Green Daily

In this lengthy New York Times piece about the increasing use of drugs to handle dogs' behavior problems, James Vlahos looks at both vets who happily prescribe canine versions of Prozac, anti-anxiety, and diet pills, and those, often in the school of B. F. Skinner, who think that simple behavior modification could fix the problems.

Pill-popping dogs aren't just a problem for pet owners. The more creatures--human or non-human--that take prescription drugs, the more chemical traces make it back into our water supply. Plus, if we expect domesticated animals to act like on-demand playthings, as the author suggests, what will we expect of the animals and ecosystems that badly need saving? Anthropomorphizing animals into cute cuddlies (which I'm as guilty of as the next person) may help raise funds or sell merchandise, but it doesn't always result in a treatment that is best for the animals.

Trying to get a dog to be calm when locked in a bathroom or small cage 9-5 while we go to work makes about as much sense as building a city in a floodplain then being surprised when it floods again. Still, if you have a dog obsessed with chewing his tail, or a kitten who terrorizes you every time you enter your bedroom, you might find some relief in the many therapies-- chemical and otherwise--suggested in this article.