> > I'm not sure I buy Sam's argument that cleaning up poop is part of the joys of dog ownership.
>
> Definitely not the point I was making.

Yeah, I know. I was employing exageration to increase the comedy. Is that hyperbole, or am I thinking of something else? Anyway...

> The point I was making is that the process of caring for a pet -- which is largely made up of the nuisances of feeding, bathing, grooming, cleaning, etc, that the proposed strain of robo-dogs would eliminate -- is a large and probably critical part of what drives the emotional bond between the owner and the pet, which, in turn, is mostly what makes pet ownership a rewarding experience.

I'm still not sure I buy this argument. For me, those are things you just do because you have to. Like if you want to ride a motorcycle for enjoyment, you have to put gas in it and keep it maintained. You don't take pleasure in putting gas in your hog, you don't derive joy from taking it to the shop to get it tuned. Those are things you do because you have to, maybe because you "love" your bike and want to keep it running perfectly.

The biggest part of pet ownership to me is the unconditional love that (mostly dogs, sometimes cats) show their owners. Being met at the door by a wagging tail and a stupid doggy-grin are joy-inducing. Taking Rover for rabies shots is not. True, giving your pet a bath can be a bonding experience. But I don't buy that cutting that part of the owner-pet relationship would somehow harm the overall relationship. Seems like it's just more time for frolicking together in the back yard.

It's really the same reason why I don't understand fish as pet. I had fish once. It was stupid. Fish don't meet you at the door with unreasonable joy at the fact that you're home. Fish don't curl up on your lap while you're reading a book. You can't pet fish, you can't hold fish, and you sure can't sleep with a fish (well, you can sleep with the fishes, but only if you cross the mafia). And yet, you STILL have to clean up after them (not as much as dogs and cats, but the tank needs cleaning occasionally) and feed them. All the drawbacks of pet ownership (in my mind), and NONE of the benefits. Worst. Pet. Ever.

-- Dave