Jana Kohl, author of A Rare Breed of Love, and animal welfare advocate against puppymills, is upset. Upset with our President. According to a press release, Kohl along with other animal welfare groups including SPCALA, Dogs Deserve Better, New Hope Pet Rescue, CAPS (Companion Animal Protection Agency), Mainline Rescue and more have launced BoNeedsaFriend. Bo is the six-month old Portugese puppy the Obamas received as a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy last month.
The President and his wife made a promise while campaigning that they had every intention of adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue whether he was elected or not. This news was heard around the world.
Unfortunately they did not keep their campaign promise much to the chagrin of many animal welfare advocates. I was very disappointed myself they didn’t set a good example by adopting from a shelter or rescue. Because this president is very popular , I felt he could certainly could potentially have a great influence on others by following through with that campaign promise.
This campaign that has been launched is urging you and me to write personal letters through regular (snail) mail to the Obamas “urging them to adopt a playmate for Bo in order to undo the damage advocates say has been done to the adoption and anti-puppymill movement by their choice not to adopt”.
According to the press release, it is said” the President broke a campaign promise and gave a multi-billion bailout package to the cruel puppymill industry.The President opposes torture, yet he and the Vice-President have ensured the legalized torture of dogs at puppymills will increase”. Don’t forget VP Biden did buy a puppy from a puppymill earlier this year in Chester County, PA.
Jana Kohl states that Obama-Biden have done more harm to the adoption and anti-puppymill movement than any other president in history. She also feels by the Obamas adopting a playmate from a legitimate rescue, they have a shot to undo the some of the damage they have caused.
I understand and can empathize with Kohl’s anger. I saw her in person while she was promoting her book. In her book, she has a photo of Obama holding her dog Baby. Kohl even announced that Obama, himself, would definitely be adopting a shelter dog.
I have a problem with this campaign. Yes, the Obamas broke a campaign promise. What else is new? Don’t most politicians break campaign promises? That doesn’t excuse him nor make it right.
I know Kohl is outraged over Obama’s decision since she heard the news of them getting a purebred dog from a reputable breeder. I don’t know if she is taking this personally because she said she heard it firsthand from him that he would be adopting a shelter dog and she proudly displayed his image on the exterior of her tour bus. I believe she feels betrayed and rightly so.
However, my problem with this campaign comes down to this. She is asking you and me to urge the Obamas to get a second dog. Is this truly the wisest choice here? They now have a Portugese Water Dog puppy that needs constant attention, particularly at this stage. This isn’t your ordinary family living a quiet existence in a suburban neighborhood. This is a family on the go.
Adding an additional dog to any household needs careful consideration, time and effort. It is a huge responsibility. Granted, the Obamas have help to take care of this dog. I am not naive to this. However, adding another dog so quickly doesn’t seem quite the appropriate answer to this dilemna.
As I said, I don’t excuse Obama for the promise he broke. He gave a lame excuse that they needed a hypoallergenic dog for their one daughter and a shelter dog wouldn’t be the right answer. Shelters or rescues get these types of dogs in all of the time. But he now has a dog from a reputable breeder, NOT a puppymill. There are reputable breeders out there and he should have not been precluded from using a reputable breeder. Granted, puppymills will be “pumping out” out Portugese Water Dogs because of the Obamas and it is horrific the lives these dogs will now have to live.
What I find most disturbing about this is that he is being urged to get another dog just because he didn’t adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue. Is that truly the best reason to get another dog?
Isn’t there an alternative solution here? Do you think there is a better answer or do you feel Bo truly needs a friend?
Ultimately, the decision to buy from a pet store is up to you and me. We have to continue to get the message out there that most pet stores buy their puppies from puppymills. Those who choose to buy from a pet store are the ones who are responsible for the proliferation of puppies from puppymills.
Is urging the President to adopt another dog the way to go to stop the proliferation of puppies in puppymills? I’m not so sure.