Wow, what about that Oprah show today?
Howllo Fellow Hound and puppy mill haters! I vacillated all day over if I was going to watch it or not. I did not know if I could take it. I finally decided I had to take it and turned it on. I spent most of my time cleaning my microwave because I could not look at the video footage. At least I listened and learned!
4 MILLION DOGS ARE PUT DOWN EVERY YEAR? sick, sick, sick.
Mainline Animal Rescue brought this to Oprah’s attention via a billboard they placed in her sight on her way to work. It cost them 10,000 dollars but I am sure it will pay off.
The AKC made a statement, but it was like a whisper. Sup with that? It was very benign. Saying something like, if you buy a dog make sure it’s from a reputable breeder. I found it very curt. Any comments on that one?
In closing, I think 4 million dogs put down a year speaks volumes.
DEAFENING, INDEED!
Much more later regarding my life’s passion, rescuing hounds…Cat, Chaps and Emma
Comments(8)
The AKC does not want to ruffle any fur. They were very guarded for a reason. This is a group of breeders. I think for the most part they hope all of their members are upfront and ethical, but they really have no way of knowing. Just hearing the comment they made, makes me wonder where their heart is.
You have to pay money to get a dog AKC registered. How hard is it? I don’t really know. I hope more comments are listed.
Hi Tuck, good points indeed. I have no idea. I do hope some one else will chime in.
Love, Cat, Chaps and Emma
I have a comment. I thought that I would try a BHCA responsible breeder after I had owned a basset from the pound, a stray, and a puppy mill basset. I thought it would be a way to have a healther pup and support the ethical breeding practices of a responsible breeder. This pup, has had the most health problems by far. Emma was sold to me with a pre-disposition for developing glaucoma. She was diagnosed with bilateral abnormal drainage angles at birth. This diagnosis means that Emma was more likely to develop genetic closed angel primary glaucoma which she did at age 2.
AKC does not always mean ethical and responsible breeders. Beware. Chloe, my puppy mill pup had AKC papers.
We love Emma so much. Thank God we had the thousands of dollars to support her. Her vet bills for her glaucoma alone are now over 4,000 dollars and mounting. I heard that in CA, for example, her bills could be double.
Her breeder has agreed to pay 2,000 dollars towards her illness. I have much more on my website about how to avoid this pitfall when picking a responsible breeder. Emma also has her own blog, Seeing with your heart and nose.
It is under navigation on the right hand side.
I also link to every basset hound rescue in the USA. Go to my links page. If you do not see your rescue, add you link via this comment section and I will update my links ASAP
More Later….Cat, Chaps and Emma
You are more brave than I am Cat. I could not get myself to watch it.
Hugs and Slobber,
Kip, Gus and Bonnie
Thanks for the information Cat. I saw where you mentioned a list you were working on regarding picking a responsible breeder. Can you e-mail it to me. It looks like you have experience from all types of situations. I am going to rescue after I pick a basset hound puppy. I have bookmarked your rescue links. My puppy and I want to do a waddle tour next year and research rescue. I cannot wait – Also, I am so sorry about Emma. Poor girl was really young.
Myra
I saw the Oprah show last night. I was glad she picked this topic. I also noticed that the AKC was very non-informative about millers. I can see where responsible breeders are going to be very put off by Oprah, because the show basically left them out of the equation.
On the flip side, if you go to the BHCA website
http://www.basset-bhca.org/Finding/Finding_A_Breeder.htm it is basically impossible to find a puppy. I have NEVER seen a litter announcement. They list breeders but that seems a bit vauge. They need improvement in this section.
Then, I went to a dog show to meet and greet the breeders. Big mistake. I felt like I had the poo-poo of a poodle on my shoe.
To sum it all up, in my opinion, it is easier to rescue, you save a life, and it makes you feel good. Amen.
Hi Cat, I have to comment on the Oprah show, which I thought was great; however, very heartwrenching and sad to watch! I was crying like a baby!!
I have corresponded with Penelope Bianchi, who is also on the K9Kidney list that I’m involved with, and Penelope is Oprah’s neighbour, and is responsible for sending Oprah her “best ever” Christmas gift. Penelope received a call from Oprah to thank her for her gift, and they discussed kidney disease, as you know Oprah’s Sophie died of this in March of this year, and Penny’s doggy George is also fighting this dreadful disease.
Well, their conversation was very lengthy, and they discussed rescues, puppy mills, and all the atrocities that are happening to the animals across America. Penny is an animal activist, and is a living angel, who was responsible for the wording of the Billbord, and got the ball rolling with her gift/conversation with Oprah, which led Oprah to feel the need for such a show.
Some people are not happy with the show, because perhaps they know about the practices of puppy mills, rescues, etc. and thought that more should have been discussed. I personally was just so happy that Oprah dedicated a whole show on this subject, and perhaps educated other people that didn’t know that these horrific practices exist! Hopefully, people will now think twice before buying that cute little puppy in the window?!
My hat goes off to Oprah, that she has brought some exposure to a cause, that NEEDS to be dealt with immediately!!
Oprah, doesn’t like the lime-light as other celebrities do, so I believe that she WILL be continuing with her support!!
Penny told me that Oprah now sends out the same donation cards to rescue unwanted dogs to her friends!! So, Oprah is supporting this cause…and it’s not just the $10,000 donation to the Lange Foundation.
I sent an email to Penelope (Penny) to thank her, because I know that she was responsible for putting this bug in Oprah’s ear! Penny is a loving compassionate animal lover, and I feel honoured to know such a person!!
People have to remember, Oprah may have not known to the full extent on what practices actually do go on with puppy mills. I think I heard Oprah saying, that she would be rescuing from now on!! 🙂
Thanks for listening!
Tawny & Angel Oakley (who also passed from kidney disease)
Hey Tawny: I totally agree with you. The show held a huge spot light on a gigantic canine abuse issue. These mills need to be shut down. The laws need to change and it starts with all of us. Everyone, take time to do your part. Find out about the puppy mills in your state and take a stand. Let’s give a voice to the millions of dogs that only, always give us love. It’s the least we can do. Last year 4 million of them died waiting for us to do our part.
I think folks like Penelope are heros and open doors that many others can charge through. Look out world, here we come, right behind Oprah!
Love, Cat, Chaps and Emma