NPR: Insert Dog Pun Here

Insert Dog Pun Here

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Anne Carnes pushing her dog Shadow.

Credit: The Brooklyn Paper / Gregory P. Mango

Great. Now the world can accuse American pets of being lazy, too.

When we were shooting our intro video for this blog we ran across a lady pushing her two dogs in a stroller. I was sure it would be the first and last time I saw anything so ridiculous.

But today, I get an email from a good friend about the next big thing in New York: Pet strollers. The Brooklyn Paper has done a story on the trend (oh, man -- I can't believe this is a trend) and interviewed Anne Carnes from Bay Ridge about her petmobile:

"It was worth every penny," Carnes said. "Shadow lets me know when he has to do his business and he jumps right out. He also lets me know when he gets tired and he jumps back in, he is a very smart dog."

Beth Deprado is one of the perpetrators behind the strollers. Her store is called Posh Pets. From The Brooklyn Paper:

Deprado's store sells six different models ranging in prices from the Happy Trails model at $65, to the $200 luxury Jeep model. Most accommodate dogs in the 20-pound range and the strollers come in all colors.

Dog strollers: Official Trend. (sigh)

Hot Dog On a Roll: Pampered Pooch Pushed In Stroller (The Brooklyn Paper)

Matt Martinez

1:42 PM ET | 04-13-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Combine the strollers with designer breeds, and pet day spas, and that's a solid segment on how pets are taking over our lives.

Pets used to serve us and help us relax, but how have they turned the tables? Further, does this fit into Open Source listener plaintext's assertion that, "Anthropomorphism [ -- the process of humanization -- ] is a perfect example of this. And dogs have survived precisely by taking advantage of this innate defect in the human psyche" that allows them to force us into human relationships with them?

Sent by Steve Petersen | 5:17 PM ET | 04-13-2007

Steve Petersen, do you hear that sound? That's the sound of my mind blowing. Wow. I just thought this was a case of humans with too much time on their hands, but now I'm not so sure. Now you've got me thinking about all kinds of stuff -- like: The people featured in the story seem to be older, so could this be some kind of empty nest syndrome? I'd be interested to know how many young people are buying the strollers. The whole anthropomorphism thing would be a fantastic segment. I was just in Los Angeles and I have never seen so many pet day spas. D.C. and New York have their fair share, but they've got nothing on L.A.

To everyone: What are the sort of things you have done for your pets that other people have thought were weird? And why did you do them? Did you actually think it would make Mr. Peepers happier?

Sent by Matt Martinez | 5:47 PM ET | 04-13-2007

Matt,

The only pets I've had are fish. However, I do know that my older sister who has a dog really wanted to get him into a posh kennel for when she traveled. He didn't get in since he didn't pass all of the interviews and behaved badly during his complimentary day to see if he wouldn't run amok. My sister just wanted him to relax since she and her husband are gone most of the day while he's stuck inside. Nothing more... I think.

Concerning anthropomorphism, I wonder why some parrots mimic human speech. Did humans breed them to do that? Why? If not, the birds' ability to play the game shadow is natural. What possible biological advantage does that give parrots? Is it simply to develop deeper connections with humans so that they can mooch off us (kind of like what plaintext thinks dogs have done with us)?

Sent by Steve Petersen | 7:43 PM ET | 04-13-2007

Dogs are supposed to be walked. Cats are never supposed to have a leash. THese are the way God intended things to work. Otherwise, the dog wouldn't jump up and down happy as a clam whenever you said the word "out", and the can't wouldn't look disdainfully at you unless you where scratching under her chin.

Strollers, on the other hand, are used to carry all of your child's favorite toys, and, occassionally, your child, when he isn't fighting his way out.

Sent by Scott K. | 1:00 AM ET | 04-19-2007

Why are trends only considered trends when they're spotted in New York? I've seen elderly ladies pushing their poodles around in perambulators all my life. Heck, I've seen them being pushed along the boardwalk in Rio de Janeiro. When dogs become ersatz children, the baby buggy is the next logical choice. There's nothing particularly New Yorky -- or even American -- about this.

Sent by Olaf | 5:21 PM ET | 05-03-2007

I don't see why so many people have such an initial negative reaction to pet strollers. Mot people that own them are very conscientious pet owners and make sure that their pets get plenty of exercise in addition to whatever amount of time their pets spend strolling. They are great for older dogs or cats that can't walk long distances without tiring quickly.

Robert Pittman
www.strollersforpets.com

Sent by Robert Pittman | 5:28 PM ET | 11-18-2007

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