So there’s this thread on The Strelz about microchipping pets.

A poster called averagejose doesn’t like it. The thread moves into a debate about whether the fair, upright locals are being subject to a police state.

Then the thread turns into a sort of microcosm of attitudes about animals (and, really, the people) around El Paso.

Here’s most of what I posted, with edits for clarity, in response to various comments about the topic.

Rant on!

As a military family we moved around a lot. El Paso is one of the worst places for pets I’ve ever seen. It’s part of the local culture, I guess. And that culture is beyond redneck. You know what I mean, and if you don’t you have a fat ego that clouds your limited vision. Not everything you see as a norm for El Paso is a norm for normal people.

Everyone values human life over pet life. That’s a given, and normal. I’m no PETA freak and I think those clowns should continue to market themselves out of business for the money-grubbing fraud that their organization is. But…

The city government is not abnormal in trying to bring the citizenry up to standards other places have had for years. And El Paso folks ain’t yet normal in how to treat pets, but they’re getting better, thanks to the influx of non-natives who have exposure to different ideas. Yep, the locals have been dumb for decades (centuries?) on this matter.

We’ve found eight stray dogs in the Redd/Montoya area wandering up to our place this year. It’s like the word got out: free food and fun at our house. Or, at least a place where animals aren’t ignored, chained, un-vaccinated, left alone (a death sentence to a pack animal like a dog) and generally treated like sh*t in contravention to what they expect out of their dog’s life.

How stupid do you have to be to get a dog and then leave it alone outside? El Paso Stupid, is what. Lots of locals are pack animals — relatives everywhere, everyone knows everyone, friends everywhere… dogs are like that too. It’s what they like. If a dog doesn’t have a pack to run with (which includes its owners who are ignoring it), then it will find one. Ergo, strays. Ergo, mandatory micro-chipping.

If you don’t understand dogs, then just don’t get the damn dog. It’s easy. Just Don’t Do It, as Nike and Nancy Reagan might say in an alternate universe. Get another HD TV, or a case of Bud Lite at the gas station instead. That’s more the norm, isn’t it, EP Rednecks?

Here’s a Christmas Story for you: on December 23, a wire haired terrier wandered up to us when we were walking the dogs along a canal. No collar, wet, dirty as hell, and friendly as hell. The dog was obviously used to humans, used to dogs and desirous of company. So it followed us home. That’s right, followed us. It was looking for a pack, and it obviously hadn’t found one in a while. We took it to Country Club Animal Clinic on Doniphan and indeed, it was micro-chipped as regs require. The clinic contacted the owner. They showed up — only after asking if we’d keep it for a day because, presumably, they couldn’t be bothered. Probably because they were out polishing their brand-new Christmas SUV they tooled up in, so new it didn’t have plates yet. Gotta love the priorities — I bet they didn’t ask the car dealer to wait a day before picking up that beauty. I bet they were on the dealer’s lot prostrating themselves before the SUV’s magnificent Christ-like beauty and licking the rims clean before they took the keys.

They gave that their son had written a letter to Santa Claus asking for the dog’s return. So it was returned, proving that Santa Claus really exists. I bet the son is happier with the dog than the SUV. The parents sure weren’t. They didn’t seem to like that the dog’s color had changed while he was missing, and one of them changed their story on how long the dog had been missing — from four months (on the phone with the vet) to one month (talking to me). That’s just corrupt thinking.

And why was he missing? They gave that he was an active dog who likes to escape. Why? Why does a dog leave a pack? It’s because he’s ignored or chastized. So he went to find another pack. That’s basic behavior, but apparently it’s the type of knowledge that is lost on the enlightened citizenry of this world-class burg. Stick a dog in the back yard, let it yelp all hours and figure that “manana manana” things will sort themselves out. Instead, sail about the I-10 and Mesa and Cotton in a spanking new SUV and you are an El Paso hero! All the relatives will compliment you on it.

A few thoughts on thread comments here:

bigmike: That dog we found was micro-chipped, but still missing four months. Micro-chipping, which I support, only works when someone has the motivation (and lack of blood-alcohol content) to leash a stray and drive it to a vet or Animal Control to check the chip. Fat luck with that in this town. If people don’t give a rat’s for their home upkeep or maintaining a conviction-free police record, how on earth will they care about a lesser being like a freaking dog? How many toddlers got killed in the Lower Valley this year due to sloppy parenting? What, people here are going to do more for an animal?

averagejose: The last resort for us has been Animal Control, aka the “dog pound.” They kill them too quickly. We try to push strays to the various animal rescue groups in town. Editor: Love the online name.

lisat2: I hope they have a warrant, too. But no one needs a warrant to look over a stone wall. It’s fun to look over and see how sh*tty people’s back yards are in this town. Gives a real perspective on priorities, education and interests of the natives.

walt: You bet there are more serious problems than un-micro-chipped pets. And I think one of the most serious problems in this town is the corruption, both in government and the in the outdated morals of the populace. Name a topic; I’ve got examples. Maybe that’s for another Strelz forum, though.

NewsHound: You nailed it. People are not taking responsibility for their pets. It’s endemic here, and elsewhere in the US. At least, I guess, we don’t eat dogs as a general rule.

walt again: You got it on people not picking up after their pets. Gotta say, though, my trash can is routinely used to dump plastic baggies of dog-poo. That’s fine by me. Means the sidewalk I use is clean. Some folks have a clue in my neck of the woods.

averagejose again: People probably wouldn’t have to suffer the extreme financial hardship of paying $100 to get their pet back if they properly train and incorporate them into the household. That’s the point where EP becomes Redneck with reference to pets: is a dog or cat part of the household, or part of the furniture? That is really a tough question, for a lot of people, and a lot of people answer wrong, or are too ignorant and untrained to get the right answer. I know $100 bucks sucks to shell out, because it means less Bud Lite at the gas station. But it can be avoided — with the right attitude toward having pets. Make some accommodations to the animals’ needs (they’re really minor, but that’s a big secret revealed only to those willing to learn more), or simply don’t have pets.

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Finally: what’s funny is Animal Control’s notion of hiring “inspectors” to roam the neighborhoods looking after the welfare of animals, when they have stopped doing adoptions and shortened their kill cycle for animals they pick up. The city government is still out to sea on that, and effectively clueless.