a blog for dogs and the people who love them

Should Bo Obama Be Considered A Rescue?

Posted: April 12th, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Dog Lifestyle, Rescue News | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Yesterday I wrote about Bo Obama- the girls named him Bo– and referred to him as a rescue dog. I actually struggled with whether I should add the words “sort of” at the end of that statement. Ultimately I left it off and now I regret it.

While Bo was given back to the breeder, something that happens a lot with puppies (FYI a sign of a good breeder is whether or not they will take a dog back,  so I am at least grateful that they found a decent ethical breeder) I realize that I don’t think their bringing Bo into the White House is in sync with what was promised– that they would rescue a dog. Sorry, but no matter how much I have been behind Obama, I can’t quite buy that a dog from The Kennedy’s chosen breeder should be consider a rescued dog.

Reports indicate that The Obamas will donate to the Humane Society, but to me actions speak louder than words, and in this case money. The donation is  a consolation prize and while a nice sentiment, it will be but a blip on the Obama dog radar. Rather Bo will be around for a long time, and people will think in order to get a good, worthy dog they must get a breeder dog.

And lest anyone claim it was an issue of allergies, there are hundreds of dog dying in shelters around the country every day who are just as hypo-allergenic as Bo Obama.

I am sad and extremely disappointed in the example The Obamas are setting.

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No More Puppy Mills! GO Woof Worx

Posted: March 13th, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Ethical Dog Businesses | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

On Thursday night I went to the opening of a great new store called Woof Worx. It’s a pet store, and it sells dogs. If you knew me at all you’d be in shock that I actually put those two sentences together. But it’s true!

Woof Worx

Woof Worx

Woof Worx rocks because they are the first (in hopefully a long line) of pet stores which operates under Best Friend’s Puppy-Store-Free Campaign, i.e. Woof Worx has adorable puppies that come from the shelter instead of a puppy mill. Indeed the pups at Woof Worx are creatures not commodities.

Previously, the space located in the Glen Center (a Betsy favorite from way back a little shout out to Santo Pietro’s, Vera’s, Shane on the Glen and Sushi Ko), was occupied by a seriously vile place called Pets of Bel Air that you may recognize from the news. It was busted for it’s inhumane and illegal practices “A fraud and false advertising lawsuit against Pets of Bel Air claims animals the store said were from private breeders actually came from puppy mills and were less than healthy and hardy.”

Thankfully those days are gone and it’s now a gorgeous store that we all must support because, its success will hopefully inspire other puppy stores to follow in its footsteps. And if sheer inspiration doesn’t do it, I’m hoping the growing sentiment against and deserved suspicion of puppy stores will make them obsolete in the very near future!

Visit Woof Worx at
2924 North Beverly Glen Circle
Los Angeles, CA 90077
310.474.1211

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