Part One in Whose to Blame When a Dog Ends Up In a Shelter?
Join us as we take a look at why playing the blame game where there is a run on a certain breed of dog is singling out the wrong people.
Julianna Hough with her two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
While the paparazzi are in dog heaven taking picture after picture of the fluffy little puppy being paraded around town by their celebrity of the day critics and shelters go crazy. Yes fans of the celebrities go out and instead of buying the newest outfit or the new purse they just saw their favorite celebrity wearing they buy the new puppy. We all know stars like Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton carry around little dog everywhere. In fact Paris Hilton has a mansion overrun with dogs she picks up on her travels. A-list celebs have enough money coming in that even if they might not be the best pet parents possible they have a staff off people who can make sure the dog is walked and fed and taken to the vet for proper care and lets face it the celebrities do seem to love their new dog and enjoy its company. Why then are they blamed when other people look at their new pets as a fashion accessory and have to go out and buy one too? Is it because these people who go and and get one as a fashion accessory can’t really afford to spend the time, energy, or money on their new pet and think its the same as buying a stuffed animal? Is it because unscrupulous people see the new trend and breed the breed of the day in order to make lots and lots of money? The celebrities never told anyone to go out and buy a puppy and they certainly aren’t breeding them for sale themselves.
Whether or not it is the celebrities fault for walking around with the cute little dogs and taking them with them everywhere they go they are blamed when others without thinking go out and get the same type of dog just to be cool like the celebrities. As if owning the same kind of dog as a celebrity makes you something other then you were before the purchase. The celebrities have now been criticized so much and so often that they are leaving their companions home or hiding them on the road when they do bring them so there aren’t as many pictures of cute little dogs circulating. The result is that those people who bought their new dogs as a fashion statement because they wanted to be like their favorite celebrity no longer see the celeb and dog together and are dumping them out with the bath water. If we didn’t think it was bad enough having entire California Shelters overrun with Chihuahua’s now all the small toy dogs are winding up in shelters across the country. Its the dogs who are suffering once again because their owners who bought them as a fashion statement no longer see their favorite celebrity running around town with their dogs and so they think dogs are no longer cool to own realize they cost money to feed and keep healthy and take a lot of time to care for.
Is it now the celebrities fault for leaving their dogs home due to all the pressure from critics in the first place that is filling up shelters with toy breed dogs under 2 years old?
Not at all. I think Celebs should be able to buy and have whatever dogs they want. Yes, they must think about the “Role Model” aspect of their celeb but they aren’t responsible for the dumb actions of their fans. It’s a lack of maturity…
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Many people take the responsibility of pet ownership much too lightly. When I went to the animal shelter to get my cat, it was the saddest experience. I don’t think owners who drop their pets off at the shelter realize what a dire situation it is.
I don’t think the celebrities are to blame BUT, at the same time, I think it is pretty silly (and irresponsible to flaunt your tiny pooch as a fashion accessory. And I know the pictures you’re alluding to…it’s as though these celebrities were flashing a Rolex or a designer bag. I find that annoying. Of course, for those who are so easily influenced by a celebrity that they would go out and buy a dog in order to be like the celebrity….well, that’s ridiculous.
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I think that having a dog is a great responsability and regardless of the breed of dog you have, you need to love that dog unconditionally and take care of it. Yes, celebrities has made the small dog trend popular but there area also lots of celebrities (especially the men) who have bigger dogs. And really, it you are getting a dog just because Paris Hilton carries it then you’re probably not going to be too successful of a pet owner anyway!
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This reminds me of the Dalmatian craze after the 101 Dalmatians movie came out. Every kid wanted one and parents bought them w/o doing any research and the shelters quickly filled up with unwanted Dalmatians. I think that movie should have had a PSA at the beginning about Dalmatians as pets.
Not all celebrities are at fault. Many are responsible pet owners and some even adopt dogs (funny how the public isn’t running off to their nearest shelter when Selena and Justin talked about their rescue pets). But some people like to follow the poorest example set by the worst celebrities like Paris who do flaunt their pet acquisitions like a new handbag
I hope this article brings some attention to the responsibilities of pet ownership. They are so worth the time and trouble and I just hope people begin to see that getting a pet is a life time commitment
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As someone who just paid for her first pure bred dog, it was a decision I wrestled with most,not for the money, but for the ethical delimna. The simple truth is breeders will breed, and those dogs need love too. I’ve seen my share of celebrities helping shelters and taking in rescue dogs- but those don’t see to incite the same amount of praise as the purebred owners get shame. Who are we to judge- when there are just as many shelter adopted (or even non spayed animals with letters) being mistreated and neglected by their owners every day! At least the celebs can take care of their pets. For example, look at Sharon Osborne- she certainly doesnt have a zoo for fashoins sake- she loves her dogs like children, and some were rescues.
I don’t think it’s the celebrities’ faults at all. I think it’s the faults of irresponsible owners who don’t think about the costs of owning a pet, or research whether a pet will fit into their lifestyle before purchasing one. And let’s not forget the people who don’t consider giving a second chance to a shelter animal before going out and setting up a payment plan so they can afford the $2000 puppy in the pet store window.
No, not celebrities’ faults at all.
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I hope people read this and realize that pets are a long term responsibility. I really really want a dog but don’t have the time currently to take care of one. I know I need to give 100 percent of my attention, so I will wait till I have more time. To get a dog just bc it is the in thing to do- not cool at all!
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