“Our pets are part of our family. And we are partners. It’s a special relationship.”
I never thought about it until reading this story. But outside of those civilizations that developed with a strong hunting dog, wardog, or herding dog tradition, dogs are not valued as anything other than status or in some cases a food source.
In these predominantly European and in some cases, mountain cultures, dogs who shared your bed, your fire, your food, and risks daily, did indeed become partners and even more, a member of the family.
And over millennium, this relationship has become hard-coded not only into the dogs, but also into the men and thier families with whom they live.
Like I said I’ve never given this a great deal of thought. But on initial review, it seems to hold true.
I also know from first-hand experience, at least in the white middle-class culture, dogs become substitute children for women. I don’t know if that’s also the case, having no experience with it, in black urban cultures.
The other mission that dogs have gained throughout history sprung from that first mission, security.
Sir, you neglected to mention that the ghetto dog is oftentimes merely an extension of the ego and a tool to intimidate others.