Wednesday, April 15, 2009

On the wall

I was cruising through Facebook stuff and I saw someone, a friend of a friend, more like a Facebook acquaintance (which I really think Facebook should add that as category) post on someone else's Wall about a family member that went something like this.

"Sally having a tumor in her stomach and having an operation and it not working. Sally was such a good girl and didn't deserve this and...." A very sad post.

I do not really know this Facebook acquaintance, nor do I know Sally, but I felt bad for them. I hate reading sad stories about sick kids and I logged out before reading any more of the posts about Sally. Sally's medical condition hung with me the rest of the day and I felt really sad for her and her family.

Later that night I wanted to find out the whole story about Sally and I surfed through Facebook trying to re-trace my steps from one friend to another trying to find Sally's story. After about 30 minutes of searching I found the person that posted about Sally and finally discovered that Sally was the family dog. I felt so much better. Then I got a little ticked that, throughout the day, I wasted so much emotional energy thinking about Sally.

A damn dog.

I know there are a lot of dog people out there who may not agree with my sentiments and who feel that dogs are part of the family and that we should worry and sympathize and empathize with animals. But you see, I am not one of those types of people.

I really think people need to rethink naming their pets the same names as people. Good dog names are like Shadow or Checkers or Moto or Biscuit. If I read a sad story about a name like Mugsy than I would kind of know it was about a pet of some kind and I could go about my day without feeling bad.

Just like when I write a story about Wyatt peeing on the rug or Max eating food off the floor you know that I am talking about humans right?

26 comments:

Melinda said...

My father in law, named their dog, one-o-five. That's how much it cost to get him neutered. Is that a soulless enough sounding dog name?

kimmyk said...

i have more sympathy for animals than i do humans sadly. not children though. but humans in general...yeah my heart breaks for a dog more so than a person.

i'm not sure what that says about me.

Anonymous said...

Good thing Sally was "just a dog", because if I were human Sally, I'd be pretty pissed someone was broadcasting my medical history all over Facebook (although sadly, I'm sure it happens).

So... is Sally ok??

Charity Donovan said...

My dad once named our family pet Deeogee (for the longest time I thought it was named after a sumo wrestler)...WRONG...it was D-O-G! Now there is a heartless name!!!

I do have to agree with Lauren though...if my medical history all over facebook - I'd get a little peeved!

Michelle said...

Once again, I'm with kimmyk. My heart breaks for the the animal issues. I like most animals more than most adults. I think what this says about me is that I know some pretty awful adults and some awesome animals.

Jason Roth said...

Animals...kids...same thing. They both get into things, mess on the floor and wake you up in the middle of the night. I guess I'm trying to say that I like dogs too.

SciFi Dad said...

Wait... if Wyatt and Max are kids, what are your dogs' names?

Stina said...

We named our dogs Creature and Gremmie. I'm pretty sure no one thinks they are the girls.

At least they havent said anything yet. :)

I agree, though. It is just plain weird when you have a friend with a name like Sadie and then you have another friend who has a dog named Sadie. Awkward. lol

Susie said...

This post is offensive to me and my cousin, Mugsy, being treated for a huge growth on his flank.

Bogart said...

Firefighters say it is bad to name your pet with a human name...they have run into burning buildings after "Sally" or "Fred" only to find out the only thing in there is the animal.

Although, I know a lot more puppies named Max than I do kids...what kind of complex are you trying to give him?

Anonymous said...

I guess now would not be a good time to tell you my first dog's name. She used to eat stuff off the floor too.

melissa said...

I love my dog, but would choose my children over her in a heartbeat. However, the dog's name is Jill. I hope/think I'm always clear when writing or talking about jill - that she's a dog. That's the point you really want to make - be CLEAR if you're whining about a dog or your children. It makes a difference.

The Q said...

Yah I personally am sick and tired of people telling me they had a dog named "Susie" or "Suzie" when they were young. Fantastic, I'm sorry your parents had wanted you to be a girl and had to name their dog accordingly. *ahem*

Even if Moto's name was Fred, I don't think anyone would be confused about him being a dog when I tell my stories.

"Fred was hopping around & jumped up and licked my friend's eyeball the other day!"

Anonymous said...

If you have a 4th boy, you should name him Butch. One Two Five.

eclectic said...

I once saw a comparison chart for kids and dogs, listing side-by-side the distinguishing characteristics of both, and they were identical until you got to the last box in the chart where the one for dogs said "More hair" and the one for kids said "Less hair."

To this day, my husband and I will say to each other, "More hair...less hair" and then laugh at our own inside joke when we see kids using poor manners.

Nature Girl said...

I think I'd have worried about it all day too, but then upon finding it was a dog I may have felt much sadder about the whole thing. People these days don't give me much hope..I'm more inclined to feel for the animals sadly enough.
Except for kids...that breaks my heart.

My cat's name is Kenny. I agree with you on the pet names in a way, but then sometimes I find it extremely funny to find a pet with a human name.. I've had goldfish over the years named Billy, Jessie, Wyatt, James, Butch, Bert and Ernie. I also had one named Banjo so there ya go..

Stacie

movin down the road said...

I'm on facebook. And I sit and ponder and wonder what the heck people are saying on their status'. Trying to be cryptic sometimes and artsy...drives me nuts. I've been fooled by the family dog thing before...someone's dog died and I thought it was their kid. Horrid. Glad it was the dog.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Bill, just wanted to let you know that I enjoy reading your blog. I find it very entertaining and I look forrward to your new posts.

Thanks for Easter sunday too !

Chris

Karen (formerly kcinnova) said...

For the record, the cat's name is Cleopatra (although we usually call her Cleo). I'm pretty sure she won't be confused with my kids: MusicMan, Encyclopedia Blue, Humorous-Juniorous, and SnakeMaster -- or with SuperDad.

Back in my college days we had a kitten named Tequila. That could have caused a bit of confusing had facebook been around at the time.

The new facebook format gives out waaaaay too much information. It used to just say _____ wrote on _______'s wall, but now it gives the entire message to EVERYONE.

PS: My w.v. is "Ferrest" -- is that like a forest full of ferrets?

Anonymous said...

Off the Wall was a good album.

sari said...

I had a dog long before my kids, that was my "baby". I didn't carry him around in a purse or anything, but I loved him more than anything.

When I had my kids, I realized, my dog was my dog, my kids were my kids, and my love for animals changed. I still will love, protect and care for them and I think they're wonderful, but my priorities have shifted.

Facebook is funny that way, you never know what you're getting in to. People you vaguely know or people that know people you know are always popping up and it gets confusing.

I heard a woman at the bookstore the other day, talking on the phone (loudly!) about her friend with a brain tumor and all that it involved. That was sure something that didn't need to be broadcast throughout the children's section, that's for sure.

sari said...

Oh, and The Q, eclectic and kcinnova made me laugh.

Fulton Quads said...

You crack me up! I too would have been fooled by readingt that! Our 1st dog was Bandit then we had Beau then Pepper. My hubby had a dog named Dagmar. Never liked that dog!
Love, Cathy & her quads
itsaquadlife.blogspot.com

JP said...

You are like Dwight on the office. "Animals are for food, not for pets"

Toby and Emily said...

Where I work the boss and the top 2 managers are all childless and in their 50's. Their animals are like their kids. Which really irks me because a lot of times I feel like they'd be more sympathetic if I needed an afternoon off to take my dog to the vet than they are if I need to take one of my kids to the doctor/dentist/etc. Animals have their place, but it can be rediculous. For the first 6 months I worked here I thought "Lucy" was a daughter, not a terrier.