Showsight March 2017

by BJ ANDREWS ON THE LINE

U nlike any history you’ve ever read, the dog did not evolve, it is the only ani- mal that came to us already domesticated, genetically programmed to serve mankind. First let’s do away with the bundle of “theories” about the creation or origin of the dog. There is no archaeological evidence that any of the first age wolf populations have any genetic/DNA con- nection to dogs. To further confound both scientists and theorists, the inter- breeding of dog and wolf population “over at least the last 10,000 years, has blurred the genetic signatures and con- founded efforts of researchers at pin- pointing the origins of dogs,” Larson G. (2012). “Rethinking dog domestica- tion by integrating genetics, archeology and biogeography”. SO MY CREATION-EVOLU- TION-GENETIC QUESTION IS WHAT MAKES DOGS DIFFERENT FROM EVERY OTHER SPECIES THAT SERVES MANKIND? First, a little genetic background. Scholars tell us that all dogs descend- ed from the wolf. (Re-read the second paragraph and scoff at the scholars.) That is why dogs are genetically cata- loged as genus canis lupus familiaris . You might be thinking, ‘What about domestic cats’—or horses or perhaps

Human, oxen and dogs depicted in a prehistoric cave painting in Algeria, North Africa.

even elephants. For many animal lov- ers they run a close second in service to mankind, but they fall short in many ways. Try hitching a cat to a cart. Hors- es and elephants have served mankind for centuries; but unchained, they are gone with the speed of a gazelle! No species on the planet chooses the company of man except the dog. Not one. Scientists don’t talk about that because they have no explanation. Neither do I, but let’s look at what we do know. (Cat lovers, you know it is all about the easy food and easy living.) The dog as we know it joined up with man over 15,000 years ago. China was the first to domesticate and keep

dogs as pets. From the Arctic to China to West Africa, dogs are still eaten. Even a rabies scare didn’t slow down the dog meat market 1 which is not exactly a claim to fame for humanity. But think about this—even if your family dog knew that people eat dogs and that he could be next, it is unlikely he would desert you.

DOGS: THE CREATION- EVOLUTION MYSTERY

Prehistoric cave painting, c. 6000-1500 BC.

98 • S how S ight M agazine , M arch 2017

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