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News & ArtsWednesday, November 25, 2009
Animals / Chow Thanksgiving for Your Dog, or: The Decline of Western Civilization Cont.
Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 11:43 AM
- sea kay / Stranger Flickr
- Either he's eating regular dog food, or he's not picky about the seven courses touching each other.
West Seattle Dawg—providing "daycare [pawprint] bakery [pawprint] ice cream" for the dogs of our fair city—is offering a seven-course Thanksgiving meal for your dog.
It costs $20.
There are regular, vegan, and grain-free/dairy-free options.
West Seattle Dawg says, "Dogs love the holidays as much as their humans"—how this has been ascertained is left unaddressed—but that "Many people don't realize the table scraps they give their pets will cause all sorts of health issues including indigestion." (My parents' dog seems to thrive on select scraps of people food, actually—that time that he ate an entire batch of cupcakes with the wrappers was totally his fault.)
Your dog's $20 dinner includes:
Doggie Casserole
Pumpkin Scone
Spice Bread
Pumpkin Pupcake
Carrot Cake
Cheese and Bacon Muffin
Cookies
Or you could stick with the kibble and get your own damn Thanksgiving dinner. Or, you know, help out some human beings.
3
I've got nothing against loving your dog. I love dogs.
When you start to feel like your dog is entitled to extravagance that humans aren't even really entitled to, though, you got problems with your priorities.
When you start to feel like your dog is entitled to extravagance that humans aren't even really entitled to, though, you got problems with your priorities.
4
The thing is, I can't even begin to imagine being rich enough to afford this. There are so many interesting things in the world to spend money on -- books and art, whatever you're interested in -- besides your dog. Not to mention the obvious fact that you're surrounded by people who don't get enough food at all, let alone magic vegan food like this. I just don't get it. To me, it sounds like cocaine, which they used to say is God's way of telling you you make too much money.
5
@4,
Maybe you exclusively hang out with interesting people, Fnarf, but sadly I know from experience that there are many people out there who don't see a better way to spend their money. Their pets are their only hobby.
Maybe you exclusively hang out with interesting people, Fnarf, but sadly I know from experience that there are many people out there who don't see a better way to spend their money. Their pets are their only hobby.
6
A lot of kids in the Congo tomorrow will be feasting on casava and dying of malaria.
Just so you could feed your dog.
Think about that.
Just so you could feed your dog.
Think about that.
8
@6 Please draw the connection between this and that. As stupid as this is its not like people went over to Africa, took their food and gave them malaria for 20 bucks.
You want blame for the problems in Africa look to aid groups that focus only on saving kids, forgetting that they will grow up to need food and jobs, and environmental groups that stopped the green revolution before it reached Africa.
You want blame for the problems in Africa look to aid groups that focus only on saving kids, forgetting that they will grow up to need food and jobs, and environmental groups that stopped the green revolution before it reached Africa.
9
Reason 5,9023 why I'm anxiously waiting for an asteroid to smash the human race into dust.
Time to give some other animal a shot at the title. My vote is for raccoons. But they probably won't survive the cosmic holocaust.
Time to give some other animal a shot at the title. My vote is for raccoons. But they probably won't survive the cosmic holocaust.
10
Ridiculous. I love my dog but there are way better ways to spend the money. Take the 20 bucks, spend 1 dollar on a dog treat(that will make your dog equally as happy as a 20 dollar meal) and spend the other 19 bucks buying food to bring to a local food bank.
11
@7 for the win.
Even if some of my vegan friends have their dogs on more vegan-friendly diets. Which is ... um ... not sure what to think about that.
Even if some of my vegan friends have their dogs on more vegan-friendly diets. Which is ... um ... not sure what to think about that.
12
@ 6 Oh, please. Children eating Cassava and dying of malaria have nothing to do with Seattleites buying fancy meals for their dogs.
Everyone take a deep breath, clear your head and realize that fancy dog meals priced at $20 or $200 are not the cause of global woes and poverty and are not emblematic of a society's decline. Pets have been kept in Western civilizations for hundreds of years and while not all pet owners have lavished luxuries on said pets (royalty and aristocracy, titled or no, being a notable exception) they have almost always been been doted upon and cherished.
Is this stupid? Maybe. Could the pet owners donate the $20 to a food bank that serves humans, sure (but how do you know they don't buy fancy dog meals and support human charities?).
Get over it and let lonely shut-ins and shy people have their fancy dog meals.
Everyone take a deep breath, clear your head and realize that fancy dog meals priced at $20 or $200 are not the cause of global woes and poverty and are not emblematic of a society's decline. Pets have been kept in Western civilizations for hundreds of years and while not all pet owners have lavished luxuries on said pets (royalty and aristocracy, titled or no, being a notable exception) they have almost always been been doted upon and cherished.
Is this stupid? Maybe. Could the pet owners donate the $20 to a food bank that serves humans, sure (but how do you know they don't buy fancy dog meals and support human charities?).
Get over it and let lonely shut-ins and shy people have their fancy dog meals.
13
I find it rather ridiculous to pay such amount of money when a dog will be just as thrilled of getting a bowl of Dog food and a fun walk where they get to sniff as much dog ass as they can. Dogs do not look at price tags nor consider the decoration of the place where they eat, that's one of the many reasons I love my dog.
14
I enjoy how any extravagance for a pet no matter how small is met with horror and incredulity by Stranger staff. The point being missed here is that events like this are an excuse for pet-friendly people to meet. No one is clamoring for a 7-course meal for their dog, but it might be a good way to meet members of the opposite sex who aren't dog-hating hipster asshats. It's a fun reason to get out of the house; it's social. That said, I feel bad for any dog (or cat) forced into a vegan diet to appease their hippie owner.
@4, you "can't even begin to imagine being rich enough to afford" a $20 treat for your dog? Might you not be overstating your case here slightly? It's $20, not some life-changing sum. I don't understand why some people buy $5 coffee drinks every morning on their way to work, but I don't have any difficulty imagining that those people exist.
@4, you "can't even begin to imagine being rich enough to afford" a $20 treat for your dog? Might you not be overstating your case here slightly? It's $20, not some life-changing sum. I don't understand why some people buy $5 coffee drinks every morning on their way to work, but I don't have any difficulty imagining that those people exist.
17
@14: I don't think it's a social people-and-their-dogs dinner--I believe it's a to-go doggie-bag thing.
18
@14 - $20 is as much as some civil servants in the Congo make in a whole year.
So, yeah, it IS life changing. Just not to you.
So, yeah, it IS life changing. Just not to you.
19
This year, I am thankful that no one is going to spoil or overfeed their children. Or themselves.
20
@10: he has a pair of corgis?!? Just when I thought it was impossible for him to get more loveable...
22
Just to be contrary, $20 actually seems like a reasonable price for what you're getting here. Given that I've seen dog bakeries that sell "doggie scones" or whatever for $2-3 a piece. I may think a $3 doggie scone is stupid, but, if you're into that sort of thing, $20 for all that stuff seems like a reasonable deal.
Of course, I wouldn't ever buy a $20 7-course meal for my dogs. For Thanksgiving, they are being left home alone for 10 hours.
Of course, I wouldn't ever buy a $20 7-course meal for my dogs. For Thanksgiving, they are being left home alone for 10 hours.
23
Giving people access to medical care improves their countries' economies. Leaving those people to suffer and ultimately die causes more economic woes than saving them. Malthus was full of shit.
You want blame for the problems in Africa look to aid groups that focus only on saving kids, forgetting that they will grow up to need food and jobs
Giving people access to medical care improves their countries' economies. Leaving those people to suffer and ultimately die causes more economic woes than saving them. Malthus was full of shit.
24
@23, Did I say let them die?
When you only provide care for kids you create a large population of people with no prospects or support. External influence creates an unsustainable society when it is only targeted at the young. I think we should continue to help kids, but equally help to ensure that they have support as adults. Things like microcredit, responsible outsourcing, and family planning are big parts of this, but they are not nearly as sexy a cause as "Save the Children!" so they don't get nearly the funding.
When you only provide care for kids you create a large population of people with no prospects or support. External influence creates an unsustainable society when it is only targeted at the young. I think we should continue to help kids, but equally help to ensure that they have support as adults. Things like microcredit, responsible outsourcing, and family planning are big parts of this, but they are not nearly as sexy a cause as "Save the Children!" so they don't get nearly the funding.
26
While not my thing. I wouldn't buy this specialty meal for my dog, but to those who are bitching and whining about this, I have a question. How much did you blow on drinks the last time you went out? How much did you blow seeing a movie? See anyone can play this game and it gets rather tedious. And to repeat SeattlePerson above "it's not either/or."
27
I love my dogs, and they certainly eat well 365 days a year, but I agree that $20 for a Thanksgiving dinner is just silly. If you've got the $20, why not give it to your local humane society or animal rescue organization, so dogs who have no home and no family to care for them can eat.
28
I love my dog more than I like most people but yes, this is dumb. Do you know what foods dogs like best? Whatever you're eating. My dog will go into a down and stare up at me and drool for a lima bean (I am not making that up). Why? Because's he's getting something from the table and that, for him, rocks.
If you really want to give your dog indigestion, give him a whole big meal of an unusual food - like, say, this idiotic dog thankgiving dinner. Or you could just let him lick one of the plates after dinner for a cheap thrill.
(Though I notice they include pumpkin, which has lots of fiber and will probably help deal with the diarrhea the rest of the meal is probably going to give the pup.)
And no, dog meals aren't causing world hunger. The $20 comes from disposable income that would likely be spent on some other luxury.
If you really want to give your dog indigestion, give him a whole big meal of an unusual food - like, say, this idiotic dog thankgiving dinner. Or you could just let him lick one of the plates after dinner for a cheap thrill.
(Though I notice they include pumpkin, which has lots of fiber and will probably help deal with the diarrhea the rest of the meal is probably going to give the pup.)
And no, dog meals aren't causing world hunger. The $20 comes from disposable income that would likely be spent on some other luxury.
29
@18, white liberal guilt much? I should feel bad every time I buy a book or DVD (or a once-a-year treat for my dog) because a civil servant in the Congo makes $20 a year? You must be lots of fun at parties.
30
@28 - Ha, the upset stomach aspect was my first thought about this. If my dog ate this meal, I would be regretting it for at least a couple of days.
31
I'm with you 22...when did $20 become a lot of money? And for what you are paying, you are getting a lot...would I buy it for my dogs?Probably not..they will get plenty of human food on Thanksgiving.
32
@ 14 and @ 12: Nicely said.
Bethany, even if it is a "to-go doggie-bag thing" your post had the link to the place which had links to other dog related sites - which was helpful (even if that was unintended consequence of the posting).
Like Texan @ 28 noted - abrupt changes in diet can cause lots of tummy upset - so a 'feast' like the one being offered could cause more "indigestion" than if the dog were given some "table scraps" that weren't too rich or toxic for dogs.
Other than that, a dog-centric event for the holidays wouldn't be such a bad idea.
Like others, I really feel for the cats (who are obligate carnivores - they need some meat in their diets to maintain optimal health) who are kept on a strictly vegan diet (dogs can tolerate it better but it probably isn't the best for most dogs).
Bethany, even if it is a "to-go doggie-bag thing" your post had the link to the place which had links to other dog related sites - which was helpful (even if that was unintended consequence of the posting).
Like Texan @ 28 noted - abrupt changes in diet can cause lots of tummy upset - so a 'feast' like the one being offered could cause more "indigestion" than if the dog were given some "table scraps" that weren't too rich or toxic for dogs.
Other than that, a dog-centric event for the holidays wouldn't be such a bad idea.
Like others, I really feel for the cats (who are obligate carnivores - they need some meat in their diets to maintain optimal health) who are kept on a strictly vegan diet (dogs can tolerate it better but it probably isn't the best for most dogs).
33
If I have a pet, I spoil it with stupid shit. If I have a kid, I spoil it with stupid shit. What's the diff?
34
@ 33,
I have a feeling the people who don't have kids to spoil with stupid shit are going to be spoiling their dogs with this thanksgiving feast. I don't think it's such a bad thing. People blow 20 bucks on silly crap all the time (drinks at the bar, DVDs, books, etc). If they want to blow it on this instead, it's their business.
p.s. I'm sure somebody who would buy their dog a special meal on a holiday is also the same person who donates generously to their local animal shelter. They obviously love dogs.
I have a feeling the people who don't have kids to spoil with stupid shit are going to be spoiling their dogs with this thanksgiving feast. I don't think it's such a bad thing. People blow 20 bucks on silly crap all the time (drinks at the bar, DVDs, books, etc). If they want to blow it on this instead, it's their business.
p.s. I'm sure somebody who would buy their dog a special meal on a holiday is also the same person who donates generously to their local animal shelter. They obviously love dogs.
36
Fools and their money should be separated in exactly this sort of fashion. It's the only way that any of that money at the top ever actually trickles down. I hope every rich person in Seattle buys an artisan-crafted water bowl for their pet this Christmas, and the artisans making those bowls use it to buy beer or pay rent or whatever. Spend away, moneybags! Nothing's too good for Fifi.
40
I'm assuming the people who would go out and purchase this doggie feast are not feeding their dogs IAMS dry dog food the rest of the year. They are probably the same people fixing their dogs special, home-made meals or purchasing similar food for their dogs to eat every other day.
I adore my dogs, and on occasion (when I have the money) I will splurge on something for their happiness. That being said, it is generally a toy I know they will love or a bag of doggie cookies they will enjoy. I am not the type to buy them a whole special meal because that isn't how they eat the rest of the year. (they do occasionally get to lick our plates when we're done or get some fat scraps thrown in their bowl if they've been good - but that's a pretty rare deal)
Dogs are simple creatures. Like the gal said above, they want what you're eating and will do whatever trick they know to entice you to give it to them (my beagle can be especially hard to resist sometimes). Any vet or "dog expert" will tell you it is most healthy for them to just eat the dry dog food you can purchase at nearly any store and stick with that. They are perfectly content entertaining themselves with free or inexpensive stuff. Your socks, their tails, sticks, boxes. They're like small children. I had a lab who shunned his pricey dog bed for my laundry basket (his favorite was when it was full of clothes, clean or dirty). They don't need it, but if you have the money and feel the desire to pamper your pet, who am I to tell you not to?
And now for a little bit of a tangent:
And to the poster who complained about $20 being a lot of money in the Congo, please realize that the standards of living in Seattle or Minneapolis are VASTLY different than in the impoverished villages of Africa. People should realize and use accurate conversions before comparing an amount someone is paid in a "sweat shop" in Africa to what someone is paid here in America. Who are we to say $2 a day isn't enough to live on unless we know what the cost of living is there? And by forcing those "sweat shops" to close because of western demand for higher wages over in Africa, people are losing their jobs and primary sources of income for their families. Is that better? Perhaps these same "protesters" should worry more about encouraging businesses to create more jobs in impoverished areas than paying an American "fair wage" in those places.
More...
I adore my dogs, and on occasion (when I have the money) I will splurge on something for their happiness. That being said, it is generally a toy I know they will love or a bag of doggie cookies they will enjoy. I am not the type to buy them a whole special meal because that isn't how they eat the rest of the year. (they do occasionally get to lick our plates when we're done or get some fat scraps thrown in their bowl if they've been good - but that's a pretty rare deal)
Dogs are simple creatures. Like the gal said above, they want what you're eating and will do whatever trick they know to entice you to give it to them (my beagle can be especially hard to resist sometimes). Any vet or "dog expert" will tell you it is most healthy for them to just eat the dry dog food you can purchase at nearly any store and stick with that. They are perfectly content entertaining themselves with free or inexpensive stuff. Your socks, their tails, sticks, boxes. They're like small children. I had a lab who shunned his pricey dog bed for my laundry basket (his favorite was when it was full of clothes, clean or dirty). They don't need it, but if you have the money and feel the desire to pamper your pet, who am I to tell you not to?
And now for a little bit of a tangent:
And to the poster who complained about $20 being a lot of money in the Congo, please realize that the standards of living in Seattle or Minneapolis are VASTLY different than in the impoverished villages of Africa. People should realize and use accurate conversions before comparing an amount someone is paid in a "sweat shop" in Africa to what someone is paid here in America. Who are we to say $2 a day isn't enough to live on unless we know what the cost of living is there? And by forcing those "sweat shops" to close because of western demand for higher wages over in Africa, people are losing their jobs and primary sources of income for their families. Is that better? Perhaps these same "protesters" should worry more about encouraging businesses to create more jobs in impoverished areas than paying an American "fair wage" in those places.
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