The Boss says I think too much and worry about things that I can't change. In a way that's true. I'll see something on the news or in the paper and go off about it.

The recent pet food poisoning is one such subject. To hear that the Chinese factory might have added something on purpose--to boost protein levels cheaply in order to make more profits--is a case in point. That got me to thinking about cultures across the world and how they treat animals and specifically pets.

Months ago I was horrified to read about the Chinese government's solution in one province to rabies. They killed thousands of dogs, pulling them out of owners homes and slaughtering them as the owners screamed and begged them not to.

I know some cultures eat dogs. And yes, we Americans eat certain animals that others in another country would never. For examples, to Hindus, cows are sacred, so they don't eat beef. I respect that.

Muslims think dogs are unclean, and so dogs in Muslim countries are pretty much nothing more than vermin to be tolerated. Mohammad liked cats, so cats are okay as pets. This really upsets me, because dogs have been partner to mankind for tens of thousands of years. Hunting, herding, protecting--so much good that I can't believe any culture or religion or whatever would dismiss this.

Then you have Europeans, which are even more lenient with pets than Americans. In France, for example, dogs are welcome with their people in most restaurants and are allowed places other countries would never allow a dog.

In our hyper politically correct world we now live in, we are supposed to "celebrate" diversity and differences. We can't be ethnocentric and think our culture is superior. But I disagree. I respect any culture or religion's RIGHT to do as they see fit. But respecting one's freedom and RIGHT to do something is a far different thing that respecting the ACT or belief itself.

Sorry for such a depressing topic, but it's been on my mind. I look at my pets and think how lucky they are and can't help but wish all had it so good.

On a lighter note, Daisy lou sent this picture of Benny with his favorite toy. She's having a problem replacing her other dog, Murphy's favorite toy:

" I'm going nuts trying to find Murphy's favorite in a store......I got 2 at Redner's, they are super-small, made for toy dogs, and very very very soft, like a baby toy. Murphy just LOVES those and I cant find them at PetSmart or anywhere, even Dr. Fosters doesn't have them! Here's a picture of Bennie and his favorite; do you remember it? I think you sent it to him for Christmas. He never destroys his toys. This is the only one he chewed things off of, but it's definately his favorite."

Daisy, do you have an old picture of one of Murphy's toys so we can see it and offer suggestions? How does everyone deal with being unable to replace a pet's favorite toy?

I had to laugh at the condition of Bennie's toy. I had a stuffed monkey Daisy lou sent years ago. The dogs chewed an ear off, and I'd sew it up. Then antoher ear. Then a nose. An eye. I kept sewing it up. Before I finally tossed it, it looked like it had gone through 10 major surgical procedures! But they loved it, so I wanted to keep it around as long as possible. I don't get stuffed toys any more, because Scooter has the stuffing out in one minute flat!