Jamaican vs American (and Canadian) Approaches to Owning Pets

[Tropicana]

Blugiant's comments underscored the differences between how Americans and Jamaicans view animals. I didn't grow up with pets as a member of the family was allergic to fur. I know that this is not typical for Jamaican families. We had birds and fish...and that was it.

In Jamaica, I notice puss and dawg are kept outdoors. People aren't constantly petting them. They are fed table scraps often mixed with cornmeal. Non one would ever think of having a puss or dawg pon de bed or letting them lick the same plates on which they serve food to people.

The first time I saw this was as a teen when I visited a friend (White). After dinner, she gave the dog the plates from which we had just eaten and the dog licked the plate clean....I was absolutely horrified. Nasty!

Now I was sad when a horse I loved had to be put down but I can't relate to people being depressed for weeks on end because their dog or cat died. Sorry to sound heartless but I just don't get it. I even remember co-workers taking time off work because their pet had died. I just can't relate.

Cats, I don't care for most of them. They are really bold. They sense how I feel and always come to me (just like blondes). I remember these cats used to have a party at night in front of my place (where I used to live). They were noisy. I opened the door and said "SHUT UP" and even stamped my foot. They didn't back off at all and one of them was bold and looked like she was ready to fight me. After a while I would come down stairs and the cat would be up on the window sill staring into the apartment.

Don't care for them.

In Europe one thing I found bizarre in some places is that when the family goes out for an evening to a restaurant, they take the dog with them. I have seen this in France and Belgium. Sorry I don't get that either.

Anyway, what differences do you notice between Jamaican and North American approaches to pets? Do African Americans let pets sleep on their beds and lick their plates?

[Nanook]

Tropi, I will try to answer your question as briefly as possible but this is not "an American" thing. It is world wide as you yourself have discovered and goes back to ancient times. In Jamaica and other countries though, the lack of dog/human relationship is more the exception rather than the norm. Have you ever heard the term "three dog night"? It is not just the name of a great rock and roll band from the 60's/70's, it is an actual term used by people who live in cold climates where the only transportation to get medicine, mail, and supplies from one place to another was by dog sled. Then I also found this on Google just now:

According to some scholars, the expression comes from Down Under. Cowboys spend a lot of their time outdoors looking after animals. During cold winter nights when the temperature dips, the men often cuddle up with their dogs to keep warm. When it is slightly cold, they need the body heat of only one animal to keep warm; such a night is referred to as `one dog night'. When it becomes extremely cold, the men may need three dogs to keep warm. Such an extremely cold night is referred to as `three dog night'. This practice of embracing dogs for body warmth was quite common among the Australian Aborigines.

*Take extra blankets. According to the forecast, it's going to be a three dog night.
`Three Dog Night' is also the name of an American rock and roll band. They were quite popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
S. UPENDRAN


Now, let's go to Ancient China:

Originating from China, the Pekingese is undoubtedly a very popular little dog around the world. Believed as one of the most ancient of dog breeds, the Pekingese is said to have developed from the breeds of Asian foxes. Also, the name Pekingese was derived from China's capital city of Beijing, which was then called Peking.

This little breed is the most important dog in the Imperial Household and royals believe that this dog is a Lion or Foo Dog, which can ward off bad spirits. This breed became the favorite of the Chinese royalties for centuries to come, until the last years of the Chinese monarchy. During the Pekingese's fame in China, the citizens are required to bow to this pet and that anyone who attempts to steal or kill this breed will be punished by death.

This small Pekingese is called Sleeve due to the fact that during the ancient times, Chinese royalties would carry this breed inside the very capacious sleeves of their robes. When the Second Opium War broke out, the Pekingese almost perished because Chinese royalties ordered their execution so that Westerners would never have them. There were five Pekingese, however, that survived and these were shipped back to Europe as gifts to the royalties.

In Egypt:: Ancient Egyptians revered their dogs. When a pet dog would die, the owners shaved off their eyebrows, smeared mud in their hair, and mourned aloud for days

I could go on and on here, but to tell you the truth, since you do not understand the concept, and unless you have had the undying love and companionship of a beautiful animal, you will never get it. Our dogs love us unconditionally. They help the disabled, and alert dogs for those who suffer seizures certainly save lives. The list goes on and on.

As far as dogs eating from plates, etc..well that is a whole different topic, actually. Not all of us do this.

I have spent my entire life living with dogs and I cannot understand anyone not understanding the concept of dogs in much the same way you do not understand those who do. I suppose this is all clear as mud...but I will leave you with one more thing. After having my beloved Bucko in my life for 26 years, he was not just my horse, but he was my loving pet, he greeted me with soft nickers the second I walked out my door and when I lost him at age 30, it was months before I could utter the words that he was gone. Only those closest to me knew. I couldn't talk about it for months and right now, just thinking about that day I have tears in my eyes.

Tomorrow I pick up the cremation ashes of my beloved Mango, who I lost almost two weeks ago. I can hardly wait to take his ashes and roll them in molten glass and make a piece of jewelry using them. Here is one example, my loved and missed Dobermgirl, Rosebud:

[diabolical_Tanya]

it is such a stereotype to say all Jamaicans treat dogs the same way because it is not true.
I grew up with a dog in the house, He was a family pet. I also grew up with dogs that were not allowed in the house, they were not "pets" they are guard dogs.
many of my friends and family members have pet dogs and cats and guard dogs. maybe that is a upper middle class thing.....

[CeaBee]

We had big dogs - german shepherd and rottweillers that stayed outside. But they were well treated, and even petted. The cornmeal and chicken back was out of necessity because commercial dog food was to my knowledge not made in jamaica them times, and probably also would have been very expensive. I also had indoor/outdoor cats that were patted and spayed, and ate cornmeal with mackerel. None of them shared our plates or silverware.

[Tropicana]

it is such a stereotype to say all Jamaicans treat dogs the same way because it is not true.

Never said they do. It is impossible for millions of people to be identical in their approach to anything. I am just commenting on some common practices and differences. I realize that all Americans don't give their dogs plates to lick. The upper middle class people I know in Jamaica have always kept dogs on the verandah or in the backyard.

[Tropicana]

I remember how much you loved Bucko. I was saddened when Elvis had to be put down. He helped me get over my fear of cantering.

Sorry to hear about Mango. If I had known I would have postponed this discussion.

[CeaBee]

My parents have two indoor dogs now.

(looks like dem is upper middle class now..must call and borrow some money )

[Nanook]

I remember how much you loved Bucko. I was saddened when Elvis had to be put down. He helped me get over my fear of cantering.

Sorry to hear about Mango. If I had known I would have postponed this discussion.

Thank you for the condolences. I will feel so much better tomorrow when I pick up his cremains & he will finally be home. Don't feel no way about starting the thread and the time of losing Mango, it's OK by me. I just find it difficult to try to explain the human /companion animal connection when I know the person I am engaged in the conversation with is a non believer but I'm willing to try. In Native cultures the Wolf is revered. Shingoo, I believe, in Ojibwa culture). In Mn & Wi now, after decades long federal ban on the killing of any wolf with hefty fines, they recently opened the hunt with gun, traps, baiting and even using dogs for like 4 or 5 months of the year. Many people, tribes especially, are outraged, and so am I. At the moment the use of dogs is stopped and under review. Anyway, back to native culture and the wolf:

To take the discussion into a slightly different direction but not off topic, since dogs originate from the Wolf, you may find some of the information on this web page interesting. here is an excerpt :

Native American perceptions of nature were very different from those that Europeans shared. The different Native American cultures shared a deep respect for other creatures.

Many Native American people called the wolf the PathFinder or Teacher. They admired the wolf's intelligence, courage, and strength. They also saw in the wolf a loyal pack member who help with the family as a whole when necessary. The tales handed down from generation to generation are mainly stories of wolf the keen hunter, wolf the devoted family member, wolf the proud defender of his territory, wolf the intelligent teacher, and wolf the true survivor. These were characteristics deserving great respect and emulation. To carry wolf power, among many tribes, was to be greatly honored and admired. In turn, the wolf was celebrated in ceremony and legend, as well as in dance and song.
Understanding of wolves differed between Native Americans cultures that depended heavily on hunting and those that were mainly agricultural. It was for the hunter or shaman that the wolf played the greatest role, rather than the farmer.
The Navajo, however, called the wolf mai-coh, meaning witch. Their fear of wolves was based not on the nature of the wolf, but on human nature. Both the Navajo and the Hopi believed that human witches used or possibly abused the wolf's powers to hurt other people. While Europeans warned of a wolf in sheep's clothing, certain tribal beliefs cautioned against a human in wolf's clothing.
The profound similarities between human and wolf have been celebrated in many Native American cultures for centuries. In some traditions, this kinship is believed to transcend even death, for in the spirit world, wolves are uniquely powerful. When they howl, are the spirits calling to us? According to a Cree myth, it was Wolf who, after the great flood, carried a ball of moss round and round the survivors' raft, until the Earth reformed.
It is no longer possible to trace the relationship between wolves and humankind to its origins, but it probably extends back at least two million years. Even then, wolves lived much as they do today, and our far-distant ancestors may have watched them running single file through the trees, hunting hoofed animals on green prairies and bearing their pups in the comfort of sand dens. Indeed, our ancestors may have followed a similar way of life, travelling in small family groupings and feasting on what they could kill

http://www.angelfire.com/nv/tmyst/facts/symbolic.htm

[RichD]

it is such a stereotype to say all Jamaicans treat dogs the same way because it is not true.
I grew up with a dog in the house, He was a family pet. I also grew up with dogs that were not allowed in the house, they were not "pets" they are guard dogs.
many of my friends and family members have pet dogs and cats and guard dogs. maybe that is a upper middle class thing.....

we had a yorkie who was an inside dog and several out side dogs..not even allowed to come pass the door :lol:

the cats were always inside/outside cats.

when i was young (9/10) we had a ridgeback i would let her in every night and she would sleep beside my bed and then i would have to let her out early in the morning.

[RichD]

Jamaica house cat:

[RichD]

Jamaica outside dog:

[Peasie]

Jamaica outside dog:

I bet his name is "Satan"

[RichD]

I bet his name is "Satan"

yuh nuh si the spot ovah his eye? him name spot

[Peasie]

His ears are spotty too

I once knew a dread who had a dog named "White Man" dat look just like Spot

[Nanook]

we had a yorkie who was an inside dog and several out side dogs..not even allowed to come pass the door :lol:

the cats were always inside/outside cats.

when i was young (9/10) we had a ridgeback i would let her in every night and she would sleep beside my bed and then i would have to let her out early in the morning.

I loved seeing the Ridgeback mixes around the Island. Miss Joyce who owned DeBuss in Negril had a couple of very well groomed/taken care of inside dogs. They were cute little B&W Shih Tzu's.