For World Dog Day 2021
From the perspective of an Aiderbichler
told by Gisela Pschenitschnig
Dogs are man’s best friend: He is a rescue dog, a counsellor, a playmate, but also a laboratory animal for researching medicines for humans. On the day of honour of the dog, I will now try to explain the important role that dogs play for humans.
Got on the dog
The dog is descended from the wolf and around 80,000 years ago, humans began domesticating wild wolves. Today, people choose their faithful companions from 350 dog breeds. Dogs are kept both as pets and as working dogs. The latter are used in special training units for fighting crime, as rescue dogs, guide dogs or as herding dogs in agriculture.
The dog as a pet
In many people’s lives, the dog has the status of a family member. It is not uncommon for the dog to replace the owner, partner or family as a loyal companion. In conversations with dog owners, I often hear with a smile that “dogs don’t argue, they are good listeners and their loyalty and love lasts forever. A dog doesn’t make judgements based on appearances”.
These four-legged friends encourage their owners to spend time in the fresh air every day, so you could also say that dogs are man’s health minister.
The free running of dogs is being pushed more and more into legal restrictions
Time and again we read about dogs that attack and seriously injure people. Why does this happen? It sometimes happens in a matter of seconds that a person, whether a small dachshund or a large German shepherd, becomes the victim of a dog attack. A dog on a lead behaves completely differently to a dog running free. The biggest mistake is for the human to hold the dog in their arms for protection so that their own dog is not attacked by another dog. There is a lot to do in the area of dog owner behaviour, because the wrong behaviour can lead to a catastrophe.
Off-leash dog runs for the exercise of four-legged friends
Every town has a football pitch and parks for people, but not every town has a meadow for dogs to run free. Almost every town in Austria requires dogs to be kept on a lead. Dog tax is levied, which could be used to finance well-maintained dog runs, for example.
The first off-leash dog areas in Salzburg were created by Michael Aufhauser. They have since become popular meeting places for people and dogs and are hugely important for the socialisation of all dog breeds that move around there.
My dog and I - we are a team
When I fall tired into the cosy armchair in the evening after a walk with my dogs, I don’t stay alone for long. Three dogs’ noses nudge me: Leopold’s, a Greek mix; Wambo’s, a Collie and the little nose of my Celine, an Epagneul Breton. Then there’s a command: “Hello, my darlings, what would be good now?”. Zack – all three cuddle up around me and tell me what they want with their body language: “We want to be with you, you should stroke us”.
But let us dog owners also think of all the stray dogs that go on their rounds looking for food. Let’s think of all those who suffer for a long time in experimental laboratories. Let us think of the many dogs that are abandoned somewhere.
Gut Aiderbichl and the dogs
Years ago, we received a call for help from Romania and helped over 300 strays into a better life. Nothing can replace the impressions our employees had back then. The dogs lived in a shelter without a protective roof, without a well to donate water. One woman gave the animals her heart and fed them until she asked us for help.
The project in Romania is increasingly becoming a good one. People are coming and having their dogs and cats neutered. This is the only way to stop the growing number of stray dogs dying in the long term.
“I found that in deep sorrow, the quiet, devoted companionship of a dog gives you strength that no other source can donor.” – Doris Day
Enjoy World Dog Day with your four-legged companion and don’t forget all the dogs who have no home, who are abandoned or tortured. Yours sincerely, Gisela.
