Andy Rooney and James Michener are both great writers and two of my favorite authors. I would rather be Andy Rooney because he does not have to have legions of researchers to authenticate his works. His musings emulate the everyday actions and interactions of the common man. Everyone can relate to what thoughts he is conveying. I just finished reading his book “Common (Non) Sense” and can relate to many of the views he conveys to the reader. One in particular struck a note with me. It was of his concept of how horses should be treated. In particular how their relationship with humans compares with those of dogs.

He points out that most are both treated with love and dignity but when they reach the end of the trail most horses are abandoned to their fate as dog food. Everyone knows how the majority of dogs made their way into that land from which no growler returns but little about how horses achieve the same. I had given little thought about the subject until he jogged my senses.

I grew up with horses and was both in awe, and fear of them. One does well to respect any animal with the size, strength and diverse dispositions the animals have. I also grew up with dogs, mostly hunting dogs. We lived in a rural area in a time when animals had not acquired the respect and protection all animals deserve. Most people cared on their own without any pressure from authorities and my family did too. I came to know where all of our dogs were buried but never knew and never thought about where Duke our dependable old work horse ended up.

It was the late forties and times were tougher than they are now. Nobody wasted a penny and several hundred pounds of protein could not be wasted. I was not there when the buyer came to pick up Duke but I am sure it was one of the bleakest days in my old Uncle Mart’s life. He purposely did not tell us it was about to happen or when it happened.

My children and one grandchild had the luxury of one pony and three horses for pets. I called them luxuries because purely and simply they were just that. If one thinks dogs can be expensive then do not even remotely think about getting any type of equine animal. Over time they all left our care due to various reasons and I was spared the ultimate decision and the heartbreak of the end.

Their care, housing and training is much far removed from any other domestic animals. After they are trained they require constant reminding of it or they can become very lax and truculent and require firm hands. It is something most youngsters are unable to follow through on. Like all pets the majority of the children they are acquired for soon lose interest in them and someone else usually the parents have to take over.

Not everyone is endowed with the patience or skill it takes to train and care for pets and that causes the most stress and anguish to both the family and the pet. I am a little like the kids. I love all animals but have never had the time, energy or patience to properly care and train them. I can advise anyone from experience that chickens are the easiest pets one can have to care for and they come with bonuses. They are also entertaining to watch in their actions. Four of my friends enjoy sitting out on the porch and watching their antics while relaxing and enjoying a beer or coffee.

They can become pets but are not as hard to part with. All farm kids are conditioned to not become attached to the livestock. My father was a butcher and when I became old enough was expected to help him, which I did. We used to accompany our uncle when he delivered hogs to Hoffmann’s Packing Plant in Syracuse and watched the livestock being slaughtered while we waited. They were dispatched as humanely as possible. We took no joy in the scene, simply were interested in a simple fact of life. It was something we both were able to do to sustain ourselves if we needed to. That’s the way it is.

The thought for the week comes from our first President who at the time was considered the most wealthy person in the nation, George Washington: A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.