America Vs. Europe

ORIGINAL: nocturnal76

I always thought that America was full of the most dog-loving people in the world.  But after talking to this Swedish girl today at the pet shelter I volunteer at, it seems Europe loves their dogs more than we do.  For one, she said that puppy mills are banned in Sweden and she thought so for the rest of Europe.  Also, she said in Sweden they do not have overcrowded pet shelters there.  What she was telling me seems like a much more sophisticated system they have for pets.  I think that shows they care more about their pets. 

I've never taken a head count in any country, so I cannot comment on that.  But, I will tell you that there would be few places on earth where anyone could love any dogs as much as this red, white and blue girl loves hers...[sm=2cents.gif]

I can't totally agree with the sentiment that Europe is more dog friendly or whatever.  Every year both in North America and in Europe and other countries thousands upon thousands of racing greyhounds and spanish galgos are put to .  They are hanged, shot, stabbed and beaten to or left in the desert to starve..  Dog friendly?  Hardly. See this [linkhttp://www.hsus.org/about_us/humane_society_international_hsi/cruelty_issues_around_the_world/abuse_of_spanish_galgos.html]link.[/link]

End dog racing across the globe first and then we'll talk about how "dog friendly" either the US or European countries are.

Sorry to be a downer here.  But my heart aches for these precious dogs.



ETA Pic of Muscan, a formerly abandoned galgo and a link or two...

I think all countries have the good and bad when it comes to dog ownership, but in some countries people get to take their dogs with them shopping in the stores!!!!I'm sooo jealous I would love to take the dogs with us when we go run errands.
 
 
I agree Xerxes , I read on one galgo rescue website that that the dogs are purposely tied to trees and what not so they can't follow their owners or maybe "survive" by hunting. So they are left there to die a slow cruel death of starvation[][&o]

I think all countries have the good and bad when it comes to dog ownership, but in some countries people get to take their dogs with them shopping in the stores!!!!I'm sooo jealous I would love to take the dogs with us when we go run errands.

Cassie, all you have to do is move to New York City!!! []
Dogs are allowed in the majority of the stores in NYC, and these dogs are well socialized and walked daily and NOT one single pile of dog poop did I see in that city the whole week I was there...[8D]     As for North America….I have to say that I am completely with Ed on this one… I just went on the greyhound racing data base that collects data on every single race that goes on in the world and the UK alone had 1457 separate RACES in the past 8 days alone… (between January 1st and January 8th). The US shows 1316 in the past 8 days BUT includes racing data that is from the race tracks in Mexico.  Unless greyhound racing is COMPLETELY BANNED in these countries, I don#%92t think we can say that they care so much more about their dogs than we do … There are bans in many states in the US on greyhound racing and currently we are down to racetracks in only 15 states and every year that number declines. The U.S. has a LONG way to go on this front, but so do many other countries…   ED, thanks for posting the picture of Muscan…I just LOVE that sweet Galgo![]