You wanna know what’s the craziest thing about having dogs and cats as pets?
Us.
Rhode Island law looks at family pets as property, and in any legal matter that is how outcomes concerning pets are decided. But a couple of weeks ago, Rhode Island House Speaker, Joseph Shekarchi came out in protest over a case of a mistake made during a routine medical procedure two years ago that resulted in the death of a Lincoln woman’s dog. “Pets are not objects,” Shekarchi said. “A pet is part of someone’s family, and they should be given the same protection under the law as humans.”
I thought of that as I stood all by myself in the cat food aisle of a large store a few days ago spending real time looking not just at price, but at different types of wet food, ingredient panels, etc. For me, any bag of greasy, salty potato chips will do, yet here I was saying out loud to no one in particular, “He doesn’t like gravy or sauce, only pate (I don’t even eat pate)! But he seems to only care for Sea Captains or Whitefish and Tuna, not turkey or beef. Sometimes he likes chicken flavor, other times he gives me ‘the look,’ eats it in disgust, and later leaves it on the carpet.” And then, what do I do? Clean the carpeting, donate the flavors he eschews to the shelter, and go shopping for something different. So who’s the wackadoo here?
Pet ownership has skyrocketed in the last three decades and so has our spending on them. Forbes Advisor reports that 66% of U.S. households own at least one pet, and that ownership translates to BIG business. In 2024, more than $137 billion dollars was spent on our little darlings, and industry reports expect that figure to grow to $207. billion within five years. Take the case of Annie, a 25-year-old teacher who owns a Mini Goldendoodle named Norman. She budgets a whopping $850. per month for the dog, the biggest expense being $650. for four days of doggie daycare while she’s at work. Wondering about the fifth day? Her mother picks up Norman that day for “grandma time.”
Annie also spent $100. for little Norm’s Christmas presents, and when she was completing ing her college degree, she was, by her own admission, “A stay-at-home puppy mom who took classes online because Norman was anxious.” So once again, I ask, who’s the wackadoo?
More? My friend, Sarah sews pajamas for her whippet, Zubin with outfits for every holiday and every season. When I lived in Central New York, we were invited to our friends’ home for a birthday party when their German Shepherd turned 13. They called it a “Bark Mitzvah,”and they even had the dog wear a yarmulke (Jewish skull cap) with ear holes (this was BEFORE the internet or Amazon, so good on ‘em for finding such an unusual adornment). They even persuaded an actual rabbi to come to the house to deliver a blessing; and in addition to the requisite birthday cake, they had a chopped liver fire hydrant. Really.
So in retrospect, standing in the aisle at the big box store, the supermarket, or the pet boutique I guess I don’t feel so strange talking out loud to myself about the advantages of pate over choice cuts with gravy. Straight outta the Wackadoo Handbook.
WRITER’S NOTE: Two days from now it will be the 8th anniversary of the death of Gloria Russell, that wonderful writer and even better friend who occupied this space before I was asked to take it over. Gloria had spent some 45 years writing for The Sun and could do it all from news to features to local history and recipes. She had a charming ladylike exterior but also a razor-sharp wit that could cut you to the quick; however, she did it so politely that if Gloria ever told you to go to hell, you’d thank her for the trip. I will be visiting today at River Bend, telling her I hope she’s pleased with how I’m filling her space and raising a glass as she so often did to celebrate life. Why don’t you do the same in tribute? It doesn’t matter what’s in the glass so long as your toast is sincere. But if you really want to be authentic to her memory, make it JD.
Rona Mann has been a freelance writer for The Sun for 23 years, including her “In Their Shoes” features. She can be reached at six07co@att.net or 401-539-7762.
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