Well, I'm sure most of you know how much of an animal lover I am. Maybe not exactly how passionate I can be about it...well, here you go.
I am a member to several online Dog (doberman and APBT) groups to learn and share.
Someone shared this with me and I am completely appauled by the mere notion the the HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) is ok with this!!!! Yes folks...Read on!
Call to action (sorry if you already know about this):
Animal Planet is 'casting' for a new 'reality' show called
"Who Gets the
Dog?".
Basically they pull a dog out of a shelter, shuffle it
around for 3 days
with 3 different families (24 hours each), and then somehow
the dog is
supposed to "pick" which family it wants to live
with. The only safeguard it offers the dog is that "
;You must not have been CONVICTED (my caps) of (a) any
crime that includes cruelty to animals, or (b) any
felony under any jurisdiction in the United States or any
other Country.
And "You must be ready, willing and able to adopt and
care for the dog
involved in the production of the series."
If you think that this is not the best thing to put a dog
through for the sake of 'entertainment', please send a
comment to them to let them
know what a stupid idea this is and how inhumane it is to
put a dog (particularly a shelter dog with who knows what
having happened to end
him up in a shelter in the first place) through this kind of
stress and
confusion. Can you imagine the health and behavior problems
something like this could cause the "lucky dog",
as they say on their website. I
wonder if they would do this to a four year old foster
child. And we all
know that it's not likely to be dog savvy people who would
do this. What
happens to the dog after the show and the novelty has worn
off with the
family "required" to adopt the dog? And not being
"convicted" of an animal crime is little
reassurance since most animal abusers are never
caught, much less convicted.
I dont think its particularly "cruel" per se. If they kept the dog for more than 24 hours it would be different.
I dont see how a dog will "pick" a favorite family, its gonna be confused if anything, which is where the cruelty might come into play.
thats just not right. A rescue dog needs to go to ONE home and adjust, moving it around like that is just gonna mess with its poor little puppy mind. And as for the dog making a choice on who to live with... thats just not right at all. What the hell are these people thinkin?
____________________ Its all fun and games until someone gets poked in the eye with a dick
Sorry, I'm not really seeing the problem here. I leave my cat over at other people's houses' all the time. I don't think she needs a prozac. They can always euthanise these dogs instead you know. Seems like it would promote adoption.
____________________
Yeah, I punched a baby once, in anger. But in my defense the baby was being kind of a dick.
I guess I see both sides...If the choice was put the dog to sleep or have the dog on a "reality" show with the possibility of being adopted by a family that might care...since I'm sure most of these families (hopefully) are trully wanting a dog..then I'm okay with the show...
____________________ 02 SVT Focus, CD Silver, No. 2032.
Maxx wrote: Sorry, I'm not really seeing the problem here. I leave my cat over at other people's houses' all the time. I don't think she needs a prozac. They can always euthanise these dogs instead you know. Seems like it would promote adoption.
The problem is they are taking animals that have come from situations where they are unwanted, neglected, abused and traumatized. Another thing to mention is that when a shelter recieves a dog, they don't always know the history behind the animal. People, unlike dogs, lie.
Having a babysitter for your animal is much different than taking a dog that has been displaced and shuffeling them around.
As far as euthanizing the dogs...there are "no kill" shelters. They also don't always just euthanize animals, they send them to medical testing facilities etc.
My whole point here is that I find it to be extremely unhealthy to move a dog around and confuse him even more than he/she already is. I know Mack is taking the change in stride, but he knew Dan and I before he came to me. There are so many factors involved and typically shelters do a complex background check on potential adoptive parents.
It's just not right...look at what happens (typically) to kids who have been moved from foster home to foster home. They're not always right in the head as they grow up in different atmospheres.
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
It's just for 3 days. This might be the only chance these dogs have at getting adotped at all. You keep comparing dogs and children, it's not the same thing. It's very unlikely that these dogs will form any real attatchment to these people after just one day. While the criteria for the applicants are probably not as extensive as a full background check, they are going to be followed around by a camera crew the entire time and have every action with these dogs recorded. I don't think it can get any more extensive. That's 100 times more than what I had to do to get my cat. The shelters around here don't do any of that.
____________________
Yeah, I punched a baby once, in anger. But in my defense the baby was being kind of a dick.
Dogs and children r alike! The only differrence as usual people always never see is they don't talk! But they have the same feelings, and need 4 love and caring! They r totally the same, sorry u think this way and always will. But trust me it's the same thing.
Here is the email:
Dear Viewer:
Thank you very much for your correspondence regarding the Animal Planet
program WHO GETS THE DOG? Please be assured that the interests of animals
are at the heart of everything we do at Animal Planet.
As the only television network dedicated exclusively to the connection
between humans and animals, Animal Planet has in place strict policies and
guidelines that are adhered to by our production companies, program
participants and partner organizations to ensure the protection of animals.
In the case of WHO GETS THE DOG?, we have been working directly with the
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to develop the program. We are
screening potential owners carefully, using a questionnaire modeled after
shelter adoption applications. Also, local shelters select the dogs
included in the program.
The decision about which person or family adopts the dog will be made by an
on-camera team of experts, which includes a veterinarian and a dog trainer.
The HSUS and a local shelter will also have a significant role in making
the adoption decision.
In collaboration with HSUS, WHO GETS THE DOG? was conceived to be similar
[UTF-8?]to animal shelter adoptions –the thorough review of applicants, a home
visit to see how the animal interacts with its potential family, and
facilitation of an adoption. Animal Planet and HSUS believe the show will
provide good information about the wonderful dogs that can be found at
shelters, the benefits of adoption and the importance of making the right
match between family and dog.
As you may know, less than 20% of dog adoptions occur through shelters, so
the organizations working with us are happy to help educate the public
through WHO GETS THE DOG?
Hopefully you now have a better understanding of the positive, responsible
message of WHO GETS THE DOG? We truly appreciate that you care enough
about animals to bring these concerns to our attention.
If you have a specific question for HSUS, you may write Kathy Bauch at
kbauch@hsus.org.
I gotta go with Maxx on this one. Yes, there are no kill shelters, but will these dogs come from them? I really don't know. I think that a lot more is being attributed to dogs intelligence and perceptions than can be proven. I'm no mind reader. I honestly can't say what goes on in the mind of dogs. Is this going to mess with their minds? I don't know. Will spending the remainder of their lives in a wire cage mess with their minds? I don't know that either. But I think calling what's been planned by these TV show people animal abuse, is a really, really long stretch.
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
CKA wrote: Dogs and children r alike! The only differrence as usual people always never see is they don't talk! But they have the same feelings, and need 4 love and caring! They r totally the same, sorry u think this way and always will. But trust me it's the same thing.
Well, no, actually they're not the same at all. I think there are just a few more differences between humans and canines than speech. This is what I meant in my last post, when I said that IMO, too much is being attributed to dogs.
How do you know they have the same feelings? Can you look into their minds and see their thoughts?
They need love & caring. No argument here.
I have had cats & dogs since I was 5. I love animals, & I'm far from cruel or hard hearted, or uncaring. But I can't see how taking an animal out of a wire cage & hooking it up with a family constitutes abuse.
Last edited on Thu Aug 19th, 2004 11:44 pm by Mr. Versatile
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
Jonny Bolt wrote: Kill everybody and leave the animals. Humanity is the devil.
I love you Jonny
As for animals having feelings...they stress, they become depressed and dispondant. They learn anger, fear an distrust as well as comfort. Maybe not in the definition we like to use it. In an intellectual level (using that term loosely because I know many humans who are abusing that term) they may not be equal in the sense that they recognize the feelings and can give it a name etc.
My dog Rajah - many of my TNE folkies new him. He had more personality and feeling and INSTINCT than most humans I've met in my life. He showed stress, depression, anxiety, affection. I understand the way a pack animal processes their environment and granted I won't give them 100% of what human's have in the ability to process information, but I won't discount it either.
Animals, many types show devotion and affection - most humans don't want to believe that...just as most humans WANT to believe we cannot possibly be here on this earth through the mutation of cells and evolution of "lower" species of primates, but of a "god". I find that to be an absurd thought, however, I know many of you in here don't and find me to be blasfamous and many may think I'll burn in "hell" for not believing. What if the dogs have it right? What if they know something we don't?
I think human's may have the cognitive gift/curse to make us the so called dominant species, but look at what we've done to the earth?
We domesticated dogs and cats...humans did that. We are responsible for everything we have tamed, yet we refuse to recognize it. I don't think our laws against animal abuse is harsh enough to be honest and to let this "reality" show profit off of what can be a very traumatic event in a dog's life, even if it is only 3 days, is wrong. Don't fool yourself into thinking dogs don't remember. I know for a fact, by Rajah, that he NEVER forgot those who helped him come into the world.
I brought him to visit my breeder from time to time and EVERY time he would recognize the sounds, smells, and the area, including his dog mother (Siren) and greeted her with a muzzle lick.
I am one who will never be conviced that there are animals walking this earth that have a good strong grasp on where they've been, who they can trust, and who they love.
I still think this show's idea is nice - get a dog a home, but I think the way they are going about it is all wrong.
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
CKA wrote: Dogs and children r alike! The only differrence as usual people always never see is they don't talk! But they have the same feelings, and need 4 love and caring! They r totally the same, sorry u think this way and always will. But trust me it's the same thing.
I didn't say they weren't similar, but they're no where near the same. I treat my cat like a baby all the time but I'm not worried about the psychological ramifications of say having sex in front of her. Animals do feel and have memories but live life on a much more primal, basic level. After reading the email they sent Carmen I'm even more in favor of the idea. It sounds like a 100% positive experience for these animals.
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Yeah, I punched a baby once, in anger. But in my defense the baby was being kind of a dick.
Eeeeek, we don't even dare have sex infront of them, we feel weird.
But anyway, I don't know I still thinks it is wrong, let's see if they do this 2 a 5 yr. old, I bet u wouldn't like it then. Or a 2 yr.old, kinda the same, they can't really talk or say how they feel. Anyway, I don't like it.
where is the form you send in to petition for the removal of the whole channel? Animal planet sucks. the only thing worse than their normal programming is their weak ass atempt at bringing the even weaker ass genre of reality tv onto their station.
And I also need another form for the petition of Steve Irwin getting his ass eaten by a pack of jackyls.
