Sunday, January 26, 2014

There Are Worst Things I Could Be

The other day I was told that my reputation within the fandom that I take part in is that of an "elitist out-of-touch snob dog-fancier bitch".  I'm still not sure if that is all connected.  I'm an introvert and introverts commonly often get called snobs, bitches, elitist, and more.  I'm not sure if other introverts get the whole 'out-of-touch' bit, but maybe they do.  Maybe I shall ask the introvert group I'm a part of later. 

I do know that if it all does run together in saying that I'm all those things regarding dogs....I'm ok with that.  I actually laugh at it because it shows my acquaintances' disconnection with the entire picture of animal ownership.  The disconnection which happens when you live in your own little bubble, living with your own animals, maybe talking to your friends who also own animals, but have no understanding or care beyond that, thinking that everything is all right with the world and nothing will ever, ever come between you and your animals. 

And how truly terrible that disconnection is.  How dangerous it is to assume that everything is just dandy. 

Yes, when it comes to dogs, you can call me a snob, an elitist.  You can call me out-of-touch.  Yet I'm the one who people come to when there's a problem or a question, though they often write me off because it's not what they want to hear.  Or because I'm honest and I'll say 'I can't tell anything from pictures on your phone, especially when all I can see is the tummy'.  I'm not afraid to say 'I don't know'.

Am I really those things?

Snob, elitist?  Because I have an intense interest in purebred dogs and genetics?  Because I champion the responsible breeder over rescues and shelters who already have thousands upon thousands of champions of their own?  Because I worry about breeds vanishing, living history, great dogs, wonderful breeds?  Because I try to educate that you shouldn't go to just 'anyone' and why?  Because I think that first time owners should go to a responsible breeder, if not for a puppy, but a retiree so they can get experience and learn and make connections at obedience class so they have someone to call at 3am if their rescue has broken it's crate and is now eating the door?  Fine.  Call me those things.

Out-of-touch?  Because I know with a certainty that animal rights activists want complete separation of humans from any and all animals?  Because I'm aware of how vague laws can hurt great breeders?  Because I actually see what's going on?  Or is it because I don't simplify everything in my life and just waltz along without a care?  Is it because I watch your dog and how it acts and what it's doing and I'm thinking, processing, figuring the animal out?  Out-of-touch is probably the one thing out of the entire sentence that I'm most certainly not.  But I can't help but to find it funny. 

So I laugh.  I laugh because I am misunderstood again.  Written off once more. 

Yet inside I ache because I want them to understand where I'm coming from and why.  I want to find a way to encourage them to jump into the fight that animal owners are facing even if they don't realize that they do have a dog (or cat, or bird, or fish, etc) in the fight.  I want these people and people like them to see what I see.  To wonder, to explore, to love the animal world enough to keep us from being cut off by those who would rather see it all destroyed.