If it were only just a few bad apples…

I guess it would be different if there were only a few cases.  But, there are reportedly 8 million dogs is Britain (yep, 8 million–that’s almost two times the human population of Atlanta where I live.)  With what probably seems like a dog on every corner, the sheer volume alone would increase the chances of getting attacked.

With hospital admissions and court cases involving dangerous dogs on the rise, incidents went from 35 in 2002-2003 to 719 in 2008-2009, according to the Metropolitan Police.  The number of dog-fighting complaints has also soared tenfold since 2004 with 284 reported cases in 2008.  Egad!!

Help is on the way!

What are our four-footed friends and their parents across the pond thinking?!  I’m not sure, but I’m glad that there’s proposed legislation to curtail this behavior and hold the owners responsible.  If it passes, micro chips and pet insurance would be mandatory.  At least this way, authorities could easily identify the owners of vicious dogs, and the insurance would ensure that victims got necessary treatment and compensation for their injuries.

The new legislation was proposed, and postal workers reportedly rejoiced–apparently they’re the butt of a lot of attacks in Britain, with approximately 6,000 incidents last year alone.

However, some don’t feel that it’s the right approach and would essentially create a “dog tax” because of the increased expense of insurance, which dangerous dog breeders could easily avoid getting.  According to Ryan O’Meara, chief editor of K9 Magazine, “There is nothing in this that is preventative.  If you put a chip in a dangerous dog, the bite will hurt you just as much.”  So true, Ryan, so true…

What happens next?

Sometime in the next millenium (or maybe the next minute, no one knows for sure), life as we know it will cease, according to this article and lots of Evangelical Christians.  It’s called the Rapture, a time when Jesus returns to the earth to carry all his believers to heaven with him.  It’s their eternal reward.  But what about the rest of us?  It seems to me that there will be plenty of people–and possibly some pets–who will be left behind.  That’s where this company comes in.

Who are these people?

Since they’re a group of pre-screened, moral, non-criminal atheists, the folks at Eternally Earth-Bound Pets say that they’ll be around when that happens.  Wow!  Talk about a business opportunity!  All those pets needing to be rescued, and there they will be to help them.  For a mere $115 (plus $15 for each additional pet) they will retrieve your pets and care for them while you’re eternally “away.”  Could this be a pet lover’s paradise—the ultimate in pet care that gives them the best of both worlds?  Or, are they simply “praying” on pet owner’s just to make a few kibbles and bits?

Who knows!  But, one thing’s for sure.  It’s best to take care of your pet while you’re alive and with them.  Don’t wait until after you’re gone.  Shower us with love, spend time with us and get us a great cat or dog toy every now and then.  We’ll thank you for it…or should I say, we’ll be eternally grateful.

My suggestion: If you think you’ll find yourself in this predicament, it’s probably just as easy to will your pet to your unbelieving friend.   Your pet has someone you already know to care for it after you’re gone and you didn’t have to shell out $115 bucks!