Fear Has Gone To The Dogs
Henry here. April 1st, the CanWest News Service announced that Vancouver Mounties have ordered 80 sets of pad paws. Apparently Roanna Sabeh-Azar, the founder of Neo-Paws, which supplies the pads, says that: “9/11 is the reason that cops are outfitting man’s best friend. They realize that our dogs need shoes. The rubble from the terrorist attack injured canine paws, and opened the door for greater acceptance of dog shoes.”
According to the article in the local paper: “The RCMP are not the only ones buying Neo-Paws shoes. Police and security forces in Germany, TEXAS and California have also purchased them.”
The owner makes the point that it is not just emergency issues like police work where dogs need her shoes. She says that city streets are so filthy that dogs are sure to come home with cut feet if they are not protected.
This is certainly a cosmic leap from the days when a dog found his own way around and came home safely. Dog’s on farms were content to walk on grass and cultivated soil and swim in the local pond or river. Before the days where owners had to keep their dogs contained, one old dog we had roomed the city and looked after himself for years. Obviously things have changed. Now dogs have a variety of protective gear from pads, jackets, rain bodysuits and sweaters-protection from perceived danger. I guess that is something else that the 9/11 terrrorists encouraged.