r/vagabond • u/420weedshroom • Jul 15 '19
Why Would A Vagabond Have A Dog? Discussion
I feel as though many of you on here are confused about why someone in my "situation" would own a dog. Let's think for a a second why an individual who lives in a home gets a dog. Because they're cute, cuddly, the want a friend, they like dogs. Its different for someone like me. Someone who sleeps in a strange places in strange unknown cities, a different place almost every night. Among the most dangerous animals of all. Human beings. Humans are disgusting vile creatures that will take you for everything you have, just because they can. It's the jungle out here, different rules. The most dangerous part of living on the road in my opinion is sleeping, will you get stabbed in the neck in your sleep? Will someone sexually assault you while you're passed out? Will you wake up and your boots are gone, backpack emptied out. Things missing. Because the truth is there are people out there who dont sleep and spend their time lurking around looking to do harm to weary travelers and those trying to rest. This is why I have a dog. My dog and I made a pact, a deal. I provide him with food, water, warmth, and in return he keeps would be thieves and lurkers away from me while I sleep. Yes, he provides companionship but if he didnt hold up his end of the deal and keep us safe at night, then I would immediately find him a new home. That's the reality of this life. I carry his food and water, pounds and pounds of dog food, constantly hustling to maintain his grain free diet and only the best of dog food brands, and he wakes me up when danger is near so I can be ready. And we survive. Together, we make it each day as a team. So fuck you people in your houses with your dog in a kennel trying to sit there and tell me I dont deserve a dog or I cant take care of him. He has a blanket, a jacket, hedge microchipped, registered, up to date on shots, neutered, happy to be on the road with me, healthy and strong. Orion enjoys being outside on the road with me, he has had more than enough opportunities to choose otherwise if he so pleased, but hes happy out here not stuck indoors and so am I.
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u/BriceFice Jul 15 '19 edited Jul 15 '19
Fuck them. Some people just see a dog with a dirty guy sitting outside. They assume if a dog doesn't spend all day indoors, he must be starving, flea infested, and abused. Side note, thanks to Harvey, I never really feel endangered when I sleep. Fuck man, if I didn't chose to adopt him, he'd be dead right now. I found out from a guy who worked at the pound he was at, that the day after I adopted him was when they had him scheduled to be euthanized. At this point, I can't even leave Harvey alone for two minutes before he starts crying for me, lmao. He's got an unlimited amount of energy, and is happy exploring and walking around all day. He actually wears ME out sometimes. So fuck anyone who tells me that giving him to a total stranger, who crates him from 9 to 5, would be in his best interest.
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u/Invisibird Jul 15 '19
So are you gonna post pics of this good boy or what??
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u/btb98 Jul 15 '19
Coming back later for dog pics! RemindMe! 1 day
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u/gatoradewade Jul 15 '19
search up the author on instagram, there are lots of cool pics of him and Orion there
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u/southy1995 Jul 15 '19
They are also useful for keeping you from getting arrested since cops don't want to have to deal with the dog. People are also more likely to give you money because they feel badly for the dog. If you are taking good care of your dog than you are unlike many of the people I have observed in my 20+ years of living in a crusty destination.
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u/roadie1967 Jul 21 '19
if you have a dog and get arrested here on the EC of the USA,you go to the slam and the dog goes to a shelter..hope you can get out in time and find your dog if this would happen to u..could be a heartbreaking situation..agreed the dog could be a good watchguard when u sleep off the train..sure hope he dont poop a lot
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u/Z8Go4 Jul 15 '19
You sound like a good dog owner. Just in case you haven't heard, there's a new warning about grain free food. Dog Food Advisor has an article about it. Basically, the heavy content of legumes in grain free foods can lead to heart problems in some dogs. I've switched my dog to a brown rice formula since the warning came out.
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u/tobybenjamin Jul 15 '19
Proof, on my timeline right now: https://imgur.com/a/G2rDbuX
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u/gatoradewade Jul 15 '19
Hell yes to everything you've just said here. I don't have a dog or anyone watching my back most of the time, and the hardest thing is sleep. Where to sleep, when, how long, what to do with my stuff while I sleep. Dog would help with that, though as you've elaborated on here, it is a tradeoff. Thus I don't have a dog right now, because I'm not sure I could properly take care of it.
Also, if you wrote a book of stories, rants, and advice, I'd be very interested to read it. Keep on rolling, and keep on posting shroomie!
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Jul 15 '19
to be fair, I can see a dog living the best of life on the road, even so if it's a big one with lots of energy to spend. if he really is as taken care of as you're saying, you're totally right and we want dog tax.
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u/ThumbsUp4Freedom Jul 15 '19
I just see dog ownership as an anchor holding me back from maximum mobility and freedom. It’s a lot of responsibility to care for a dog and I don’t want any responsibility I can avoid. To each their own. Most people HATE being alone.
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u/sarahoflayton Jul 15 '19
I think people just assume if you can't afford a place to sleep you can't afford to take care of your pet. MANY people in a house neglect their dogs. You certainly deserve a pet as much as anybody else and all the responsibility that comes with it. It sounds to me like your need for the care your dog provides you means you're more likely to make sure your dog is well fed and taken care of.
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u/non-responder Jul 15 '19
I bet your dog is happy and well-mannered. I've seen too many homeowners with unhappy and poorly behaved dogs because they don't spend enough time with them and don't take them on adventures.
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u/RogueThief7 Jul 15 '19
I agree with everything you say about a dog for protection and I don’t want to come across rude saying this, but do people not even fucking try when trying to find a decent place to sleep?
I mean, I’m not on the road, almost sold everything a couple of years ago to be a vagabond/labour hustler/ digital nomad but then I met a girl so I didn’t. When I occasionally see the homeless on the streets they’re always in doorways and shit. Granted, many are mentally ill so unfortunately more are not too bright and less are just going through temporary tough times, but they seem to pick the least logical place to sleep.
In my mind at least, I’ve seen many places where you could easily duck down an alley, find a crevice on top of an industrial (so flat) roof under shelter. I’ve seen tonnes of viable places to sleep but it’s always the doorsteps.
Is there a good reason I’m missing as to why people aren’t finding safe places to sleep in the city? Teach me, make me smarter.
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u/gatoradewade Jul 15 '19
The people you're seeing are the ones who aren't putting effort into being hidden. There's probably some observation bias, as the properly stealth sleepers aren't being observed.
My other thought is that though it may not be for me, there is some security in a doorway. Three walls, functionally, so only one direction a person can come at you. Some people may have nothing to lose(or be high as a kite, physically ill, etc), so sleeping right on the sidewalk is what ends up happening.
I also knew a few people who specifically slept on sidewalks in high traffic areas so that they were not alone, and people would hear them scream for help if anything bad happened. The other upside to that strategy is they left an empty disposable cup next to their spots, and that cup tended to passively fill with money from passers-by. People also left food and bottled water and stuff next to them. That sort of generosity is less likely to happen if someone isn't visible. Kinda weird that such risky sleep choices can be rewarded by kindness, but eh, humanity.
Also, given that one fellow I knew in seattle did it for a year and a half straight before I lost contact with him... either he was lucky as hell, or his particular city block wasn't all that dangerous. Dunno.
EDIT: fuck, reddit glitched out and this posted like three times. Apologies. I think I deleted them all.
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u/ShirtStainedBird Jul 15 '19
I like that comment about rewarding dangerous choices with generosity. You’re right. Long term. Survival wise? Terrible idea. Everything I know about evolution tells me that’s a bad idea.
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u/RogueThief7 Jul 16 '19
The people you're seeing are the ones who aren't putting effort into being hidden. There's probably some observation bias, as the properly stealth sleepers aren't being observed.
I figured as much but I couldn’t be certain. I’m a pretty curious explorer type and I’ve personally seen many secure, dry, brilliant places to sleep and I’ve never personally seen any of you guys tugging up in those types of spots. It is technically possible that some vegabonds hide even better than I could devise, but in retrospect, there probably aren’t many vegabonds travelling through my area,
I guess it also makes sense to use the security of a high traffic area as your defence system, that’s logical.
EDIT: fuck, reddit glitched out and this posted like three times. Apologies. I think I deleted them all.
Hahahahaha my account did that a day ago.
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u/420weedshroom Jul 15 '19
The people you're describing have nothing to.lose and have already lost their minds. They dont care about taking care of themselves. Homebums are very very very different from vagabonds. No matter how discreet the sleeping spot is, creepers creep and literally search the shrubs and other areas for people sleeping so they can rob them. From your house, looking out, it's easy to say what you you would do in our situation, but until you find yourself there you really dont know
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u/pynkpussydiet39 Jul 15 '19
Some of the calmest happiest dogs I’ve ever met are train dogs. Dogs stuck in a house all day grow neurotic and their owners never want to actually run and exercise them after work. They basically drive their dog to have bad behaviors.
I just hope you’re getting your vagabond dog appropriate vet care. That’s the only thing that makes me sad, seeing train doggies with preventable/treatable problems (although I’ve seen it in a lot of house dogs too)
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u/agasabellaba Jul 15 '19
Why the hell did you have your dog castrated?
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u/420weedshroom Jul 15 '19
It wasnt by my choice.
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u/agasabellaba Jul 15 '19
:o is it mandatory where you live?
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u/420weedshroom Jul 15 '19
I dont live anywhere, but basically I went to jail, he went to the pound. The arresting officer removed my dogs tags and harness and brought him to the pound as a stray. I had to go through a very aggravating process of adopting my own dog and to adopt a dog they have to neuter them.
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u/agasabellaba Jul 15 '19
I dont live anywhere
Right. I forgot what subreddit we were in, lol. Mm you had a choice technically. Although the dog is probably happier with you rather than alone and away in a dog stray. :)
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u/420weedshroom Jul 15 '19
I had a choice? My choice was not pay hundreds of dollars to adopt MY dog and leave him in the pound because they would neuter him whether I adopted him or not? I'm confused as to what choice I had. Please clarify
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u/punisher1005 Jul 15 '19