A woman walks outside as I sit with my cats in the grass. An elderly woman. On a very short leash maybe 2 feet long, she has a young pup walking with her.

Dogs are among the most energetic animals in this country. Young dogs are even moreso. Old women in their 70s have about as much energy as a moldy banana.

She walks at her own pace, maybe 1.5 km/hour, as this joyful creature wants nothing more than to run free for just an instant... to feel alive and live life the way its body was created for. Its front paws are constantly above the ground, trying to take a step forward as this creature behind it is tugging on its young neck. Every once in a while, the woman would stop to teach the pup some good ol' discipline, since it was being a "bad dog" for wanting to walk faster. She would tell it to "sit" at random inappropriate times, and yell if it did not comply... even though dogs listen only to tone of voice and were never taught the english tongue. Then she'd yank some more on it's neck to make sure those evil thoughts of freedom are buried, the way tradition dictates it should be.

This woman will probably continue to do this for several months, or years, on a regular or daily basis, until the dog has no spirit left to act. It will sit, eat, and when it's lucky, walk at 1.5km/hour outside, until the day it dies.

There are probably tens of thousands of people out there doing the exact same thing. But ohh, it's ok... it's only an animal. Not like it feels or anything.


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I'll be spending the next 3 days camping. Again.