely-spaced polka dots on …”
“Shut up!” barked Scratchy.
The intentions of these blog fans, whom we shall identify only by their first (okay, only) names of Heidi and Clyde, may have been caring and honourable, but my simple refusal to acquiesce has led to Daisy sulking and Scratchy giving me long, cold stares which suggest I am a manic plotter of mass exterminations of sentient beings.
All of which leads to the news, published in local media today, that Australians spend an average A$2,452 a year on “pet luxuries”, or more than $25,000 over the life of a pet.
The figure, which comes from latest annual Family Pooch Index published by Bankwest, includes all food, but it is still astonishing. The second-biggest item, veterinary outlays, came in at an average $450 a year.
No doubt the dogs will claim it is as statistical support for their demands, but I’m not giving in on the heated cushions.
images: wooforlando.com, thesun.co.uk, images.businessweek.com, www.zimbio.com
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Comment by heidiclyde
I must point out that it was Bronwyn who made the original suggestion of the heated dog mats, we simply concurred with the good sense of her idea. Someone as intelligent and charming as Bronwyn is (her invitation for me come and live with her surely proves those attributes) is bound to come up with good ideas.
As far as the costs of keeping a dog I believe it should be pointed out that your average Greyhound is relatively cheap to keep, hounds like Daisy and I with few health issues and dainty appetites, who only expect a new toy every month or so I mean.
Obviously I don't include disasters like Clyde and Scratchy in this assessment. Clyde continues to build his reputation as the Greyhound with the longest record at the vets, his last corn is (in his language) "givin' him no end uv grief" and the Missus has been on the phone to America to get some expensive boots designed especially for Greyhounds with corns for him. It sounds rather extreme doesn't it but Chris our vet says he can't loose any more toes and if the corns continue to cause him so much pain he might not be able to cope. He started talking about "quality of life". He was really upset that Clyde had gone and got another of the horrid things, they aren't like Hooman corns, they grow a hard spike into the pad and Clyde's are on his main toes on his front feet so they are really painful. Did you know they occur almost exclusively in the feet of Greyhounds and Whippets? it's to do with the lack of fat in our feet compared to other dogs and the way we run.
Clyde has been a bit depressed over all of this (so has the Missus but she's placing a lot of hope in the special boots) so he's not been up to writing to Scratchy, he thought his corns were nothing compared to a broken leg so it was pretty frightening to have Chris the vet so serious about the new one. I'm hoping like the Missus that the boots give us all a miracle and let the old fool fool around like he did after his toes were removed.
Anyway, what I was meant to be saying before I digressed is that although certain Greyhounds use up all and more of their two and a half thousand Dollars on Vet bills most of us don't cost anything like that to keep.
Tail wags,
Heidi.
Comment by Chris Champion
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I got a good giggle out of a couple of your comments, especially labelling Ckyde and Scratchy a couple of disasters. Is it only coincidence that they are both boys? I think not.
Thanks for your common sense comments. Please give Clyde a hug from all of us. There's more than a touch of bad luck to go with the disaster, and we're all thinking of him.
PS If the boots work, do loet us know.