It has become somewhat cliché for a gay man to be seen walking his dog down the street. Clad in doggy designer clothes, or in some other adorable ensemble, it is the subject of many a joke. Until recently, I joined in on the laughs, but secretly always wanted to be “that guy” with “that dog.” Why do so many of us enjoy treating pets like children?
Growing up, I always pictured myself having a large family. In fact, I remember telling my parents that my first car would undoubtedly be a mini-van, or a bus, because I wanted to be prepared for the future. When I realized that I was gay, my notions of marriage and children were put on the backburner. Then, adulthood definitely taught me that having kids is a far bigger responsibility than I am willing to take on at this stage, and that’s okay.
Sensing a void in my life, I adopted Winslow at the end of January from a rescue, and although it took me a few weeks to adjust to my new circumstances, I wouldn’t trade him for the world. I find myself spending a good portion of my workday wondering what he is doing, and worrying about his well-being. Is it possible that he has made me less self-centered? I imagine this is the process new parents go through upon the arrival of their firstborn. I’ve learned that having a dog is like having a child that never grows up and isn’t quite as expensive. Much like little kids, they look so cute when they’re dressed-up like little adults.
The newest trends extend further than long jaunts in cute outfits. Instagram, Facebook, and Vine all have been bombarded with accounts belonging to the canines and cats that gays, and straights alike, have created for their precious pets. Animals do the darndest things! We’re entertained, filled with warmth, and even moved to tears by their pictures, posts, and videos. What’s next? I haven’t gone so far yet, but only time will tell. Damn all of this peer pressure.
Where do we draw the line? At what point do we become crazy cat ladies? Just as single people probably loathe hearing their married friends go on and on about their brood, is it just as annoying to people when we can’t stop talking about our pets? I suppose it’s all in the delivery. One-sided conversations aren’t generally well-received, and if the other party’s eyes are starting to glaze over, it’s probably time to change the subject.
What attracts us to these dogs in the first place? Why do they take such a place of prominence in our lives? Dogs are not beings capable of prejudice or judgment, with no care about sexual orientation. The bond that exists between pet and owner is one that cannot be broken, and for those in the gay community that feel like they have no one to turn to, a dog can be just the connection they need to get them through from one phase of their life to the next. Dogs aren’t possessions to the men and women that adopt them; they are companions. They are family.
The Gay/Lesbian Consumer Online Census found that pet ownership is actually 10 percent more common among gays and lesbians than among their straight counterparts. This is an astonishing difference. Some reports say that nearly 4 out of 5 gays have a pet! Paws and Reflect, a book by Neil Plakcy and Susan Sakson is a collection of twenty-five stories about gay men and their dogs. If you’re interested in opening your heart to a furry friend, or even if you already have a canine in your life, this book is a great read! (Hot Contributor Reads a Book) Wink.
We all need a little unconditional love in our lives, and pets are often a better bet than some boyfriends. Men are dogs… wait, I take that back. Even if it makes us “crazy cat ladies,” we have to follow our hearts. At the end of the day, pets are one thing that most gays have not managed to turn into an accessory, and that’s for the best.
