The town where I live has a railroad track running through middle. In general, the nicer houses are on the West side of the town and the older, more run down houses are on the East side.
Our evening entertainment usually consists of going for walks down the brick-paved streets. The town is small, so you can cover a significant portion in a few 3 mile walks.
One thing we’ve noticed is that the average number of dogs per house on the less affluent side of the tracks is much higher than on the wealthy side of the tracks. On the East side, it is common to see 3 or 4 dogs staked out together in a small yard. On the West side of the tracks, people still have dogs, but it is rare to see more than one per house.
In my experience, being “poor” has less to do with how much money you make and more to do with whether or not you are financially disciplined. On our walks, there seems to be a high correlation between people who need to fix their roof and people who have 5 or 6 dogs. The same trait that causes people to not keep up their house seems to prevent them from making rational decisions when it comes to a cute puppy (that will grow into a 70 pound dog).
The point I’m trying to make is that people spend too much time focusing on how much money they make and not enough focusing on how to be wise with what they have.
Mark, you’ve touched on a complex issue here, one intertwined with societal attitudes towards pet ownership, understanding the obligations of being a responsible pet owner, and spay/neuter affordability. It’s likely that a fair number of those lower income households started with just one dog but, through the failure to spay/neuter, ended up with multiple animals. It’s the root cause of shelter overpopulation and the tragic euthanasia of millions of unwanted animals every year. Animal welfare organizations have been struggling with these issues forever.
And a lot of people, both well-to-do and poor, have their priorities totally and fundamentally out of whack…
My wife has a friend who always pleads poverty. My wife had been treating her for dinner whenever they went out, until she got a look at her friend’s remodeled kitchen, dormer extension, new SUV, and 3 dogs. Apparently she had money for these other things. People need to learn to live within their means. Nice post.
I have spent years involved in Christian ministry to the inner city. It’s a place where people can spend $3,000 on Christmas, but not have milk money. If they WANT it, they often can get it. If they NEED it, they don’t bother until it’s really hurting them, and then they ask for help to get it. Watching cable tv but begging to borrow a heater because the the gas isn’t working.
Much of my struggles is trying to be a friend without becoming an enabler, just another resource to tap for a ride somewhere, or for a bus pass, or whatever. But it also challenges me to be better myself, to not throw stones but to make sure my own house is in order.
One final note – almost every inner city person I have ever dealt with is under-aged mentally. For example, the 38-year-old mother who is really about 8 years old. People get stuck, not because of disabilities but because of pride, and stop growing. That too is a reminder to me to look at myself and look for how I might be stunted.
It’s been very revealing. The next time you notice the dogs, make sure you are looking for your own version of dogs. I’d rather have a big dog than an overpriced SUV.
@RC – While I agree that we need to look inward, the big difference between the people whose house I’m walking by is this: I am paying to support many of them. They are not paying to support me.
@Del – From what I can tell most of these dogs didn’t come from people getting one and them reproducing into 5. It looks like they just kept going out and getting another puppy. Of course it is complex. They might have been rescuing dogs from homes where they were worse off, etc.
@Enrique – That is the problem I see with a lot of the government assistance. If you buy a house you can’t afford and eventually get kicked out, you will probably learn something. Your neighbors will learn something. People who know what happened to you will learn something.
If you buy a house you can’t afford and the government blames it on the lender and then takes a bunch of money from people who do manage their finances well and pays for your house, you aren’t going to learn to behave differently in the future. In fact, you may be better off than the people who were wise and careful–the people who are paying for your house.
Very good post.
I agree with you, we are both paying to support them. I’m just saying that we need to make sure we are self-reflective instead of judgmental.
Oh, and by the way, if you ever end up on public assistance or living on the wrong side of the tracks – buy a dog! Immediately.
When the police don’t seem to care and the drug dealers openly mock you, it’s the only protection you are going to have. It’s the only thing that kept the drug dealers off the porch of some of my friends, and stopped them from trying to break into their house. (They did destroy a window.)
What’s a better investment, a dog that keeps you from getting shot by the local druggie or dealer, or some stock options? Be careful before making value judgments for different cultures.
OUCH! I have two dogs and two cats, and my roof needs fixing. This really hit home.
Thanks,
I agree — being “poor” has less to do with how much money you make and more to do with whether or not you are financially disciplined. Financial discipline is so important — no matter how much money you have — and it’s something I struggle with all of the time.