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Dear Daphne: Anyone for a wristband? A ribbon? How about a pin?
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Anonymous user Wed Nov 30, -0001 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 1 comment I’ve been walking around this town long enough to know that there are about three kinds of people who make up my version of Bakersfield.

There are the people who (gasp!) don’t own pets and are happy to be pet-free.

Then there are people who own pets and maybe they dig their own little quadrupeds well enough, but they aren’t in any big hurry to surf the Internet for new toys or treats, or to explore the nuances of pets and pet ownership in modern society.

Finally, there’s that last group, otherwise known as “my people.

We’re the ones who can not only see the fun and beauty of our pets, but enjoy other people’s pets as well. We’re the ones who cast many, many ballots on kittenwar.com and know that the Puppy Bowl is bound to be worth more laughs than most of the overpriced commercials during the Super Bowl. We’re the people with whom we’d most like to spend time. The unapologetic fur-baby junkies.

Trouble is, we can be a little tough to find.

Sure, I can continue to stalk pet stores, hoping you brought your fur-kid along so I, a total stranger, can walk up and simultaneously coo over your dog and engage in critter small talk with you.

But that only goes so far. And there’s only so much time I can wander up and down the aisles of the pet store before security is assessing my general mental fitness.
Plus, that only works in pet stores, since our pets aren’t allowed almost anywhere else.

Hence, my brilliant idea.

It’s time for us, the certified-over-the-top-and-proud-of-it pet lovers, to have a way to identify ourselves to each other. All we need to decide now is what type of identifier we’d like to have.

We could go for one of those wristbands that got hyper-popular not too long ago, once everyone saw the “Livestrong” effort take off.

Or, we could get ourselves a ribbon, like any number of good causes have done in the last decade or so.

Heck, I’ll even settle for a pin. It can be something simple, like a black paw print on a white background, easily worn on a collar, lapel or tacked onto a handbag or baseball cap. 

Our design only has to have two rules: it has to be easily identifiable, and it has to be unisex in design so anyone can wear it. No pink, no flowers and no lace.
For pet lovers, this symbol can be the beginning of a revolution.

Imagine standing in any number of places where you’d rather not be waiting in line. There you are at the bank, on the Friday afternoon before a three-day weekend. Or, maybe you’re at the post office on a day where there are four windows, but only one clerk on duty. It’s obvious you’re going to be there a while.

But, as you look around in a vain attempt to distract yourself, something catches your eye. It’s a pin! And not just any pin, but a white pin with a black paw print in the center.

You say,”Hi,” flashing your matching pin. The next thing you know, you’re knee-deep in conversation about your favorite things — your pets.
The tension of having to stand in line has abated. You’re grinning and laughing as you share anecdotes with your newfound friend.

And this happens over and over again, at the dentist’s office, at the car dealership while you’re waiting for your car to have its oil changed, while you’re waiting in line at the deli counter inside Albertsons, maybe even at work. You continue to meet other furry-friend junkies, your lives intersecting in strange and fascinating ways.

The world grows just a tiny bit smaller with each meeting as we are able to reach out and be willingly reached by others who are like-minded in our devotion to our pets.
So, what’s it going to be, folks … wristband, ribbon or pin?

Bow-wow for now,
Daphne
E-mail Daphne at: daphne@swvoice.com

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Comment From: daphne

Response received via email: This is a reply to your post on NorthwestVoice.com with the title: "Dear Daphne: Unhappy with animal control? Then help fix it!": Here is the text of the reply: "Yes, our German Shepherd is licensed and chipped. We LOVE him and don't want to lose him. I read the April 12, 2006 article on writstband, ribbon or pins to help us recognize true animal lovers and my vote is for the pin. Love the idea. I assume there will be a charge for the item chosen...where will the money go? Can it be donated to the SPCA Spay and Neuter fund so we can stop the over population that has occured. Having them licensed helps the organization, but spay and neuter helps them more by controlling the population. Thanks for listening"