Animals: in the zoo and at your house

I have been to the Washington, D.C. zoo seven times; that’s right SEVEN times. I am not a particular big fan of the D.C. zoo, but when you have two kids in elementary school and live outside the National Capital Region this is the place to go for field trips. Actually if I am being honest every time I have been (SEVEN to be exact) to the D.C. zoo, the animals are hiding in their indoor dwellings and the only animals you get to see are the birds and lizards.

One thing I have noticed at all the zoos I have been (not just DC's) to is that there are postings everywhere, especially near the vending machines and eateries stating "DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS – IT COULD KILL THEM." It makes me wonder why feeding some animal crackers (no pun intended) to our children is OK but we can’t give them to the gorilla, who have a similar make-up as humans. Hmmmm……

I have two dogs, a German Shepherd and a Pit Bull. They are very different dogs. Not just their breeds and the amount of hair they shed, but their personalities are incredibly different. Rowan, my GS, is very well trained, is a bit of a scardy cat and is laid back. She spends most of her time in Rachel’s bed and doesn’t socialize with the family unless she wants fed, petted or to pee.

Ruger is our Pit. He is an absolute maniac. He runs everywhere, he chases light, he’ll eat the floor right out from under your feet, he loves to cuddle and he cannot stand to be away from his people.

The one thing they have in common is they CANNOT eat “people food”. This was distinctly displayed when the neighbor boy fed Ruger goldfish crackers through the kennel while he was over. Ruger threw up and had diarrhea at the exact same time. I’ve never actually seen a dog do this – and hope never to see it again. YUCK!

This is my question to you…if you wouldn’t feed your dog junk foods why do you feed your kids or yourself these items? If the zoo doesn’t want you to feed the gorilla crackers because it “could kill them” then why are you eating them? We all know it won’t kill our dog or the gorilla to feed them crackers, it makes them sick, which is a pain to clean up and over a long period of time you can tell their diets are poor: they lose color in their nose, their coats lack shine or fall out, they lose their sight, their hips and feet start to get arthritis. Why would this food not have similar long term effects on you or your kids?

I love the science behind "Why you shouldn't eat this or that" but if you take it down to the basics - then this is it folks. Why are you eating the same foods that you wouldn't feed your dog? And if your answer is "it's an animal" well you should remember so are you.