Yesterday a commenter took ownership of  The 10 Commandments From a Pet’s Point of View that I had previously posted and love. While checking for more information I ran across The 10 Commandments of Pet Ownership written by Michael W. Fox for Boy’s life in 1985 on page 14.
Sep 1985
96 pages
Vol. 75, No. 9
ISSN 0006-8608
Published by Boy Scouts of America, Inc.

I also ran across a version that you can read better:
The 10 Commandments of Pet Ownership

1. All companion animals should be treated humanely — with patience, compassion and understanding.

2. All pets have the right to have certain basic needs satisfied — regular exercise, play, companionship and grooming. They also have the right to a clean and quiet place to live, rest, eat and sleep.

3. All pets have the right to receive fresh water and a complete and balanced diet each day. They all have the right to receive proper veterinary treatment if they are ill.

4. Like people, all pets have the right to fulfill their lives within the social constraints of responsible ownership, which may include the curtailment of certain needs and instincts — such as the need to roam free or the instinct to breed — for the ultimate benefit of the animal, of society and of the environment.

5. A caring owner (or more accurately, custodian or guardian) understands animals needs and provides those conditions most conducive to ensuring their physical and psychological well being.

6. No person has the right to exploit any animal inhumanely for profit, pleasure, or other selfish purpose, without regard for the animal’s intrinsic worth, interests and needs.

7. Understanding owners respect and appreciate animals for themselves, independent of personal bias and selfish wants. Such owners attend and listen to animals, and even when they appear to misbehave endeavor to ascertain what the animals need or are trying to communicate. Animals should not be overindulged (‘humanized”) to the detriment of their physical or psychological well being.

8. No owner should physically or psychologically abuse, neglect or abandon an animal. The ultimate responsibility is to ensure that when the time comes, the pet will die painlessly and with dignity, if euthanasia is required.

9. Before obtaining pets or giving them to other people, all people have the obligation to the animals to assure that they will live in a home that will best satisfy their basic needs and also that their basic rights will be recognized and upheld at all times.

10. All pet owners and those who care for animals have the right and responsibility to share with others, especially children, the ten commandments of pet ownership and to intercede in defense of any animal when its rights are violated and when it is being treated inhumanely, either through intent or indifference (neglect). The same principles hold true for the custodianship of laboratory, farm and zoo animals — indeed, all creatures under our dominion, including the wild creatures of the land, skies and water of our planet.

Michael W. Fox /From The New Animal Doctor’s Answer Book/published 1989

Click on  Dr. Fox to learn more

In a post I did a couple weeks ago I listed The Commandments For a Responsible Pet Owner which I had observed on many sites when I was looking for info about Westies with Author Unknown. Of course I should have done more checking. I like to give credit for other people’s work and I had even made a comment in the other post that I didn’t know who to give credit to, well now I do.

Today I received a comment from Stan Rawlinson/doglistener.co.uk, he informed me that he was the author of the 10 commandments for pet ownership, which is actually titled: The 10 Commandments From a Pet’s Point of View. He also asked that I post his original commandments because the ones I had posted had been modified over the years so you will find the final draft of his modified version below.

The 10 Commandments From a Pet’s Point of View

My life is likely to last 10-15 years, any separation from you will be painful for me. Remember that before you buy me.

Give me time to understand what you want from me, don’t be impatient, short-tempered, or irritable.

Place your trust in me and I will always trust you back. Respect is earned not given as an inalienable right.

Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment, I am not capable of understanding why? I only know I have been rejected, you have your work entertainment and friends I only have you.

Talk to me sometimes, even if I don’t understand your words I understand your voice and your tone, “you only have to look at my tail”.

Be aware that however you treat me I’ll never forget it, and if it’s cruel it may affect me forever.

Please don’t hit me I can’t hit back, but I can bite and scratch and I really don’t ever want to do that.

Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate, or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right foods or I’ve been out in the sun too long, or my heart is getting old and weak, I may be just dog tired.

Take care of me when I get old. You too will grow old and may also need love, care, comfort, and attention.

Go with me on difficult journeys, never say, “I can’t bear to watch” or “Let it happen in my absence”. Everything is easier for me if you are there. Remember, irrespective of what you do I will always love you.

© Stan Rawlinson 1993
Dog Behaviorist and Obedience Trainer
www.doglistener.co.uk
0208 979 2019 I changed this slightly from my initial 1993 poem
this is the final draft version 1998

Those commandments are great and more people should adhere to them. Just this past week they found a female Westie in the trash that had been severly beaten and a 12 inch stick had been rammed down her throat. Someone had left the little thing to die. The little girl who found her is going to be able to adopt her. I don’t understand how people can be so cold blooded and heartless and so damn cruel and sadistic.

Obie’s all kicked back looking cool and relaxed, but he’s just waiting for Sadie to come down and walk past so he can jump her, he likes to attack her and then zoom through the house and when she doesn’t follow him he scrunches down low and barks at her ( the only time I have ever heard him bark) to chase him. He’s so little compared to Sadie that he runs in and out and under her belly biting at her.

As a rule I don’t usually dress my pets unless it’s a kerchief around the neck or a jacket to keep them warm when it’s freezing outside. I have a feeling Bill will be buying all kinds of Harley attire for Obie though. He does look cute in the Harley t-shirt and he hates when I take it off, of course we have to get him some doggie goggles for the trike also. Bill always wanted a biker dog, he’ll probably start leaving me at home now.