people with dogs in baby carriages (mortgage, home, live)

[justNancy]

I had a neighbor who was in her early 40s, and every morning & night she'd walk her 2 shih tzus. One of them would walk by her side and the other was in a baby carriage (not just a stroller) The dog in the carriage was missing one eye, old and (in my opinion) overweight. He'd get exhausted after a while, but he still enjoyed being outside. He'd walk a while and then look up at the carriage and whine. Also, that black pavement is very hot in the summer. Dogs have pads on their feet, but they can become damaged from extreme temperatures. Some dogs are more sensitive than others. Grass is always better, although most places I've lived in FL seem to have lots of sticky burs which hurt the dog's feet. That's why I like dog parks and think there should be one in every neighborhood.
http://bestsmileys.com/dogs/1.gif (broken link)

OTOH, I thought GOJ had the funniest post on this thread (the comment about the pit and the doublewide) and gave him a rep for making me laugh. I'm picturing him walking a pit bull strapped with a holster and a sign "I eat liberals for breakfast."

[kiggy]

Good point about the hot pavement, Nancy -- didn't think about that one. Try walking barefoot on your driveway and see what that does for you, huh?

[Coachgns]

Nancy beat me to it.
The hot sidewalks/blacktop.
We try to keep our dog on grassy areas, and will only do street walking with her early or late in the day in the summer.
I also noticed lots of little doggie booties for sale in Petco. I guess they might help, too.

[cupper3]

Originally Posted by kiggy

I grew up on a farm, and we weren't even allowed to have dogs in the house, much less in a baby carriage. Hey, these days, dogs are replacing babies as the status item du jour. And according to my vet bills, they're probably getting just as expensive...

I recently read that people in the States spend more money on their pets as a percentage of GDP then on kids.

THAT is sad!.

I've had dogs all my life, and they have lived outside most of their lives, including in -35 weather in a blizzard. The oldest was 17, my current one is 14.
My vet bills? Their shots, their booster shots, that is it.

When the time comes to be put down, I always feel like an executioner, but the reality is, they are animals, albeit one's heart bleeds every time one makes that last trip with them.

It is just wrong for them to suffer... time comes, they go to doggy heaven.

[grandmallie]

we have 3,2 are shih-tzu's and a toy poodle mix, yes when your children are grown they become your furry children~~~
the 2 shih-tzu are on perscription food, and one of them has had bladder stones and had to have them removed, they have grown back and will probably need another operation..
They depend on us ,they are happy when we come home,give us endless love and affection, and usually dont talk back
yes some might say we are a little overboard ,but if the house was on fire they would be the first think we grabbed to get out. I understand about the carriages, but like others have said there are reasons that it is done..
we did survive Irene and my dad just got power back last night.. the boys were safe and sound and we got by with little damage, just the power out for 24 hrs

[jnanner]

it's not just down here, it's everywhere i've been (which, granted mainly included NYC and LI and here in the last few years LOL) But, in my old town I even saw people that would bike around town with the dogs in a kiddie-trailer. Little dogs. I've never seen someone with a boxer or greyhound in a doggie-stroller LOL just the little ones, I have a small dog and he can only go so far or run so long and in little spurts so I can see if you wanted to walk to few miles to a dog park or make the rounds in your neighborhood and the little pupsters just aren't up to the distance using a stroller. At least the owner can get the extra exercise. Also, they are baby carriages but a doggie-specific product. I have a harness and car seat for my dog for roadtrips but I personally wouldn't use the stroller except for travel to & from airport.I'd probably get one that's more of a travel crate on wheels with the telescoping handle though. Dog Supplies, Dog Food, Dog Beds, Toys and Treats Search - Dog.com

[mzfroggez]

Most everyone has hit on the reasons for doggies in strollers. They do afford freedom of movement for pet & escort. ("owner" sounds so politically incorrect). Age isn't the only disabler out there.

The hot pavement in Florida was a killer and actually, that's pretty much true in a lot of places. Probably in Iceland the icebergs are dangerous to doggie feet too. I actually did buy one of the Homeward Bound strollers for my shih tzu because so many places we explored had asphalt & it did burn his pads.

Of course, I bought the stroller in pink and when he reached maturity, the pit bulls and rotties made fun of him so he refused to ever ride in it again. And I thought dogs were color blind.............

[TamRE]

Originally Posted by Coachgns

Nancy beat me to it.
The hot sidewalks/blacktop.
We try to keep our dog on grassy areas, and will only do street walking with her early or late in the day in the summer.
I also noticed lots of little doggie booties for sale in Petco. I guess they might help, too.

When I lived in Alaska we had doggie booties for our dogs because their feet would get frost bitten in the winter if you didn't put booties on them. I never thought about the dogs feet on the hot pavement. I do walk my dog every morning and every evening, but not in a stroller. She is a beagle and loves to walk with her nose to the ground. She moves so fast I don't think she feels the pavement.

[DodgeGirl78]

These strollers are in places other then Florida too. I agree with some of the conclusions...aging dog or owner etc, but I personally believe a great percentage of use is because they can be used as battering rams! Ever see people in crowded places pushing a baby carriage and carrying the baby? They use those suckers to push thru the crowd!

[gettinoutofjersey]

this is incredible. they are dogs, not kids or babies, they are dogs. and i am my dogs owner. it says so on my dogs license. i am sorry i asked the question.