While I have strong feelings on many things, I have chosen this blog to just be a reflection of my life..mostly as a diary for myself and my family and just "stuff" that I think about.
Well, believe me when I say, I AM thinking about this!!!
Some of you will remember when we had a rescue "wiener" named Booper. A sweet boy with a cranky edge who needed love and care...I slept out on the couch for a week or two after he came to stay with us for a time so I could sleep with my hand on him and pat him as need be to reassure him that he was alright. He came around really well, but could never learn to ride in a vehicle and wasn't to be totally trusted that he wouldn't nip...He had been on his own too long...and we certainly didn't know the whole story. We felt certain he was 12 years old...too old to live anymore..right? WRONG! When Mike transferred, we knew we couldn't take him and a wonderful woman who has had her own private rescue for many years took him in...he would be adopted to ONLY the right people..have health care, have people come to walk him, have lots of places outside to dig and run. It wasn't ideal as he LOVES to go for walks (could teach Ole a thing or two) and would play catch until he would drop! We had to stop throwing it just for his own good!
The woman who (still) has Booper (he will likely live out his days with her) forwarded the following letter. I am APPALLED and while I had a fluff post ready to go, I just HAVE to share this with any of you who will take the time to read it.
I have a registered dog, don't get me wrong...I love a dog no matter where, what, who...and would have loved to have rescued, BUT as it turns out that didn't happen, and that was ok, but that doesn't mean I don't want to help support rescue and foster efforts.
I can't remember the last time I wrote in "protest" of something, but this day I will for sure.
I DO ask that if any of you decide to voice your opinion, to please do so in a respectful manner...I personally do not want to undermine what I am trying to do by being inflammatory and having my opinion and thoughts tossed out as a radical nutcase!!
Thank you to all for reading this and for taking time to send a note if you choose to.
I can't do much on my own, but TOGETHER we CAN do something!
Mare
BELOW IS THE EMAIL I RECEIVED THIS MORNING. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO READ IT.
In case you missed this article in today's paper, I wrote this to send for your information. I think you may find this as heartless on the part of Westminster officials as I did.
I was shocked to read the Associated press article, NY, stating that Westminster will totally drop any ads on adoption, rescue, or anything about dogs in shelters whatsoever. They will show dressed up dogs and their owners instead. They say, "Pet lovers won't have to look away anymore when those heart-wrenching TV ads appear during the dog show -- the ones with the pitiful little faces peering out from behind those rusted bars of a cage and wondering how did I end up here". Westminster says they, "made the decision to shift the focus away from sad-eyed animals in need of adoption". They say, "gone will be the woeful pictures of dogs with pleading eyes wasting away at the pound hoping to be adopted". The Westminster spokesman and longtime TV host David Frei said the primary audience said those commercials made them want to turn the channel. He said seeing puppies behind bars took away from the show because it was "not their message". This article is in the
Sunday paper, today, and the Westminster Dog Show starts tomorrow.
Pedigree was booted as the sponsor, and Nestle Purina is now the sponsor. I remember Nestle, they were, and may still be, importing ingredients for dog food and still sourcing from China. We remember that animals died when trusting owners fed their beloved pets that food. The Pedigree sponsor said Westminster thought Pedigree was too focused on adoption, although 4 million dogs get put in shelters each year and few make it out. I would never feed my rescued dogs Nestle Purina because of the ingredients, and same with Pedigree. My rescued dogs get the best, and they always will. They are from death row and from abusive and tortured circumstances. My dogs are as deserving as any dog on the planet, and if abandoned dogs facing death in shelters are not worthy of being on commercials to remind people that they are there, I don't know what dogs would be more worthy!
So Westminster doesn't think people should have to view helpless, desperate and needy dogs who can be adopted and saved! That is too hard for people watching a dog show to be subjected to, they might be reminded that there ARE deserving dogs who are on hard times and may die? Some dogs, so unfortunate to be in shelters facing death, are just as pedigreed as the dogs in the dog show, and many are mixed, but nobody watching that show should be reminded of them? WE ARE REMINDED DAY AND NIGHT, and our hearts break, and there is never enough help. We NEED help. People NEED to be reminded! Many dogs died daily, thousands, and we beg for help for them. Westminster has no concern for these dogs and eliminates them from the show commercials because viewers might have compassion for little desperate shelter dogs, or feel sorry for them?
The dogs we work for, that we save or can't save, those worthy dogs, who are wonderful, hopeful and trusting, they can't be viewed because that might detract from the Westminster glitter?
The Westminster Dog Show will take place February 13 and 14, 2012. To voice indignation that there will be no further comments on Westminster Dog Show regarding needs of shelter dogs, which will be eliminated, here are the only addresses I found. Others can probably do more, and there are those who are in publications, with contacts, who write articles and who are great in organizing efforts.
I call to all who can speak out for our helpless angel dogs who are loving, deserving, hopeful and trusting, to help them receive all help in every aspect to save them. That presenting them on Westminster Dog Show is now dropped, and that they are shot down as unworthy to be acknowledged, makes my blood boil, and I am totally outraged and beyond disgust for Westminster persons responsible for this.
Here is information for contact and for comments:
Please let the parties involved know how you feel. REMEMBER: shouting may make YOU feel good but does not solve the problems. Be firm but also be polite.
Public relations & publicity, Media Information Forms, media contact, credentials:
David Frei
Director of Communications
(212) 213-3212
david@westminsterkennelclub.org
-Tickets, vendors, hotels, catalog advertising, merchandise:
Florence Foti
Director of Operations
(212) 213-3165
florence@westminsterkennelclub.org
Premium Lists, Invitations, Entries, Show Regulations
MB-F
www.infodog.com
(336) 379-9352
mbf2@infodog.com
This is definitely a lightning rod topic. I think what AKC has decided to do during Westminster is focus on the purebred dog, because that is what Westminster celebrates. Apparently, some 19,000 people were surveyed, and the majority said they wanted to see commercials focusing on purebred dogs during Westminster. That makes sense to me, too. Most breed clubs have their own rescue groups, and work tirelessly on rescue efforts. The message here isn't that rescue is bad. You will still see Pedigree commercials featuring lovable shelter mutts on TV, just not at Westminster.
ReplyDeleteYes Luvs, I know it's a "hot topic" and you KNOW i have a pure bred. I just see this as such an amazing opportunity to "put it out there"...raise awareness to people who love animals (or they wouldn't be watching the show!) Like I said, I rarely say anything that might rock the boat, but since I "own the boat" I decided to rock it a bit today.
ReplyDeleteI DO appreciate your input on it...also food for thought!
Mare
I agree, it is a good opportunity to highlight shelter dogs, which AKC has done for many years through Pedigree commercials. I think there is a bit of backlash going on now, re: the animal rights groups and mutt rescues, who have been very critical of AKC and purebred dog breeders. Purebred dog breeders/exhibitors (those who show their dogs at AKC events) have been under attack by groups such as PETA, because they continue to breed purebred dogs when there are mutts in shelters needing homes. AKC and its member breeders see this event as an opportunity to celebrate purebred dogs, and I agree with them. I understand the opposing view, I just agree with AKC here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the follow up post Sandra...I get it, and like you I still feel like I feel:)... I DO however, take issue with big group activists. I still think it is a great time to quietly highlight shelter dogs (SO SO many pure bred rescues abandoned, puppy mill and back yard breeders) out there..the little, and I do mean LITTLE, shelter where Boops is has 5 purebred there right now and she is only able to handle maybe 15 or so at a time. I guess I feel there is a perfectly reasonable middle ground and I also realize that some of my thoughts on this could definitely come from living in "middle America" where we don't see all that you see.
ReplyDeleteI do feel we probably all agree that all dogs, mutts or purebreds, deserve a non-cruel life...
(oh, and just btw, i have NO issue at all with AKC events!! I LOVE the shows and enjoy field trials, etc...this is only about a platform that COULD possibly continue to put out an even small message and I wouldn't even care if it was a message directed to pure breed rescues.
In the meantime, I will be anxious to see the Westminster show...I do not believe they are evil or horrible people, that the dogs are being "abused" by being on "display" (you can clearly see the animals ADORE it!)
May the best Pooch win! :)
I still love you Mare ;-). As far as the Westminster Dog Show goes, the Best In Show judge this year is a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier breeder. Wheatens have never won at Westminster, but my breeder's dogs have been shown there! Annabelle's grandmother, and a nephew (who is Graham's uncle) qualified. So, we are very proud to have a Wheaten breeder as BIS judge, and of having such well-made dogs in our pedigrees. Not everyone enjoys dog shows, but I love seeing dogs who exemplify what their breed standard calls for.
ReplyDeleteMARE, INTERESTING, AS MUCH WORK OUR MALTESE IS FOR US. I COULD NEVER GIVE HIM UP AT THIS POINT. NO ONE WOULD BABY HIM AS MUCH AS WE DO. A LADY I KNOW THAT'S VISITING PLANO TX. SPOILS HER DOG TO THE SAME DEGREE. YUP, I'M SURE SHE'S PEEKING IN. SHE'S ALREADY BEEN OVER TO CASEY BLOG.SHE'D LOVE TO WORK FOR RECUSED DOGS. NOT ME, I CAN ONLY HANDLE MY SPOILED LITTLE GUY. I CAN'T BEAR TO LOOK AT THOSE POOR HURT PUPPIES.
ReplyDeleteGRANNY LOU
It is my opinion that the dogs in rescue situations need all the attention and advertising they can get, so I am saddened to see this decision by Westminster. I want them to run those rescue ads and I will be writing to them to tell them so.
ReplyDeleteKatie
Hi Mare and all,
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day!