Man's best friend fills empty nest of baby boomers

Pet's 'unconditional love' answers need

Ruth Freeman says she wanted a pet -- something to care for -- after her three sons, now in their 20s, left the nest.

Although she and her husband Joe had previously decided against getting a dog, it wasn't long before she found herself searching for one at a rescue centre near her home in Newmarket, north of Toronto.

"He makes me smile every time I look at him," says Freeman, of her nearly one-year-old yellow Lab, Dutch.

Freeman, who is about to turn 50 and teaches at a Roman Catholic school in nearby Aurora, is one of the many baby boomers who find coming home to empty houses is just not for them.

When she pushes open the door after a busy day of teaching, Dutch is always there to greet her.

He's "always happy to see me, always wagging his tail. It's kind of unconditional love," which is something she really needs to unwind.

Dutch fills a big hole in the Freemans' lives, once fully occupied by activities involving their sons. Besides, he's a good excuse for some exercise, something that Freeman's doctor recommended to help control her diabetes.

Bob Ottenbrite, who owns Lietash Canine Academy, a dog training and sports centre in Mount Uniacke, N.S., says about 30 per cent of his customers are boomers whose kids have grown up and moved away.

In the past "they used to take the kids to play hockey on Saturday mornings," he says. Now, they take the dogs to the centre where he offers sports such as flyball, which is a type of relay race, and an obstacle course.

At the Wag Doggin' It Cafe/Pet Shop in Ottawa, most of the customers who drop by with their four-legged pals are boomers, says Joan Garvey, part owner of the recently opened eatery.

Garvey and her business partner, Lyne Burton, both avid dog lovers and boomers, got the cafe going because "it was just a place we wanted to come to," said Garvey.

"You go by Starbucks and the dogs are peeking in the window," she said mournfully. "It seems so sad."

But at her cafe "it's the funniest thing, people come from all walks of life -- we have gays and lesbians, black and poor, rich and famous, and spoiled dogs," said Garvey. "We're all bonded by this love of our pets."

Adding a dog to the family brings responsibilities, says Michael O'Sullivan, Toronto-based chief executive officer of the Humane Society of Canada.

"Everybody's got to make sure they have enough time" to look after it, he said. "With a dog you're looking at walking him or her at least three times a day." Then there's house-breaking them, a task that should take about two or three weeks, he said.

The next step is a series of vaccinations.

"It can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500 a year to take care of your dog," including food and treats, said O'Sullivan.

Dogs should also receive some training, accompanied by their owners. It's a good way to reduce the incidence of dog bites, he said.

When the grandchildren visit, to reduce the chances of being bitten, "make sure the kids ... bring some kind of a treat. So right away he associates you less with being a threat to his territory -- some dogs get territorial -- and more as a source of food."

Freeman estimates she has spent at least $1,000 on veterinarian bills since recently getting Dutch.

"We spent big bucks to find out that he has a bone chip in one of his elbow joints ... surgery isn't very successful there."

She saves some money on grooming by taking him to a do-it-yourself place that supplies all the equipment she needs to wash, comb and trim his hair. It costs $30, as opposed to $45-$50 at a regular groomer.

Freeman also spends about $60 a month for food, and has spent $320 for obedience classes. She's made no attempt, however, to tally up the cost of damage he's done to the house.

"He likes to chew on socks, shoes and cushions," she said, laughing.

At the cafe, to keep the dogs from getting bored, Garvey has toys galore for them to play with while their owners enjoy their coffee.

The most popular toy, she says, is a rubber chicken called Henrietta. When bitten, it squawks -- sure to turn on any dog.

As for the main activity at the cafe, she says, "we're chilling with our pets."

Reference: www.hamiltonspectator.com

Return to the index...

This article has been viewed 1026 times.