I just don’t get it
Some dog owners must be completely mad. Why else would someone come up with the concept of a canine nursing home?
To me, the concept seems like a complete contradiction. Let’s look at the basics. Why do the vast majority of pet owners get dogs? I’m willing to be proven wrong. but I’d say it is for companionship.
It doesn’t matter whether you are male or female, live on your own, with a partner or have six kids running around the house, a dog brings so much into any household. Loyalty, constant good cheer, protection, a shoulder to cry on, someone to watch television with - in short - a companion.
To be a companion, your dog needs to be there with you. The special bond that people build with their pets builds with every minute they spend together. So what is to be gained by putting your aging pet in a nursing home? You lose your friend, your companion, and gain a big hole in your household in return.
And what does your beloved pooch get? Stuck in a sterile facility with strange dogs and even stranger carers, who despite their best intentions are being paid to be there and will never take your place in their hearts. What sort of reward is this for a life of devotion and loyalty?
I’ve spoken previously about people ‘humanizing’ their pets too much, and this is just another example. I bet if you asked an aging dog whether it would prefer going to a nursing home or staying with its family ‘pack’, it would choose the pack every time. That’s just how dogs think.
Now don’t misunderstand me - I don’t feel the same way about nursing homes for people. Sure, in an ideal world no one would need to live in a nursing home, but unfortunately there are some people who just can’t manage on their own any longer and who don’t have any family to look after them. There is a place for human nursing homes. But I just can’t see the need for the canine version.
It’s not like their owners have all disappeared - life goes on at home while the poor dog mopes on its own in its pen. I just can’t see the benefit. Sure, they get 24-hour medical care, but it’s a basic quality of life issue - what’s the point of giving a dog an extra three years of life if it is going to spend them on its own? And you can buy a lot of excellent home-based care for the $800-a-month fee.
And what about the family left at home - what do they do in the meantime? When do you get a new dog? Straight away? After six months? Do you wait until your current pet passes on? I can see it now - as soon as you get a new dog, the weekly visits to old Rex at the home slowly dwindle to fortnightly, monthly, then only Christmas and birthdays…
I sure hope the canine nursing home idea doesn’t spread here.
I think we have to look at things from the point of the Japanese. From what I understand, here you have people living in not-too-spacious apartments- which means a lot less space for everyone- humans and pets alike.
I’m sure given the cost of living, it would far more common to keep a single pet rather than keep say 3 or 4. This means lonelier dogs already cooped up in very small pens. It’s not for everyone too. I would imagine that it is a service for a fairly high-end clientele.
Not that I disagree with you. All I’m saying is, while nursing homes for dogs are available, I don’t think everyone is going to go for it- even if the idea might appeal very well to these Japanese salarymen or couples who feel that they hardly have time to care for their pets. Rather than abandon their pets, or get them prematurely put to sleep I suppose.
Comment by Susie Lefler — June 27, 2007 @ 9:50 pm
beats what so many people here do. dump their dogs with rescues or shelters when they get older or have a condition such as diabetes or worse yet dump them in the woods somewhere. what chance do they have? majority of adopters want Young, healthy, cute little animals.
Having been in rescue for more than 20 years, believe me i have heard every excuse for abandoning a pet, often after 12-14 years of giving their owner all their love. and these people don;t even offer to donate a Penny for their care. So sad
www.Little Angels Rescue.org
Comment by diane bolvin — June 30, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
Sounds like your confining your life-long loyal pet to solitary confinement for the remainder of their years. Not a great way to pay back all the unconditional love and affection the dog has paid you all their life.
Comment by really astonished — July 3, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
Hi Nick! Great site here. This article has helped me a lot. My husband and I have been thinking of putting our dog in a home but after reading your article and the comments here I decided against it. Our dog Rex has been our pride and joy for 13 years and it just wouldn’t feel right sending him away. It just breaks my heart to see my Rex like that.
Comment by Dani Kyriacos — July 3, 2007 @ 9:52 pm
I don’t really see an advantage to a pet nursing home. If the pet is really that bad off that the owner can no longer care for it at home then it is time to make the tough decision to put the dog to sleep. Although the decision is a very difficult one it is the final act of kindness we can offer to a animal that is terminally ill. If a dog needs additional care while the owner is at work there are good doggie day cares that could help or have a pet sitter come in and check on a dog or cat. Doggie nursing homes only provide a place where a dog would be miserable the final days of his life. I hope this does not catch on, sounds like a bad plan to me.
Comment by Jean Eberly — July 7, 2007 @ 9:52 pm
Hey. Quite an interesting site you have going on here. I think that if you really treat your pet as a member of the household rather than just a regular animal, then I would imagine the concept of a nursing home- while cute in some ways, is not exactly the way to go. I have dogs- four of em of various ages. And I’ve had dogs since I was a kid. The oldest I have right now (Stormie) is thirteen years old- she’s had her share of stays at the vet, and now she has arthritis. Even if we had a nursing home going on, I don’t think I’d even consider chucking Stormie in there. I know she would rather hang out at home with us- the family, the other (younger!) dogs- rather than spend time with a bunch of strangers. And that’s cool- she can stay on with us as long as she is able to.
Comment by Sofia Blackbern — July 10, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
hi nick.. i thnk ur a cutie, dnt you hve like a bigger picture here.? lol.. you guys are doin great work at this site, pet sites are usually boring but not dis one. keep it up..
Comment by Elaine Greene — July 10, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
Thanks Elaine, much appreciated - but I think this one is just fine for now;) …Nick
Comment by Nick Buchan — July 10, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
awww.. thats really nice of you nick.. am sure elaine is blushing right now.. hahahaha…
Comment by Melrose Clement — July 13, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
well….i for one disagree with doggie nursing homes. i mean honestly…a pet gives you 10-15 yrs of love and devotion…and you just stick em in a strange place, with strange people, with strange dogs…and for what? because you think they are going to get quality care there? well they might get quality care…but honestly…look at it from your PETS point of view.
i read in the original article that they were going to bring puppies in to play with the older dogs to make them feel younger. well…if i was an older dog i wouldnt want any young frisky puppies jumping all over MY aching arthritic joints! and when you come home…your older dogs face just LIGHTS UP with joy at seeing you! would you really want to send your best friend someplace else? its just like abanadaning them…in THEIR minds. they arent going to know whats wrong or what they did wrong to end up in this place…because they NEVER get to go back home and live with their family again. i for one thin
k this is the dumbest idea ever that came around. sure there are tons of luxerys out there today…but this i wouldnt count as one of them! -Jesse home of the spoiled raw fed pooch and pampered kitty!
Comment by jesse — July 14, 2007 @ 9:59 pm
ur not just a cutie, ur soo sweeeet… thanks nick. i hope der are more nice people here at petshed like you…
Comment by Elaine Greene — July 16, 2007 @ 10:00 pm
When Patrick adopted me, he had just been rescued from the unfortunate predicament of being left in a kennel type of facility “Till the End of Days”. His beloved lady, herself was admitted to a nursing home. Her family didn’t want him so she arranged for him to be kennel cared until…
My neighbor was her home health attendant and assured her that she would spend the money she had committed, to finding him a home. She didn’t have to look far. I was deeply heartbroken, to the point of mental and physical disability upon the loss of my first dog. He was the most beautiful collie ever to grace the universe. He was stolen from me when he was 8 years old, and I couldn’t bring myself to risk that deep emptiness again. He is truly my “Miracle”. He has not only healed my heart from the most treamendous sorrow, but created truly beautiful joy in my life again. I honestly don’t know how I managed to get through my days before him. I know that she had to be a wonderful woman, the love that he generates is undescribable.
I send the most heartfelt plea to all pet people, please allow your love to be transcended… He may be older, I’m sure he was a beautiful puppy…
Comment by andrea g engel — July 17, 2007 @ 10:00 pm
When you get a dog it’s life long commitment, not a commitment to a nursing home. I don’t believe the “family left at home” is worried about the dog if they would do this. Your dog has bonded with you as much as you have bonded with him….how do you let him go. I have an old dog and I wouldn’t even consider such an option. His golden years should and will be spent with me. Yes, he’s a little hard of hearing, doesn’t have the energy he use to, but neither do I, he still loves his walks although they are not as long as they once were. He’s happy, he eats, I make sure he’s pain free. When of of those three thing changes then I will reevaluate. It’s his quality of life I’m most concerned about. He has been my faithful companion for many years and I know I don’t have a lot of time left with him so I cherish every day and try to keep him as stress free as possible. When the time eventually comes when he’s no longer happy or is in pain I will love him enough to euthanize him and not keep him alive for selfish reasons, although my heart will be broken.
Comment by Mitch — July 20, 2007 @ 10:00 pm
Oh my what will they think of next. The only time I can see that would be a plus, is on a short term basis. I am a senior citizen and have certain limitations myself. If my dog was to maybe suffer a broken limb, or require care that I could not render myself. Sometimes they require care but not necessarily a Vet Hospital. If there was a chance the pets condition may improve, I might consider it on short term only. I certainly would not be out looking for another pet, I would be counting the days until my baby could come home.
When I found myself alone and ready for a companion of the pet variety , several people told me to find an older dog that was already trained. I opted for a puppy , I won’t say it was easy, but the rewards have been great, he is healthy, spry, and in all honesty will probaly out live me, he is such a sweet heart I have a number of friends who would take him in a minute should the need arise. He keeps me young , when I don’t feel l ike walking he insists we go for a short walk anyway, he gets me up when I would rather be down, when I am really out for the count he is a trooper and lies by my side. Nursing Home I sure hope neither of us has to go .
Comment by Erlene J Easterling — August 12, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
I agree with Erlene from Ganado. I think the idea would be a lot more appealing if we saw the nursing homes as “high-end hospitals” instead. Definitely not something to house your old pets til the end of their days, but a place of healing and comfort. In the end, when their conditions improve, I still think that they would very much rather want to be with their human companions than they would a bunch of caregivers and medical personnel.
Comment by JD Fitzer — August 15, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
I believe that pet ownership is long term thing so if you dont see yourself as able to take care of a pet until he/she gets old then dont get one but also we must not judge people who choose to do that because there are circumstances beyond our control, like what ms lefler said, nursing home is the lesser evil if it had to come down to that or euthanasia.
Comment by Tomoya Soto — October 3, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
I think this idea has a lot of merit.
Suppose your pet has an illness or is recovering from surgery and needs more care than you can give it at home,because you work,are physically unable to manage,etc. What is wrong with having a place to leave a beloved pet ,esp with something that might be temporary, either during the day only or 24/7 to get the care they need? Owners could visit any time and perhaps receive better training on the care giving procedures and be able to do them at home. For dying dogs,there are vets who do home hospice care now and again this could be done in a nice facility . Not every dog owner is ready to put their dog down bec it is GOING to die. It is generally done when the dog is in condition where it is cruel for them to live or even when money is an issue. But I know people who have given up their pets or put them down simply bec they couldn’t give them the 24 hour care they needed.
Consider the paraplegic dog that is not in pain and can even ambulate with wheels but needs it’s bladder drained and maybe some physical therapy. Or an epileptic dog that isn’t stable but not so sick that it needs to be at a vet’s all day.
Comment by G R Wallace — October 9, 2007 @ 10:04 pm