Pets in institutions

Some people buy pets to keep in large institutions and more often than not, these happen to be dogs. The problem is that the animals don't get acquainted to the inhabitants of these institutions since there is an inflow and outflow of large numbers of people. They mostly happen to be learning institutions like high schools and colleges. You find that the dog gets stressed and this shows in its subdued gait when walking along the corridors with the tail between its legs as if expecting a blow or a reprimand any moment. Some students don't help matters by making fun of the animal by frightening it usually in a pathetic bid to entertain their colleagues. In other instances, the animal becomes consumed by fear and stress until it lets go and seems to have adopted the policy of live and let live. I think pets in institutions should have their own quarters and their handlers should allow them to mix with the community so as to let them have a quality life since they only live once just like us.

This reminds me of the movie Max, about the dog who was used in the Middle East war. Max had a trainer who was killed in the war and that death was the fulcrum of the story. When Max was brought home to America, the dog seemed to be lost. Fortunately, the handler's brother had the passion to take care of Max in honor of his brother. Sans the drama, Max acclimatized and became comfortable with his handler's younger brother.

In an institution, I think it is all right to have dogs particularly for the benefit of children like in hospitals or schools. However, the dog should have a dedicated handler and if I have the authority, I would require that the dog live with the handler. That means the handler and the dog would come to work every day as if the dog is also an employee. If there are no fixed handler for the dog then it may be confused and would suffer an emotional distress.