Mr. Obama, I didn’t vote for you. Since the election my democratic friends have been trying to convince me I was wrong in not putting my confidence in you. According to my friends, you are one of a new generation of politicians. One with integrity, with ingenuity and with honesty.
Well, today you certainly disproved my friends on the honesty part. You lied to us and more tragically you lied to your own daughters, Malia and Sasha.
During your campaign you made your famous “mutt like me” speech, promising your daughters a White House pooch. A shelter dog, you insinuated, would be the right choice and send the right message.
Instead you chose a purebred. OK, I can accept that. But why from a breeder? When thousands of purebred animals are euthanized each month in shelters across the country?
Today I quickly did a search on petfinder.com for Portuguese Water Dogs. There were 14 to choose from. And, alas, one of them, Pepper is right there in Washington, DC at K-9 Lifesavers. What is wrong with Pepper? Did you even attempt to meet Pepper?
You try to justify the acquisition of Bo by saying he was “returned to the breeder” as if somehow that makes it OK. No, Mr. Obama, all you did was now encourage the American public to go to a breeder for a pet. Then when they're tired of it or it's too old or it's too inconvenient just "return" it - or, since most breeders won't even accept a dog back (at least Bo's breeder did that!) just drop it in an animal shelter. You had a golden opportunity to promote shelter pets and saving lives. And, to teach your daughters about responsible pet ownership and compassion towards animals. Now they think it’s OK to return a dog if it’s not convenient to keep. And, maybe, the President of the United States will adopt it. Do they understand what happens to most animals that their owners decide to just “return”?
You speak about how the “underdog” of American citizens deserve a chance at a better life. You blew your chance to practice what you preach!
Mr. Obama, I’m (still) glad I didn’t vote for you.
Now, try and do something right out this – get that dog neutered ASAP!
5 comments:
This is ridiculous. First off, you might want to check your facts. "They were starting their search with shelter dogs, but when the Kennedys learned of this dog and offered it as a gift to the girls, they met the dog, it was a perfect fit for their lifestyle and for Malia's health concerns," she said, adding that the Obamas are making a donation to the Washington Humane Society. "Because this gift came before their pound search sort of was completed, they made a gift to some of the places they were looking." (associated press) I'd say those are some pretty good messages they're sending out: choose a dog thats right for you, do your research, and shelters are a great place to look. Ok fine, they didn't get the dog from a shelter. But did you even stop to think about all the great publicity that the Obamas gave to shelters?? I would LOVE to know how many people they encouraged to look in shelters for pets. I'm even wondering if maybe YOUR adoptions have gone up since the Obamas have promoted shelters. Not to mention they donated money to the shelter after they recieved the gift dog. If thats not a good gesture then by all means, enlighten me. What were they supposed to do? Deny a gift from the Kennedys? They most likely would not have donated money to the shelters if they had. Plus, I'm sure there won't be many Portugese Water dogs in shelters after this anyway. Second off, how would getting a dog from a shelter be any different anyway? How is that not still saying "it's OK to return a dog if it's not convenient to keep. And, maybe the President of the United States will adopt it." Lastly, the dog is neutered. So in conclusion, I really don't see where he went wrong. Mr. Obama, I'm (still) glad I voted for you. And please, FieldHaven, let me know where my facts are off or where my vision may be clouded in believing that the Obamas did nothing wrong.
Risata, I did check my facts, or at least I made an honest attempt to. Perhaps I did find incorrect facts regarding the neutering. If the information I read was incorrect and the dog was neutered well, then, I stand corrected on that point. But, I still stand by the rest of my opinions.
No, we have not experienced and increase in adoptions. Our adoptions are flat this year as compared to last year. However, returns and surrenders are steeply up.
Yes, I knew the Obama's made a donation to the WHS. Good for them. But let's see if they continue to support the WHS throughout their 4 years in DC. Or was that just a one-time donation to offset the bad press and relieve their guilt???
Risata - The first thing I thought when I saw the news was here's another politician lying through his teeth to say what is "politically correct". Funny how the "right fit" just happened to be a pedigreed rare breed. There are several breeds that don't shed, ask any shelter! Maybe you should volunteer in a shelter for a week and see if you still feel the same way.
It's sad that the leader of our country is perpetuating the same ol', same ol' myth: that getting a dog from a breeder is "better," somehow, than getting a shelter dog. As anyone who has ever known a rescued animal will tell you, you just can't do better than that. And, also sadly, this breeder now has a 24-karat calling card, which will lead to more of the same ol', same ol': millions of dogs dying every year in our nation's animal control facilities. I voted for Mr. Obama and I still say "Shame! Shame!"
Well I assume you all have pets and have had dogs. I'm also sure most, if not all, of you have claimed "I just fell in love with her the minute I saw her!!" Is it at all possible the Obamas felt this way also? And for the record, getting a dog from a breeder, especially one as good as the one Obama's dog came from, is in most cases better than getting a dog from a shelter. Im speaking purely from a genetic point of view in that dogs from good breeders are no doubt healthier than the vast majority of shelter dogs. Good breeders take the time to produce dogs with the fittest genes possible, which in turn makes them more expensive. Someone who pays this price for their pooch is not nearly as likely to give their dog up to a shelter. Yes, I do realize there are some quality purebred dogs on petfinder but they are few and far between, not to mention I'd be very surprised if any had papers to verify. Joy, maybe your adoptions are flat and surrenders up because of the economy. Or because of the season, we all know it's kitten season. Or maybe the Obamas put a secret curse on all the shelters of the U.S. Whatever the reason, I'm sure the President did not mean to offend the dog world. After all, he is a politician and his job is to make everyone happy. That being noted, he was obviously doomed to failure from the begining since it is utterly impossible to make everyone happy, none of you can deny that. His entire life is an act for the press. That's his job, Joy, make the people and the press happy. You can't at least be grateful that he made a donation at all? I'd hate to be your kid, God forbid I give you the wrong present on your birthday. DC: I have volunteered in a shelter and no doubt I support adopting. I do agree that you can get GREAT animals from shelters, there's no doubt in that. But if YOU have volunteered in a shelter you would know the basis of everything they do is finding the right animal for the adopter. If there was no 'spark' so to speak why would you adopt the dog to them? If they didn't feel like there was no doubt the animal was perfect for them they why would you push them to adopt it? I am also well aware there are other breeds that don't shed but how can you get mad at them for having a favorite? The dog is going to be a part of his family, not yours. At the moment, I'd personally rather him spend more of his time shaping up our economy and foreign relations than shopping around at shelters anyway. I believe promoting responsible breeding is just as important as promoting shelter adoptions. You can't honestly tell me you want all breeders to stop what they're doing, you're 'dog world' would cease to exist. Yes, it is a shame he didn't get a dog from a shelter. But that is all it is. I'm just happy he got a dog that was right for him and his family. By the way, none of you commented on the fact that regardless of what dog he decided was right for him, he still promoted shelters.
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