Starbucks Adoption, Dogsitters and Creamers: How Dogs Are Used in the USA

Until I started a dog, I had no idea how “dog-centered” society in America! That is, she guessed, but did not fully imagine, until Wally appeared in our family. Yes, this is my dog ​​and his name is like a robot that saved the planet. He 10 months, he is from a shelter, a mixture of Labrador with someone else.

Фото: Depositphotos

The attitude of Americans to dogs is already found in the way they are called here and the people with whom they live, Ksenia Turkova writes for VOA. Here they almost never say “master” or “owner.” Here they say “parent” or “parent”. People call me "Wally's mom" all the time. And my son may be asked: “How is your brother doing?” By the way, even on food packages for dogs, the word “parent” has recently begun to be used more and more often.

On the streets of the American capital and in many other cities you can see special stations with bags for cleaning up after the dog, a trash can and hand sanitizer. And they are here at almost every turn: in the city where I live in Maryland, almost 100 meters from each other. In general, it’s simply impossible not to clean up after your dog here - it’s indecent, you’re fined for it, and there are reminders everywhere.

On the subject: How to import a dog in the USA

Фото: Depositphotos

By the way, a dog in America is also a great way for its owner to improve English. Even during a short walk, 5-7 fairly meaningful short conversations are guaranteed! Passers-by will definitely meet the dog and ask how old it is, where it is from, what it likes, what it doesn’t like, and so on.

Those who walk dogs are called "dogwalkers", and those who sit with dogs are called "dogsitters" and often jokingly - "babysitters". That is, again they talk about dogs the same way they talk about people. Hiring a “dogwalker” or “babysitter” is not a cheap pleasure. The walk costs a minimum of $20. In general, almost as much money is spent on dogs here as on children.

On the subject: Almost like a child: having a dog in New York is a huge life-changing responsibility.

There are a lot of cafes and restaurants in Washington and the surrounding area marked “dog friendly” or “friendly to dogs”. On the streets you can see bowls of water for dogs.

Фото: Depositphotos

And the Starbucks cafe even came up with a special treat for such visitors - papuccino. It's just whipped cream in a cup. My Wally already knows that when we go into a cafe and I order an espresso, there is a pappuccino waiting for him!

However, not only cafes and restaurants are “dog friendly” here, but also libraries! All of our Montgomery County, Maryland libraries have a weekly Read to a Dog event. Volunteers bring dogs here, and parents bring children, who for some reason are embarrassed to read aloud and are afraid of making a mistake.

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There is one more difference between the American dog dictionary and the Ukrainian one. If in Ukraine dogs are “adopted”, and those in the shelter are “taken”, “picked up”, then in the USA puppies are “adopted”, accepted into the family. That is, the same verb is used as for the adoption of children. And there are many organizations that deal with dog adoption, in particular, they organize special events where anyone can come, meet dogs and choose their one and only.

In general, a dog in America is your relative, and not some kind of “four-legged friend” or “pet”. Dogs literally bathe in love here. Just like in the pools on the day they close at the end of summer, when not owners without dogs, but dogs without owners can finally splash in the water. That is, without parents.

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