Start with adopting a puppy

 　　I recently got a puppy. This "ordinary" thing opened up the dimension of my life.

　　First of all, it is a life, and it is extremely dependent on humans. After I confirmed the "responsibility to the end" for it, as well as the breeding space and economic capacity, the question came: what kind of dog should I raise?

　　To be honest, I'm a "flat face fan", an Exotic and a French Bulldog are my "perfect" combination, and I've had two Exotics with me for 9 years. But also because I have raised "flat-faced cats", I am well aware of the harm that this artificially bred breed does to the animals themselves: the narrow nostrils make it difficult for them to breathe, the abnormal function of the tear ducts makes them always "in tears", in addition There are also problems with eyelid hypoplasia and difficulty eating.

　　The "hairy child" that accompanies me has been suffering from the moment of birth. Is it a cat or a breed that I love? This moral dilemma has actually been lurking in my mind. The same moral dilemma that started to "haunt" me the moment I decided to get a dog.

　　My favorite breed is the French bulldog. Even if my friends objected to "adopt instead of buying", I still added "if you want to adopt, you must adopt what you like", "I will be responsible to the end", and "I don't want to adopt others, but I still raise them." refute.

　　Should I get a dog I like, or a dog that needs me?

　　But every time I really want to go out to "buy", I hesitate again. Later, I thought, I should go to the shelter first, but I didn't see any dogs that fit my eyes, and I couldn't bear the dogs that were abandoned, abused, and sick. So I have a new moral dilemma: should I have a dog I like, or a dog that needs me?

　　Coincidentally, I did an interview focusing on animal ethics, conservation and writing. She laughed and said "your moral dilemma is important and real" and advised me to "accept the conflict within myself." There's more to the chat, of course, but the verdict: I've adopted an eye-catching Mixx (mixed-breed, terrier) puppy. After spending some time with it, I felt like something in me was quietly changing.

　　Needless to say, the joy this puppy brought me, and when I supplemented my dog-raising knowledge, I gradually realized the sadness of breeds: French bulldogs have difficulty breathing, golden retrievers have high cancer rates, King Charles Cavaliers are prone to syringomyelia, short-legged breeds such as corgis and dachshunds are prone to spinal problems, and poodles are prone to epilepsy... Purebred dogs are artificially selected and inbred, and there are countless genetic diseases, not to mention the improper breeding of black-hearted workers .

　　In the past, I thought that animal protection was a "distant" thing. I couldn't do anything about what happened to lions, tigers, elephants, polar bears, whales and other animals, so animal protection was limited to me, which was limited to "no abandonment" and "no abuse." stray animals". And the "animal welfare" of economic animals such as cows, pigs, and chickens is something I don't dare to think about, because once I think deeply but have to eat meat, it will only make me suffer.

　　But everything starts with "thinking more": Are the cafes that specialize in cute animals exploiting animals? Does an eco-farm with an open interactive experience really care about animals? Is adoption an alternative to purchasing? Can change start by reducing demand? Instead of buying, is it possible to do a little homework to choose a cattery and kennel that complies with animal welfare?

　　My dog ​​"Cha Cha" opened a blind spot for me, and our lives were able to take care of each other.