Uncharitable Thoughts: Pet Pampering

Recently I stumbled on a local website which described itself as a “pet lifestyle boutique”. On sale were luxury items for cats and dogs: collars, jackets, bedding, gourmet food, toys and specialist grooming products. There were lots of bad puns and a few cute photos, but what really got my goat was its “underlying philosophy… to humanise the pet lifestyle”.

I nearly choked on my caffé latte!

There are two issues here. Firstly, pets don’t choose their human custodians – their new “families” choose them. They shouldn’t be taken advantage of by getting trussed up and anthropomorphised into ‘mini-me’ lifestyle trophies like children in a beauty quest.

There are pet parlours offering “day spa” treatments like nail painting ($12), teeth brushing ($19), hand stripping (manual thinning of wiry canine coats, $79) or hydrobath and full groom ($99). You can even take Kitty home in a Swarovski crystal encrusted pet carrier for $395 with matching Swarovski crystal encrusted collar ($45 cats only).

Then there’s the doggy day care centre where a lounge, activity centre and sleepover is all part of the service. According to one, “the best benefit is your dog just gets to be a dog for a day”. Somehow, the photo of a canine-client surrounded by bubbles and children’s play equipment doesn’t seem very dog-for-a-day-like. “Humanise your pet’s lifestyle” is ringing in my ears.

The RSPCA recommends play, exercise, socialisation and grooming as essential to basic pet care: brush long-haired dogs and cats regularly, bathe when necessary, towel or blow-dry and see the vet at least once a year for regular hygiene checks to ears, bums, teeth and nails. No mention of nail painting.

My second issue is to do with prioritisation of our care factor. Yes, we should treat our pets to the very best care we can afford, but shouldn’t we also care that the dog next door is regularly forced by a negligent owner to skip meals? Should we care that 8660 cats were euthanased by the RSPCA in 2008-09 for lack of a home? Should we care that thousands of Asian moon bears are being held captive and milked of their bile for traditional remedies and cosmetics? Come to that, should we care that 1.4 billion men, women and children are living in poverty around the world? While some folks are busy “humanising” their pooch’s “lifestyle”, 7 million Mumbai (human) “ slumdogs ” would probably take the fresh water, two meals a day and a warm bed any time.

Most pets are part of the family and by nature of their loyalty and charm, often the preferred soul mate, exercise companion and most reliable member of the household. But be realistic. Your dog doesn’t care what colour her collar is. She loves to get dirt under her nails and the wind in her hair. She probably loves the rain. And she probably loves spending most of her time with you.

Put her ceramic bowl/pedicure/blow wave money towards Borneo’s homeless orangutans , Korea’s meat market dogs, or Australia’s own maltreated battery hens.

Or give it to a humanitarian cause. Because millions of people are just dying for a “lifestyle.”

Major Bequests to Animal Welfare Organisations

Nancy Bartlett (2007) : $7m to the RSPCA animal hospital, the Lost Dogs’ Home, The Cat Protection Society and the Clarence Towers Donkey Sanctuary

Eileen Corke (2008) : $1.13m to the RSPCA

Denise Hallett (2008): $6m to RSPCA