Dog Noses Know Best: The Tale of a Vegetarian Dog

Sep 212014

The heart of nature mandates that one must carry certain crosses through the course of one’s life. The canine that resides in a vegetarian household is not relieved of this burden. Like an ox attached to its yolk, this unfortunate animal agonizingly submits to its cruel fate, which life has unsympathetically dished out. This is not an easy mark to toe. Canines in their instinctual state are designed to exist as carnivorous creatures.

Most domesticated dogs recondition themselves to a regimented diet, consisting primarily of processed dog food. Although there are a variety of brands, flavors and styles available on the market, through an extension of personal preference or a humanly imposed decision, dogs usually become loyal connoisseurs of one particular version.

I remember one of my dogs from youth would eat nothing, but a brand of dog food called Gaines-Burgers. It came in a box with individually wrapped servings, shaped like a burger, which we then would crumble up in a bowl. Initially, it came only in a plain flavor. The Lord above only knows what plain means in dog food terms. Later, Gaines-Burgers were available in a cheese flavor. This dog would turn its nose up at any other dog food that was present in its bowl. To my knowledge, Gaines-Burgers are not available for sale anymore, at least not on the open market.

Putting processed dog food aside, I believe it is fair to surmise that dogs if given the opportunity to design their own personalized meal plan would opt for a steady intake of beef, poultry and fish. Since it is likely that the majority of household dogs are not afforded this luxury, it becomes necessary for them to generate sympathy or wit, to solicit meal tickets that ultimately satisfy their natural yearnings.

As the course of history has unfolded, dogs have been forced to grow increasingly accustomed to cohabiting with their human counterparts. Accordingly, canines have gradually and naively surrendered their call of the wild tendencies as they developed adaptation mechanisms, which are more amicable to a domesticated way of life. This phenomenon is particularly evident in the manner in which dogs have made adjustments in how they take their meals.

Generally, domestic dogs have learned to rely upon the human hand for their daily bread. Thus, their ability to successfully hunt has been removed as a prerequisite for the sustained survival of the species. However, household dogs are aware that the edibles upon the table their house mates are usually far superior in taste to that which appears in their bowl on the floor. Therefore, dogs devise strategies to gain access to the fleshy entrees, which they salivate over. These tactics can include; remaining on alert for gravitating morsels, aggressively snatching tidbits from the table or from an unsuspecting victim and ultimately panhandling when all other efforts have been exhausted.

The dog that maintains a residence where a strict vegetarian diet is rigorously followed lives in a perpetual state of confusion and sadness. The heart of this sorrowful creature has been taught the table contains delectable cuisines, but it knows not that its nose is the benefactor of the truth. Pathetically, the canine faithfully applies its variety of ploys in an attempt to secure a taste of pure divinity. However, if any of these tactics are successful, the dog immediately realizes it has been deceived by its own heart. For when it discovers fruit, vegetables, tofu or even felafel is all that is available, the disappointed tail wager remorsefully drops its head and buries its faithful nose into the depths of a bowl filled with mass produced dog food.

With each day that follows, this pitiful creature is forced to relive its initial disappointment. Eventually, the fire in its eyes begins to dim as it succumbs to the realization that contrary to the will of its ancestors, that for all intents and purposes it has become a vegetarian dog. Perhaps, with some altered ingredients in the processed dog food, a true vegan dog will be next.

Originally published on Associated Content / Yahoo Contributor Network (YCN) on March 25, 2009

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