The American family was basically a mom, dad, 2 or 3 children, a family dog and possibly a house cat during the 1950's. Dad worked a job and financially supported the household while mom kept the home clean and in order. The family dog lived in a dog house, or stayed in the garage at night along with the one automobile while the cats were put outdoors for the night. Throughout the next decades, the pets were approached more as animated toys in the family masses. The death or disappearance of dog and definitely the cat may have brought temporary sadness and tears but was soon replaced by another. The 60's-90's saw the family profile changing. Those years took a toll on every individual, which in turn affected the family. Yet still the ideal of a solid family unit making it together shown through, with father, mother, 2.5 children, a house, yard, garage, and the eternal dog in that yard.
Southwest Florida is called "Paradise" by many. People flock here to find the new American Dream.
The new millennium came in, seemingly removing the expectations of a true family unit. Now divorced families are the norm, children being shared by the parents. The new, modern families are based on a solidly cohabiting couple (marriage no longer is a necessity in the dream), one child or two children, multiple vehicles, a boat, other "toys" for water and land, and the pet numbers have increased immensely. Families here have dogs for running, this is a very health conscious area, and running, or jogging with a larger dog is a safety factor as well as company. Pocket puppies are easily taken with the owner shopping, out to lunch(most restaurants have pet friendly areas in paradise), traveling almost anywhere. The accessibility of so many dogs that have hair, thus are non shedding, makes even the fussiest homeowner able to have many pets. Florida, especially the southern, sub-tropical area, is inundated with condominiums, but many families have multiple homes.
Realistically, the classic American Dream has dissipated and mutated into an objective view more in tune with the singular vision of success and life. The family unit concept apparently lost unless it just so happens to work out. The children spend a life passing back and forth between parents, with no one homefront to claim as theirs. Because of the emotional battles incurred by the less solid family structure, dogs are filling the gap left open to complete the family circuit. The children now have a dog at dad's and one(or more) at mom's. The pet's now include a broad selection from dogs, cats, fish, birds, small animals (bunnies, guinea pigs, sugar gliders, rats, prairie dogs, chinchillas, etc.), and reptiles. The number one comfort companion, however, is still our unconditional loving dog. This is a definite area the family unit is lacking. The multipurpose canine covers those empty bases seemingly swept under the rug by today's new family structure. He is the friend that never turns away when you need a friend, he chases the things away that go "bump in the night". Dad takes his dog to work and to play; he's always wanted someone to do everything he wanted to do and when. Mom takes her dog shopping, to the show, visiting her friends, and most of all her dog never leaves her side, she feels so loved. Of course, we do now use dogs much more frequently as part of families who have a member with a disability of any numerous types, bringing dogs into the home in a very real and important manner.
It seems the American dream now involves not just a family of a dad, mom, two or three children, a house in the suburbs, a car, and a dog. The dream now consists of an extended family being civil with each other, multiple jobs, to pay for the beautiful Florida condos and homes, multiple vehicles, landscapers, pool services, and maid services. The child count seems to have lessened, at least per marriage! The pet world, more specifically dogs, have increased as a viable family member. No longer are there only one dog families as often here in SW Florida. Multiples of breeds and sizes of dogs are seen most frequently. The dogs have taken a solid hold in that image we have as our American Dream and is cementing the fractured pieces.
If you wish to continue reading these articles written by Carol Pentz, please click on subscribe in the top left corner of this page. If you have any suggestions for articles regarding dogs in the Collier and Lee county areas, please send an e mail to heartandsolab@comcast.net. Visit me on www.facebook.com/examiner.comCarolPentz
BAN BSL Please be a responsible pet owner.
.
Comments