Paws-itive Perspectives: Every dog deserves a home, not every home deserves a dog

By Angel Dumoulin on March 12, 2026.

If you’ve followed my social media or spoken to me in person, you already know how I feel about most of the issues of the dog world. If you don’t know me, this column is going to be shocking to you.

I believe if you want a pet and live in an environment that does not allow that pet to live its best life, you really need to reconsider ruining that pet’s life just because “I want it!”

For instance, if you really want to have a dog and you live in a home that does not allow dogs, perhaps, finding a new place to live first would be to your benefit. It’s not your landlord’s job to make changes based on your whims.

If you want a puppy but don’t make a high enough income to cover the initial vet bills that come with them like vaccinations, health checks, unexpected events that are far too common with puppies, like eating inappropriate things or reckless behaviour that cause injuries, find a more affordable pet.

If you can’t afford to feed them month to month, please reconsider taxing our local food banks even further.

If you can’t afford the type of training that your chosen breed of dog requires, please rethink the breed choice, or wait until you can properly educate them before you jump in.

There are many pros and cons to getting a dog for a pet. Make sure you contemplate all of them before you commit to a dog specifically. Many of the reasons I suggest can be worked around to accommodate your deep desire to have a pet, but not all of those work-arounds, are suitable to the life of a typical dog.

The first thing I think of is perhaps getting a pet that isn’t in need of so much hands-on care, attention, and training. This is where I tell people to do some legitimate research and ask some really important questions to a reputable rescue organization to find out the reality of the care and expense required to acquire one of these pets.

If, after reading this far, you still really think a dog is for you, and you have decided that this is the only choice for you, there are other things to consider!

If you don’t have the ability or the desire to spend six or more months potty training, socializing, and teaching this puppy the way you expect it to live for its 15 years of life, maybe consider an older dog, or volunteer as a temporary foster home for a reputable rescue.

Older dogs are often overlooked and fosters are always needed. You would be a community hero for taking up this type of cause, and once the dog finds a new home, you can decide if you’d like to save another life, or if you’d rather get a gerbil.

If you are still reading this, and haven’t wanted to have me strung up by my toes for daring to say the hard things, stay tuned for my next column on choosing a dog to fit your lifestyle not based on your choice of movies or beauty standards.

Angel Dumoulin of Funny Farm Canine is a positive reinforcement trainer with 20+ years of experience, dedicated to humane, science-based methods that build trust, cooperation, and joy. Emphasizing compassion and respect, she fosters a partnership between dogs and owners without fear or force-only motivation, play, and clear communication. Her philosophy, “dominion over domination,” champions empathy and understanding, allowing each dog’s unique personality to shine. Play. Learn. Wag!

14
-13