The Benny Chronicles
Advice for New Puppy People
A rough guide for anti-speciesists who have found themselves with a puppy to raise
Benny came into my life out of nowhere. I had long wanted a puppy, but could never get myself to commit until I was given no choice: Here was a puppy without a home, and I couldn’t refuse him.
But I had no idea what I was doing, and was in too much immediate shock to think of things like YouTube videos or dog behavior books. He was just there and making demands. In the months since he fell into my lap, though, I’ve been able to gather intel from professionals and other puppy lovers alike. I learned that it’s ok both to crate and not to crate; it depends on the living situation and the dog’s needs. I also figured out that I shouldn’t be too worked up about having had him fixed, as it will ultimately be better for both him and anyone who cares for him.
I do wish I’d had a rough guide at the start from someone who considers the sentience of non-human animals as significant as their own, though, to give me some advice. Here is that rough guide.
Don’t freak out
It will be easy to freak out about everything, but puppy behavior makes sense. It will take time to build a shared language with your…
