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[jaydub]

I'm hearing material for another book there, Wombles.

[side_show]

Oh, no Wombat.  I know people buy gifts for their pets as well as for other people's pets.  We've done that too.  It's more that I feel a sort of shame about it, and if I were to teach my dog to push a stroller, I would feel that same feeling.  I don't know- it's embarrassing, to me.  I just don't want to embrace being a DINK I guess.  There's something ugly about that side of behavior for me.  For example, when we order take out sushi my husband sometimes insists that we order a piece of sashimi for the cats, and that's something I can't get comfortable with.   

[wombat]

I don't see what there is to feel ashamed of. Why should you feel shame about buying something that gives another creature pleasure? How could that be ugly? But also, buying a present for our pets is really buying a present for ourselves, because it is enjoyable to watch animals take pleasure in things. Really, that's the whole racket they've got going, being cute so we do stuff for them. Anyway, if that is fun for you, I don't see how that's a worse thing to spend money on than all the other junk people buy themselves.

I also wouldn't feel ashamed to teach my dog to push a stroller. I'm actually kind of jealous I didn't have the idea. Feel silly, yeah, but shame doesn't enter it into it.

[wombat]

Speaking of people enjoying animals being indulged, I just came back from the farmers' market where we go every Saturday to buy the pugs a brioche. It is the high point of their week, the 13 year old pug would run all the way there if I let her. And it's a kind of a public spectacle that many people enjoy every time. Sometimes I really do not want to get out of bed so early on a Saturday especially when it's 30 degrees out, but I would hate to deprive the general public of this amusement.

It's not a pug pushing a stroller on the internet, but it is our small contribution.

[wombat]

Oh and in case anyone else wants to feel normal in comparison: The farmers market is closed next week for Christmas Eve, so we bought brioche to freeze so the pugs don't have to be deprived.

[AugustWest]

Let them eat cake brioche.

[Doc]

Which is, I think, what the original quote was.

Edit: no, wait. Straight dope says I'm an idiot.

[side_show]

The shame comes from knowing having a pet at all is a luxury, I suppose and more so knowing the dog would get just as much pleasure from hiding a treat in a cardboard box rather than the $30 treat puzzle toy we got.  I was once in poverty, and I see the impact of poverty every day, so I always have a hard time with anything self indulgent.

[Doc]

You really blew it this time.

[side_show]

Yeah pretty much,  only imagine me putting down the items i was going to buy after realizing i don't really need them and walking out of a store.

I'm not a good shopper. 

[wombat]

I have a hard time seeing pets as self indulgent, they are good for you in so many ways, and compared to a lot of things people indulge in?

Also anyone who buys a $30 puzzle toy for their dog is a really good dog owner and someone I have a huge amount of respect for. Get back to me when you're not keeping your dog busy and then complaining that it tears up the house because it's bored, and we'll talk about feeling ashamed.

[Arachno-capitalist]

The dogs are solving puzzles now? This has gone too far. Lobotomies for all animals now!

[jay-ell]

"You cut his brain, you damn dirty animal!"

[Nabubrush]

Yeah pretty much,  only imagine me putting down the items i was going to buy after realizing i don't really need them and walking out of a store.

I'm not a good shopper. 

You are not propping up the economy like I need you to. This is why my stocks are in the shitter.

[greenkoolayd]

Christmas Pug #93