No matter what their purpose, dogs need our respect, too

Your dog is missing. It’s a little chilly outside, and the sun has almost set. Do you worry? Me, I would be eaten up with worry, pounding the pavement and combing the woods.

This past Saturday evening, just as we were preparing to go out for dinner, as my mother-in-law was in town, we saw a dog roaming around our yard. The dog had some sort of device around its neck that looked like a homing device, complete with a flashing light and 6-foot long antenna. He was a sweet dog, but somewhat timid and very thin. Then I saw it — the all too familiar collar with a brass ID tag on
it — this little fella was a hunting dog.

As my husband called the number on the tag, my mother-in-law and I pet the dog and talked to him. We wanted so badly to give him a dish of food, but we decided against it. He would’ve surely returned for more in the future.

The owner showed up, with the dog’s cage in the bed of the truck. Now, don’t get me wrong, I know that not everyone is a complete dog nut like I am. Sometimes I go too far in the “spoilage” of our dog,
Kendra, who always has inside-the-car or truck privileges. But, with zero emotion, the owner pulled the dog by the collar, picked him up and loaded him into the cage.

I could bite my tongue no longer. “Has he been missing for a while? Because he’s awfully thin,” I said, while my husband nudged me to hush. “Nah, they’re like that,” he said, “you can’t get them to eat.”

The hair stood up on the back of my neck. Yeah, I guess it is tough getting them to eat if you don’t feed them enough or often, or if they’re stressed out to the point of a lost appetite.

Now, before you go barraging me with “dislike mail” (I don’t use the word “hate”), please understand that again, not everyone is as much a bleeding heart as I when it comes to animals. But there is a line between utilizing a dog for work, while treating it well, and utilizing a dog for work and treating it as a non-living creature, a tool.

My dad knew many a hunter who took such great care of their dogs, and I was proud to know these folks and their dogs.

Not unlike hunting dogs, there are many other dogs that are used as workers, such as service dogs (seeing eye dogs, dogs that help those with disabilities) and police dogs.

These dogs are cared for with the utmost respect and the only paycheck they expect, which is proper food and shelter.

Dogs can be fabulous “hunter helpers,” but I implore you, Culpeper and points beyond, please take care of these animals. They look to you for food, shelter, and a little bit of attention.

You are their only means of survival. When they come up missing, please look for them, and thank the person or persons who were kind enough to call and let you know they found them.

Bring them in from the cold and give them thanks by the way of feeding them and keeping them warm.

Smith’s column runs every Friday.