SO YOU WANT A DOG LIKE THE ONE IN THE MOVIES

 There is a strange phenomenon which occurs whenever an animal is used in a popular movie, TV show or even commercial. The appearance of these animals- usually dogs- causes a huge demand for that breed. It happened when “101 Dalmations” came out. “Eddie,” the dog on “Frasier,” caused Jack Russell terriers to become popular. The Brussels griffon in “As Good as it Gets” and the Chihuahua in the taco restaurant commercials are expected to have the same effect on demand for these two breeds. For many people, it becomes very important that they own one of these dogs, either because the dog stole scenes, was unusual in appearance or was portrayed as a strong personality. I suppose that this is the same reason that young girls are yearning after Leonardo DiCaprio, or fan clubs get started for actors in movies and TV. And, like these actors, these dogs are not what people see on the screen. Mr. DiCaprio would not be so admired if he were not handsome. I personally think that Patrick Stewart, who plays Capt. Picard on “Star Trek,” is very sexy. But I realize that part of his appeal is his acting skill in a very strong role. Mr. Stewart is not Captain Picard. And “Eddie” is an actor, as are the Dalmations in the movie. The Taco dog may as well be a cartoon, for all the computer morphing done to his countenance.

When a breed becomes popular, dogs suffer. People who buy dogs for status (“I want one of those cute Eddie dogs) are not usually committed pet owners. Once the fad passes and they realize that they are the owners of a demanding and incredibly active dog, they cannot get rid of the dog fast enough. This explains the dramatic rise in Dalmations in pounds all over the country in the past year or two, after the movie left theaters. Thousands of owners left their Dalmations at shelters, went home and slept well while their dogs were killed for them.

A similar scenario is played out every year at this time, one which gets very little attention. Every Easter, folks buy their young children Easter bunnies and chicks. Some buy other little pets, some even buy puppies or kittens. Whatever they buy, it is a baby; Easter means little baby animals. Most of these bunnies and chicks don’t make it to summertime, because they begin to grow and become less cute. They can’t help growing up, but people can certainly help acting irresponsibly. A pet is a lifetime commitment, not a fleeting pleasure. Rabbits can live to see more than ten Easters, so don’t buy one if you don’t want one that long.

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