Dog days

Do animal experience cultural differences?
I know that people in different cultures see animals in many different ways.

Lets take dogs for example.

In some cultures, like the US or UK, dogs are loved and considered a great pet to have at home and with the family. In other cultures, such as those where Islam is the majority religion, dogs may be perceived as dirty or dangerous. Muslims' treatment of dogs is still a matter of debate amongst Islamic scholars . While these animals are widely considered by many Western cultures to be 'man's best friend', the Koran describes them as unhygienic. Muslims will therefore avoid touching a dog unless he can wash his hands immediately afterwards, and they will almost never keep a dog in their home.A Middle Eastern man might be very surprised when going to Japan, for instance, and seeing dogs being dressed and pampered like humans and carried around in baby prams!

Dogs are not the only animals which are perceived quite differently from one culture to another. In India, for example, cows are sacred and are treated with the utmost respect. Conversely in Argentina, beef is a symbol of national pride because of its tradition and the high quality of its cuts. An Indian working in Argentina who has not done his research may be surprised at his first welcome dinner where a main dish of beef would be served.

It is therefore crucial to be aware of the specific values assigned to objects or animals in different cultures to avoid faux-pas or cultural misunderstandings, particularly when living and working in another culture. Learning how people value animals and other symbols around the world is one of the numerous cultural examples discussed and may help you ensure you aren't insensitive and it may even provide you with a good topic for conversation.

We are living exciting time with my husband.
We are getting a rescue dog from Romania. His name is Papa, he is 5 years old and we cannot wait for him to be in his forever-home <3

-Johanna