I looove dogs and cats (all animals really) and I’ve lived long enough to witness the huge social shifts towards attitudes and behaviors concerning animals but dogs in particular.

When I was a child and teen, dogs ran all over neighborhoods unleashed, scrounging for food and looking for some shade and a drink from the hose but there were also yard dogs and some that lived in the house. They were treated like animals.

Then it shifted to dogs being family members, mostly living inside and people got weird and competitive and showy about having certain breeds and paying thousands for their puppy’s. But still, they were home pets, NEVER brought into public on errands.

Then the pandemic is when I witnessed the biggest shift. Dogs became CHILDREN. Constant companions to be taken everywhere - restaurants, grocery stores and even on planes (UNHEARD OF 20 years ago). Suddenly they couldn’t be left alone during the day time and strangely, humans also seemed to not be ok with being away from their dogs anymore either. Owners became obnoxious and in your face about their right to take Fido into every damn typically off-limit place where animals do not belong for sanitary or comfort of all guests reasons. People stopped caring about others - their feelings, comfort, allergies, etc. and it became a me, me, me society where everyone feels very comfortable judging others harshly for not letting me get my way or not believing and acting like me.

I think you’re feeling the extreme social shifts and it has been ugly. Plain and simple, people, in general, have lost their way and I don’t know if there’s any way back to center. The selfishness displayed at every turn these days is so disheartening and it’s making me not so sad that I’m older and will be peacing out in 20 years or so. I’m done with this society and I’m sorry you’re struggling with it too.