DOGS ARE PEOPLE TOO?

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Today I would probably like to take it to a lighter side, due to some interesting yet eccentric and strange story I heard this morning. A colleague of mine came in today, all smiles and grinning, as she was shared a story about a birthday party they had hosted last week. First of all I would like to make it clear that I have never been a person with prejudicial attitudes toward the white population, but some of their stories intrigue me. Her story got us all hooked to it, and we were mechanically collocating with the flow, up until she mentioned that the party was for her mothers’ five year old Staffordshire bull terrier!


Needless to say I was left puzzled, with more than a giggle in my heart, and a pulsating pain in my chest. I thought it was just funny at first up until, after thinking over and over about it, I thought, how do you host a party for a dog?


I do understand we all have pets and animals at home that we love so dearly we can do anything for them. Those pets that matter more than your next door neighbour or friend; pets that you would rather take with you for a ride in your car, and don’t even want to pick up anyone along the way. We love them, and we cannot do anything without them, but to host a party every year, for five consecutive years, for a dog, and set up balloons and even go through the trouble of wrapping the ‘steak’ and place five candles on it is just way overboard!


I never thought I would see anyone’s face beam with excitement as she described, with the help of images on the computer, the way her dog unwrapped her birthday presents, which were neatly wrapped in fine wrap paper and special ribbon to go with it. For me, it just seemed too much, to think that people in South Africa still have time to host a party for a dog, and go to the extent of inviting close friends to the party, and decorating the room and the dogs kennel. Wow!!


I would guess it is really a special dog to receive all this attention. Needless to say I hardly remember the last time I had such a colourful party hosted for me, and receive gifts that would be accompanied by a tasteful cake with coloured candles gleaming on it.


I guess the world of extremes still survives, where millions of people worry about where they are going to get the next thing that will be of sustenance till the following morning, when some still think of the perfect present they will get their pet dog this year.
I will simply leave it at that, and let the world be the judge…. 




By Bhekimpilo Dungeni