I was shelving the books I wrote about in part I of my latest dog pile book reviews and I came upon a cornered page in the very back of my copy of My Dog Tulip by JR Ackerley.  The quote says everything about what is wrong with the way dogs were so often kept 60 years ago, and too often are kept now:

Stupidly loved, stupidly hated, acquired without thought, reared and ruled without understanding, passed on or “put to sleep” without care…

The quote goes on, talking about what dogs do or do not suffer and how we do or do not console them. In rereading the entire appendix, I was reminded of something I read about Ackerley and his relationship with Queenie, the Tulip of the book title. He never found true love and companionship. Although homosexual acts were illegal for the duration of his life, he never wanted for sexual companionship. He was friends with many of the famous gay men of his time. But he never found that kind of quiet companionship that comes of a good marriage forged over years until he had Queenie. He talks about wanting the dog to have a sexual experience, as if it should be as natural a part of a dog’s life as it is of a human’s. He writes wistfully, wanting to understand why people would disdain, deny, view with disgust the notion of dogs copulating (he refers to it sweetly: “Has your dog ever been married?”) It’s as if he is projecting his lack of understanding why anyone would deny any creature their chance at love.

Indeed, I wonder, why would anyone.

But I still think you should spay and neuter your pets.