As some of you know, my longtime pet-sitter has flaked out on me once too often, and I am looking for a new one. I’ve Googled several clearinghouses, and have been overwhelmed by the cutesy-ootsiness that seem to possess people as they name their companies (admittedly, there are one or two sensible “Pet Sitters, Inc.,” and “Dog and Cat Sitters”).
But I submit a list (a small, small sample) of actual names of pet-sitting companies that have been inflicted upon me in my search:
Special Fur Kids Are My Business
Cozy Critters Pet Sitters
Hug-a-Pet
Biz E. Bee
Diamond in the Ruff
Furr Pet Sake
Pawsitively Purrfect Pet Sitting
Dog-Gone-Smart
Ain’t Misbehavin’ Pet Care
Puppie Luv
—And that is the place where Tonstant Weader fwowed up.
They’re not just calling them “Fur Kids” which is obnoxious enough as it is; they’re “Special Fur Kids” even. What exactly do they mean? Dogs that chase the short bus?
Perhaps I’m out of touch, is “Fur Kids” normal slang for pets these days? If your answer is yes, I’m going to long for the days of non-human companion animal.
Guess I’ve been working in the humane society business too long–none of those set off my nausea-meter. From my desk I can see our newsletter, Paw Prints, and a flyer for “Dog-on-it!” petsitting, a kid-run business that donates part of its proceeds to us. I’ve got a plaster-of-paris statue of a dog holding a basket in its mouth sitting on my desk, where it’s been for four years ever since an ex-co-worker set it there and too many visitors cooed over how adorable it was for me to throw it in the garbage.
I like cats, and I don’t mind dogs. I’ll respect honest pets and working animals.
I detest, however, the cutesification of pets: the infantilisation and the dressing up in adorable little clothes and the hairbows and the pretending that pats are little people. Blech.
If you always talk baby talk to your dog and feed it in your lap at the table and dote on it and dress it up in adorable little sweaters and don’t see how its neurotic behaviour is driving a wedge between you and the rest of your family (as one of my family members did), it isn’t the dog that has the biggest problem.
“Special Fur Kids”?
:: shuidder ::
I could have sworn we had a :vomit: smiley around here.
I saw a woman with a bichon frisé. They were wearing matching outfits from the GAP. I almost threw up on her shoes.
However, I will say that there is much entertaiment to be found by putting a cat in clothes. What with the stiff-legged stop-drop-and-roll, the poofy fur, flattened ears, and angry contortions as they try to step out of the garments, or the speed-shaking dancey-feet as they try to shake off socks… But mostly it’s the stiff-legged stop-drop-and-roll – cracks me up every time!
It seems to be borderline-fruitcake slang but I’ve seen it too often to hope it’ll fall out of favor any time soon. Witness the business name. There are enough people who think it’s cute or sweet, that someone hopes to build a reliable customer base from them.
I’ve found users of the term tend to make web pages that look like this. While I admire the owner for taking in shelter animals, the web page is evil, and must be destroyed.
When I was a kid, we did this to our toy poodle – only using a potato chip bag with both ends open. Slip it on her like a body sock and let the crinkly fun begin!
We also used to put her in an upright paper grocery bag on the floor and watch her stare up at us. She had no idea how to get out.
Although I never really dressed my pugs, once a year I put a Santa hat on my ugliest one just to see the ferocious glower that even a pug can give. She looked like the world’s angriest (and homeliest) Grinch.
Good G-d, Jenaroph. I am not clicking on your link, sorry. I live in terror of becoming one of those old women who feeds her bonnet-wearing cats at the table and you tell me there are people doing to themselves? <shudder>
Sorry for hijack, Eve. I hope your cats and your mother are under good care soon.
I have heard the term “furbabies” used in self-concious jesting terms. Mostly to express the amount of time and attention the owner devotes to their pet. It depends on whether the person is using it to express self-deprecating humor or canine co-dependency.