A Ten-Year Decision

Okay, there is the neighborhood dog—Xiao Hei. He has been, uh, she has actually been adopted by the , uh, foot massage place, right here. So, at least they’re taking care of this dog.
Xiao Hei’s actually very lucky, because most street dogs here in Taipei, uh, don’t get taken care of by anybody.
Oh, yeah, you’re beautiful, beautiful, yeah.
Now, Xiao Hei is three years old, and I think, about uh, maybe 60 kilograms. So, this is a fat dog.
Go ahead. This is a fat dog, so, and eh, she should not be this fat. So, three years old, 60 kilograms, right.
So, the problem is, people don’t take care of their dogs, properly. I’ll come back to you in just a moment.
Hey! Xiao Hei almost got run over.
Come here, Xiao Hei!
Xiao Hei, you want a hamburger, right?
There’s a couple problems, what happens with dogs here in Taipei, and many other places, is that, um, people just, they don’t understand the decision to buy a dog. It is a ten-year decision. Let me repeat that, buying a dog is a ten-year decision. And too many people go watch a movie, and they see a dog like, uh, the Labrador in “Marley and Me”, or maybe the Husky in “Eight Below”, and, uh, they just don’t understand they’re not ready for that decision.
This is like inviting another person to live into your home
And then they bring these big dogs home, and live in these tiny apartments. A big dog needs a lot of room, and, uh, needs a lot of exercise, needs a lot of space.
And then what happens is also the dogs, uh, er, the people actually, they become bored after one year. Their children become disinterested—the children promised to take care of the puppy FOREVER—and of course, that never happens.
But, um, what we need to do is think about a decision to buy a dog. Don’t just go watch a movie and buy a dog because you think they’re cute.
And don’t just go and buy a dog in the market place because you see a puppy. This is a ten-year decision; why would you only take five minutes, or even an hour-and-a-half and consider that decision.
So—and then what happens is people just end up getting rid of the dogs, and, uh, they put them out on the street—like Xiao Hei here. Three years old.
We also need to feed the dogs properly. Don’t be giving them chocolate or fried chicken—they need dry dog food.
So, I hope I don’t see too many more dogs like Xiao Hei, here.
Alright everybody, take care.

Key Words

Adopted-v-taken in taken care of by a different family, person or group of people.
Properly-adv-to do something in the right way.
Disinterested-adj-not interested anymore, not caring about something.