Letters to the Editor
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Here's you answer:
And I don't believe for a second that there is an epidemic of satanically abusive rural or under-educated people (or "hillbilly rednecks" as the one poster so humanely refers to them) who can't wait to get their hands on a helpless animal.
And your basing this on what?
Sanity, knowledge and common sense.
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Well...
At the end of the essay and at the end of the comments to this essay, I have precious little sympathy for Ellen, no sympathy for the author, and all kinds of sympathy for the critters who have to endure you both. Gah!
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To anonymous
"I don't want the old dog!" the author whines. "Cuz that dog sounds like a lot of work!"
And to babble on about how the shelters are to blame?
My god.
--Anonymous
Um, part of being a responsible pet owner is knowing what is good for your lifestyle and knowing what you can afford. She already had a dog and was looking for another dog as a companion. A smaller dog possibly. She possibly wanted a younger dog so that the 2 dogs could spend the majority of their life together. A dog that was healthy and could run in the backyard with Potus (lmao on that btw). There is nothing wrong with knowing what you need for a family pet and finding the right dog based on that. In fact any responsible pure bred dog breeder/organization will encourage you to research the breed and choose one with personality and behavior characteristics that would work well with your life. Adoption dogs are no different.
Its not about "omg that dog is hard work" maybe its about "wow, I can't possibly afford the medical bills and vet bills for a dog with failing kidneys and eyes who also would require very specialized dog food!" Or "wow, maybe I don't have the time to become a fulltime nanny to an ailing dog".
Okay so now i'm sure you will fight "oh so when your dog becomes sick you will just put it down! whiner!". And no.
As dog owners, this might be our fate with our bestfriends for them to become ill and we will take that on as it comes and probably go broke caring for them until the end.
But to assume that someone looking for a dog is a 'whiny witch' because they don't just take the first dog they see... not to mention one with a ton of special needs....well okay then. I'm a whiny witch too.
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You complainers are all pathetic
Really, you're acting as though you've been so grievously insulted and put upon for such minor things.
Animal abuse and neglect is serious, folks--just because someone who doesn't know you at all doesn't assume you're the greatest person in the world (which is what a fair number of you seem to think about yourselves) and doesn't accept everything you say at face value doesn't make them an "asshole". It makes them someone who knows what's at stake and isn't taking things lightly.
Instead of feeling personally insulted, you should grow up and recognize how the approach of animal-rescue groups reflects their love and dedication to the animals. These people have seen more atrocities than most of us ever do, and are still doing the work. You complain at one or two inconveniences and give up.
Who deserves criticism more?
Go spend a few hours on the PETA web site, and then see how much you feel like complaining. And then, when you're ready to stop feeling sorry for yourself, transfer your egotism into caring for the animals.
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Re: Might They Be Right?
I was a dog lover with a job and a condo with the mortgage in my name. Plenty of signs of responsibility. None of this was good enough for them.
There is a philosophical disagreement about what kind of environment a dog needs to be happy.
Some people think stuffing 12 pit bulls into a studio apartment is "perfectly fine" and get insulted when shelters suggest that might not be appropriate.
"But I pay my rent every month and love dogs!"
Uh, true. No arguement there. But from the animals perspective there might not be enough room to really be happy.
Also, some people may have "responsible jobs" that require them to work late hours. Again, is that really great for the dog? To sit in a cramped apartment for 14hrs a day only to be let out to urniate for 5mins and then ushered back in?
"What's wrong with that?" some people may argue. "I think that's good enough for a dog!"
True, but if the shelters disagree is that really a "power trip" as some have suggested or just a geniune philosophical disgreement?
This is all a grey area.
I would happen to think that such living conditions would be inappropriate. Others may not. I don't we can fault the shelters and dismiss them as "egomaniacs" just because they disgree with some pet owners on what an appropriate living condition is.
It's all very grey and open to interpretation. One can't fault the shelters for taking a side that isn't exactly black and white.
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This is hyperbole at best
Not only did I adopt my dogs from a rescue group in LA with very little hassle, I also volunteer with both a rescue and at the municipal shelter where you got your dog. I've placed a few dogs I personally rescued with new owners, and like every rescue organization I know of, I insist that if the dog doesn't work out, I get the dog back. Believe me, I'm not unfamiliar with the hundreds and hundreds of dogs dying in shelters Los Angeles because I get out on most weekends and spend hours trying to get them adopted too.
It seems like either you've somehow managed to gravitate to some of the least reasonable people in rescue or you're being very selective in your story-telling. Or perhaps some lack of patience with the people you've dealt with, who are trying to save both young and old dogs who have no place to go. You gotta forgive them for putting in a plug for some of their harder-to-place animals - nobody is forcing you to adopt any dog, and some people will take the dog most in need - you want the dog you want and that's fine too. But don't blame rescue volunteers for trying, they are there for the dogs as well as for you.
You may not understand why rescue groups want that "perfect forever home for Fifi" and don't just want to adopt out the largest number of dogs by making it as easy as possible.
Here's why: when an animal ends up in a home where they are neglected, abused or denied vet care, or allowed to roam and get hit by a car, or dumped back at the shelter or simply abandoned when the people moved - even if it's not the home they originally adopted the animal to - the shelter or rescue has let that animal down.
I'd like to see Ellen take her show to the animal shelter and put some of the energy and tears she's spending on this flap into the animals there. Maybe she could take those kids with her and find them a dog they could adopt legally. That would be great.