I wish my Nana looked like a dog

I was sitting at a cafe recently, enjoying my coffee in the sunshine when I had no idea what was about to happen would send me spiraling off into another one of my thinking coma's where I spend days, even weeks, withdrawn into myself and turning a topic over and over and... well, you get the idea.

I sat soaking in the sunshine and coffee when a lady walked past with a cute and newly groomed dog that made everyone turn and burst out with accolades and excitement. Not one head didn't turn. Not one face didn't light up with joy. The owner of this cute and coiffed little companion was just beaming with pride. It really was a lovely postcard moment. While all this was happening along came a man pushing his disabled companion in a wheelchair. As he tried to navigate his way through the happy throng. Smiles were deflating and replaced by awkward stares as the man and his wheelchair asked politely, and somewhat embarrassingly to be allowed pass. Slowly people cleared a path and the couple moved slowly by without so much as a smile or a polite hello. Once seated they waited patiently for a waiter to come and take their order as she was clearly distracted and occupied by the furry visitor. And then it hit me. "Are we prouder of, and kinder to our pets than we are of our disabled, elderly and chronically ill?"

The internet groans under the weight of pictures of adored pets and their proud owners. They are clearly entrenched in the modern family and billions of dollars are spent globally on our 'fur kids'.  As I go through the photo albums of my friends on facebook I quickly lose count of all the pictures of sleeping cats and barking dogs but where are pictures of handicapped friends, elderly loved ones and visits with chronically ill relatives? Perhaps I am over simplifying but I am sure you are starting to see my point, yes? No? Ok, well here is another example. Recently on my facebook feeds there was a post about a raising funds for a dog who urgently needed a walking frame. Funds came pouring in and a follow up picture of the dog in his new walking frame hit nearly 500,000 'likes' and adoring comments.  We contrast that to the way in which newly disabled individuals fight for acceptance and validation from a society that doesn't seem as adoring or proud of them. Although pets can't cook, clean, pay taxes or mow the lawn, we certainly don't think less of them. We will still walk them proudly down the street. Not so true for many of our disabled, elderly and chronically ill. Once they become less able to fulfill our expectations and meet society's demands then they become less appreciated.

I am an animal lover myself and am proud of every one of my furry children. They are so easy to love as they offer us unconditional love and a much needed furry hug when we need it most, but I am sure that a disabled love one and/or chronically ill relative has jut as much to offer and a wealth of love and wisdom. The way we value the sick, disabled and elderly is indication of us as a society and I think therefore there is a lot we need to address.

I posed this question in another forum recently and was bombarded with indignant comments arguing that we have done much to raise the profile for the sick, disabled and the elderly through the introduction of the Paralympics, mini me and Darth Vader but I remain unconvinced. I was even told that our pets are more loveable because they don't moan or argue or have human characteristics. A truly shocking comment which staggers belief. I truly think if we visited the nursing homes, the rehab hospitals and the palliative care wards we would struggle to feel that we value these individuals who battle some of the most difficult and challenging times of life.

"The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that’s wrong with the world."

 Is it just me, or do you agree this needs to change?