Economic Benefits of Having a Dog

(this picture of us was taken by Anton Kovalenko last summer - note the ikat collar!)

Certainly my dog helps me save a lot of money. How does he do that? In so many ways!

For instance, I just dropped an egg on the kitchen floor. Instead of simply wiping it, I called my Malinois and told him to eat it. He obliged, of course. Thus, the egg was not wasted - is not it a sustainable approach at its best? As for the indirect benefits, I was not upset by the waste, and when I am not upset - I am more productive, which means more money for the family budget, and I am nicer to my family, which means that my husband works more efficiently, too, and smokes less. Well, actually he quit smoking altogether... maybe I should give a credit for that to the dog, too. I must think about the reasoning.

Another way he helps me save money is that I spend a lot of time walking him, and my clothes for walking the dog are so much cheaper than clothes for walking myself to a theater or a restaurant. My camo pants last about two years  and I wear them every day, whereas for theaters I need new silk or lace dresses each time to feel beautiful and well-dressed. Besides, walking and playing and running with him is way healthier than eating out and drinking wine or beer (cheaper, too), and certainly helps cut my medical bills.

Ah, another thing I forgot to mention: I have no need for alarm systems or personal protection weapon. He has a very impressive voice. And as a KNPV-bred Malinois from the Netherlands, he is better than a gun, while looking so much nicer. He also licks me and wags his tail - no gun in the world be able to do that.

This dog is making a lot of good for our budget, indeed. I firmly believe that.