by Cinda Smaagaard

Created on: May 10, 2009

Companion animals are essential to any home. Dogs and cats both make good pets, but I believe a dog would be the more faithful friend for the following reasons.

Dogs will not cough up hairballs on your floor. Dogs will not scratch holes nor snag your clothing with their claws just for spite.

Dogs will not throw kitty litter all over and smell to high heavens. Dogs will come when you call, fetch when you throw a ball and act as protectors, guardians and defenders.

This is not to say that cats do not have special gifts of compassion and devotion. They will follow you on foot across town if they have the incentive. They also love to bring frightening presents to your doorstep like live snakes and mice and wayward socks. But for overall unconditional love, the dog is the better pet.

Dogs can act as police K9s, going after the bad guys and sniffing out illegal contraband. They tell you when there is smoke or a crying baby or some stranger at the door. In time they can recognize just by the sound of a car motor, who is coming down the street.

Dogs can act as service animals, guiding the blind, alerting for the hearing impaired, comforting and aiding the disabled.

Dogs can herd sheep, fetch pheasants, babysit and rescue lost children, sniff out cadavers and even pull you from a fire. I would like to see a cat do that! Cats and dogs are like apples and oranges. You really cannot compare the two. Although they both will bring hours of enjoyment, lick your tears, cuddle and love you and bring blessings and laughter to your life, I do believe only the dog will actually help lower your blood pressure measurably and exercise alongside you on runs or go swimming with you at the lake.

Dogs love the car, while most cats kind of hang on for dear life. Dogs do not really howl at the moon anymore, but if cats are not neutered and spayed they will go on yowling for hours. Dogs stay close to home, they do not care how they look most of the time and expect you to be the center of their universe. Cats have their own agenda which is a plus because they are not as demanding on your time and attention. The downside is that you really cannot count on them to be there for you and they can also find their own food sources - thank you very much - yet like the dog they are not above begging or even stealing what delectable treat you have on the table. Cats just are better at climbing and reaching them.

Dogs are best when it comes to obedience and loyalty and honesty and unconditional love, all those kinds of things we hope for in our spiritual life. For this reason, I would take a dog over a cat anyday and a tiny poo, nonshedding, nonbarking lap-dog even better.

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