Oprah Show ~ Puppy Mills
 

This is very important to read.
I pray the Oprah show does not come off with a bad attitude against all breeders.
Prehaps we should all email the show and let them know that we would like them to remember there are great breeders who are responsible.



Dog Owners' Oprah Alert

by JOHN YATES
The American Sporting Dog Alliance
http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org

Dog owners might be in for another bashing on Friday, when ultra-
liberal talk show host Oprah Winfrey does a special program
on "puppy mills." Winfrey's star reporter, Lisa Ling, went
undercover in commercial breeding kennels to do an expose on the pet
store trade.

Although the commercial trade in pet store puppies has nothing to do
with the vast majority of dog owners and breeders, sensationalistic
news coverage tars us with the same brush. To the liberal animal
rights mindset, all breeders are either "puppy mills" or "backyard
breeders," and this always translates into more laws that harm only
the innocent. Moreover, the hidden agenda of the animal rights
movement is the ultimate elimination of animal ownership, and their
strategy is to pick us off one group at a time.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance (ASDA) does not know how Winfrey
and Ling will approach the topic, but we are not optimistic that it
will be a fair, balanced and reasonably objective report. Based on
the normal biased reporting we see about dog breeding, and Winfrey's
close personal ties with animal rights groups, we would expect them
to take their cameras into a couple of "worst case" kennels, and
then by inference say or imply that all kennels and breeders are bad.

Expect to take a thumping from one of the wealthiest and most
powerful animal rights activists on Earth. According to a report in
Women's Day magazine, billionaire Winfrey feels that leaving a cool
$30 million to her own five dogs in her will is not even slightly
extravagant. Inflation, you know.

Winfrey was partners with the radical Humane Society of the United
States in a movement aimed at destroying cattle ranching because of
alleged food safety issues from eating beef, and they were
codefendants in a lawsuit brought by the industry.

This month, Winfrey has been giving serious consideration to an
invitation to appear in nude photographs sponsored by one of the
most extreme animal rights groups in America, People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals, pop tabloids report. The nude photos would be
for PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign. Winfrey's
concern reportedly is not about endorsing PETA. The tabloids report
that she is worried that nude photos might offend voters and harm
the presidential campaign of Barrack Obama, whom she has strongly
endorsed.

On Friday, we can expect a thumping with no opportunity to defend
ourselves. The Winfrey/Ling style of journalism is to exploit highly
emotional topics and sensationalize them to twang the heartstrings
of a predominantly middle class audience of liberals who are looking
for the next "do-gooder" cause to embrace. It looks like saving the
whales or feeding starving people in Somalia aren't fashionable this
year. Pity the poor whales. Pity the poor Somali refugees.

And pity the poor dog owners! A campaign against dog owners and
breeders has become the latest fashionable cause for the glitz and
glitter crowd of celebrities.

The question is, what are we going to do about it?

For myself, I'm just plain sick and tired of being unfairly bashed.
I guess I just wasn't raised to be a punching bag.

But, you might be asking, how can we fight back against the
wealthiest and most powerful media mogul in America? How can we
fight that kind of power? How can we fight someone who wills $30
million to her dogs when we're trying to figure out how to pay last
month's electric bill?

I think we can do it, if we get off of our butts and actually do
it. There are hundreds of thousands of people who breed dogs because
they love them – show dogs, performing dogs, hunting dogs, obedience
dogs, field trial dogs, companion dogs and just plain dogs. In
addition, there are millions of dog owners who love their animals
and thank breeders for doing the fine job that they know we do in
improving temperament, genetic soundness, utility, beauty and health.

If we join together in this, we can be a formidable force.

My thoughts are that a boycott of Winfrey's advertisers would be the
most effective strategy. If several hundred thousand dog owners and
breeders were to contact advertisers on the Oprah show and refuse to
buy any of their products, they would be forced to take notice.

Please understand that I am not talking about censoring Winfrey's
opinions. I would fight for her right to express any opinion she
chooses, and also for her right to present and endorse the views of
animal rights groups on her program.

However, journalistic ethics demands fairness, balance and
objectivity if programming purports to be reporting the news. If
Oprah wants to do a report on dog breeding, that's fine. But the
report should be fair to us and give us the opportunity to balance
the views of the animal rights groups with our side of the story.

I don't expect that Oprah will hold to the same standard of ethics
that I did as a newspaper reporter. I expect that her report will be
a hatchet job on dog owners and breeders. The promotional blog for
Friday's Oprah Show gives us an idea of what we can expect:
http://www.oprah.com/community/thread/44908. Read it for yourself.

A boycott of advertisers just might convince Oprah to undergo an
ethical reformation. Most of her advertisers won't like the idea of
losing several hundred thousand customers so that Oprah can preach
sermons against dog owners and breeders.

When I worked on newspapers, there was a cynical wisecrack that my
bosses sometimes told me when they didn't like something I
wrote. "There is freedom of the press in America – for anyone who
owns a press." That meant I didn't own the press.

It takes a lot of money to own a TV show. Oprah has that kind of
money, and she earned it, but it has gone to her head. Now she
sneers at the rights and lives of ordinary people who made her a pop
star, and that includes dog owners and breeders.

The Internet is the great equalizer. One of the beauties of the
Internet is that it allows everyone to truly have the rights of free
speech and free press. The Internet has become the printing press of
ordinary people, and now it reaches a reported 80-percent of
American households.

Television represents the past, when Oprah's kind of money and power
controlled the right of a free press. The Internet has given us our
voice.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance is asking all dog owners and
breeders to watch the Oprah Show on Friday and form your own
opinions. Then, if she does the kind of hatchet job we expect,
please bombard her with emails expressing your displeasure.

Then, we need to get organized for a campaign to reach her
advertisers. In order to get ready, ASDA is asking readers of this
report to email us a list of every advertiser that supports the
Oprah Show. ASDA is willing to organize this campaign. Also, please
let us know if you are able to help with it. Our email address is
asda@csonline.net.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance works at the grassroots to defend
the rights of dog owners and professionals against the very real
threats of animal rights activism. Please visit us on the web at
http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org. We maintain strict
independence and are supported only by the voluntary donations of
our members.

While the Oprah segment may be about "puppy mills," the laws that
her friends in PETA and HSUS are proposing really are targeting dog
owners and hobby breeders, with the goal of reducing and ultimately
eliminating animal ownership. These same radical groups also want to
eliminate hunting, ban the ownership of firearms, forcibly convert
us to vegan vegetarianism and destroy American farming traditions.

"Puppy mills" are not the issue. Existing federal, state and animal
cruelty laws already intensively regulate commercial kennels. You
are the issue. These groups want to destroy the things that you love
and believe in.

Does Oprah have a conscience? She is leaving $30 million to support
five dogs that she loves and apparently believes she is doing
something right by supporting animal rights groups.

But she is being suckered. She is supporting groups that believe
that the only unexploited dog is a dead dog. The truth is that PETA
slaughters 97-percent of the dogs that enter the
organization's "shelter" in Virginia. They would rather kill those
dogs than help them find a loving home.

Please forward this posting to as many people as you can, and also
cross-post it on message boards. We need to reach as many people as
possible quickly.

Deana a friend of mine emailed me about this earlier today!...I too worry about the show just showing puppymill situations and giving all breeders a bad taste in everyones mouth...

I sure hope that Oprah manages to make people aware of the puppymills, pet store pups and helps to educate the public about where to go to find their beloved pet...

If all the states continue to adopt legislation that forces us all to spay/neuter all dogs the situation will no only stop puppymill breeding but also responsible breeding...Can you imagine the cost to own a dog then?...

Thanks for making everyone aware of the possible consquences this show may have!

~Laura

Wow..I think this article is a little extreme :rolleyes:

I for one have been very excited that Oprah will be exposing puppymills. This can only do good in opening the eyes of uneducated Americans to the horrors of puppymills and petstore puppies. So many people just don't know where those petstore dogs come from...some have heard "puppymill" but have no idea just how bad it really is. We have got to find a way to educate the public, and millions of Americans will see this show on Friday. I just can't see it hurting anything...only helping to educate the public about puppymills. Maybe more and more people will stop supporting these aweful places.

Even IF she angles it as all breeders are bad, intelligent people will know that there are good breeders out there. And really...if it gets a homeless dog rescued that would have otherwise been put to sleep, I think its worth it. No one is going to stop buying from all breeders because Oprah says all breeders are bad. It just isn't going to happen. I personally would be perfectly fine with millions of people deciding not to buy from breeders and instead to rescue dogs that are homeless and would be put to sleep. But like I said, anyone with half a brain will know that there are good breeders too.

It seems like a lot of celebrities support PETA..I don't think they really know what PETA is really about. PETA does *some* good things but I would never get involved with them...they are extremists and I do not believe they are animal lovers at all.

Anyway, maybe someone should send this directly to Oprah so she can read it for herself? Maybe someone should send her information on how bad PETA is and suggest other, more effective ways she can be helpful in stopping puppymills.

I'm hoping I'll get to see the show Friday...hopefully I can at least see it online later that night. I hope that it only helps to educate people to the horros of puppymills and to stop them from buying petstore puppies in the future. And I hope it does encourage people to not buy from breeders and to rescue dogs instead. It may save millions of lives and put those breeding for profit out of business. The breeders that truly are breeding for the right reasons breed on a small scale anyway and won't have any trouble finding wonderful homes for their puppies.

I hope she doesnt think that ALL breeders are bad and unethical!!!! But then people that LOVE PETA are just slightly fanatical. I guess we will just have to wonder what she thinks of the breeders that she got all of her dogs from!!


This might end up being a BLACK EYE to all who breed for the right reasons!!

I just don't see how reputable breeders have anything to worry about. Oprah bought her goldens from a breeder right?? I really doubt she thinks ALL breeders are bad. It's the puppymills, petstores, and backyard breeders that will get the negative publicity. Reputable breeders don't have anything to worry about...anyone that has done a little research can figure out what a reputable breeder is and maybe this show will cause people to start doing their research. Ethical breeders breed on a small scale...it's only going to hurt the large breeders breeding for profit. Reputable breeders will have no problems finding homes for the puppies they have...I don't know too many people that think ALL breeders are bad (although I can think of a couple but they are pretty fanatical...) I guess I'll just have to see the show...but I just can't see this doing anything but good to stop puppymills. Even if all breeders do get a little bad press, I think its worth it if it stops millions of people from buying from petstores and puppymills.

There is a right way and a wrong way to do everything including breeding. Those that are good have nothing to fear....hopefully those that are not will have their hearts touched and make a change. I am a firm believer that we cannot change bad breeders or puppy millers by attacking them. Kindness, not passing judgement and prayers for those who have no conscience go a long way!

I don't/won't watch Oprah, but I hope that she does the show well, and raises awarness of those that are ignorant to puppy mills without degrading breeders. :)

This is the part that makes the breeders concerned. *highlighted*
Also the legislation that is going on in each state is unreal.
Have you kept up with the legislation.
Right now Texas has some going on too.
we have to be on top of all of this.
We have to be sure that responsible breeders do not just get twisted in this show.
I will be watching it and I pray that it will show the right way a long with the wrong. However with her comment it tends to make you feel, it may not be a good thing.

World News
Oprah Winfrey dedicates show on puppy mills to her departed dog
Print article
Refer to a friend
© AP
2008-04-02 01:53:57 -


CHICAGO (AP) - Oprah Winfrey plans to dedicate a show investigating abuses at puppy mills to her cocker spaniel, Sophie, who died last month from kidney failure at the age of 13.
«Sophie gave me 13 years of unconditional love. She was a true love in my life,» Winfrey says on the broadcast, according to
advance remarks from the show released Tuesday by Harpo Productions.
The show _ scheduled to be aired Friday _ features special correspondent Lisa Ling investigating puppy mills, which Ling calls «horrific» and «haunting.
Winfrey says the show is «for anybody anywhere who loves a dog, has ever loved a dog, or just cares about their basic right to humane treatment.
While Sophie was not a product of a puppy mill, and Winfrey's three current dogs were adopted from breeders, Winfrey says in the future she would look to adopt from an animal shelter.
«I would never, ever adopt another pet now without going to a shelter to do it. I am a changed woman after seeing this show,» she says.

On the Net
«The Oprah Winfrey Show»: www.oprah.com

That part of the article bugged me too. Oprah is such a major icon right now, and she is flat out saying right there, not to purchase a dog at all, but rather only adopt a rescue. Thats great, people should rescue dogs, heck, people should rescue people, but that doesnt mean that someone who has their own kid instead of adopts is evil. I am afraid she is going to send that message.
There has to be balance.

We all know Oprah has lots of Money but she doesn't have what you have! The knowledge and love of the Yorkshire Terrier! She couldn't touch it with a ten foot pole! I hope lots of people will be inspired to adopt homeless pets as we all need to be good samaritans. However one cannot change any ones passion and the love of a Breed! ;)

Thats it, I think they need to do a show on Responsible pet breeders and Responsible Show Breeders.
If this show is not done with a balance which with her statement I doubt it is.
I think we should all email the show letting them know we want the other half of the story told, it is only fair that the public see the whole story.

Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

Oh I do hope that the rescue dogs get loving homes.
I have rescued myself and loved my rescue babies and was with them until the end. My favorite dog from my childhood was a mix breed. :D
Oprah had a Cocker that lived to 13 who was from a breeder, she should always realize that was a great long lived life her baby had and without her breeder that Cocker would have never brought her 13 years of joy.


Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

Amen!

Thanks for posting all this info
The key word here is BALANCE Deana
I so agree with you.

Here is the Rescue link that had a lot to do with getting the puppymill show on the air.
http://www.mlar.org./

Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

I am one of those very small breeders and have one, or possibly two, litters per year and only if we have all puppies spoken for before any mating takes place. Our puppies are in demand and some families wait years before one becomes available, but I would stop completely if I knew that by doing so these families would adopt from shelters. Of course, that is not going to happen, because many of these families are frightened of taking on the responsibility and cost of a dog which they have no guarantee of it's background ... which could include all types of genetic defects, not to mention behavior problems.
I guess my bottom line is that I would do just about anything to see that this is not a problem anymore. The thought of an innocent little dog or puppy living that type of life is more than I can stand and it breaks my heart.
I personally will be watching on Friday with the hope that maybe, just maybe, this is that first truly big step to solving a heartbreaking problem.

I'm having a hard time understanding if she adopted her dogs from breeders and they are/were healthy and in good condition then why would she not adopt another dog from a breeder? Instead go to a shelter to adopt a pet? Why would she go to a shelter to adopt a pet when she has all the money to buy the best of the best dogs/pets out there from the best/top breeders in the world. This makes no sense to me if she hasn't got bad thoughts about ALL breeders. What do U all think? This confuses me. Is Responsible Breeders getting twisted already?

I will watch the show tomorrow and pray that it isn't about all Breeders/Owners of Pets.

I agree that it is so important to know that you have homes for the pups before breeding but you and I both know that you don't know how many pups your girl is going to produce before you breed her. ;) You do have some idea of what to expect but not an exact count.
I have no problem with responsible breeders wether they are pet breeders or show breeders.
I think AKC should really take a big step against puppymills and not allow registration for hundreds and hundreds of dogs by these horrible places.

Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

Well, if your list is long enough that really is not an issue. ;)

Ahhhhh but this is another money making machine!
And now theres so many other * so called registries *
When looking for my Maltese she told me she would show me she was just
INSPECTED by the AKC. at first I thought? OMG...is she a bad breeder to have them come. I called AKC...they told me thats a GOOD thing.
Then just a couple days after I got my Amber and Ava
Somebody on here posted how she passed with fly colors.
I think now that I know something like this
ALL breeders of more then a few litters of puppies a year should have to be inspected. Im still not sure this would cut down on Puppy mills and True BYB
:( sadly most of these people lie cheat and sometimes fake papers

I know others may not agree with my OPO here and this is just that my OPO and I understand not everyone feels the way I do and I'm in no way trying to hurt or down anyone here but I do feel so strongly about our Yorkie Breed that I feel I need to stand up for us small responsible breeders, for if we we're no longer allowed to breed Yorkies then where would our Breed be? I mean I could never ever think about not having my Yorkies or never ever be able to ever adopt one. Or not to be allowed to Breed my Yorkies.


Wow..I think this article is a little extreme :rolleyes:

I for one have been very excited that Oprah will be exposing puppymills. This can only do good in opening the eyes of uneducated Americans to the horrors of puppymills and petstore puppies. So many people just don't know where those petstore dogs come from...some have heard "puppymill" but have no idea just how bad it really is. We have got to find a way to educate the public, and millions of Americans will see this show on Friday. I just can't see it hurting anything...only helping to educate the public about puppymills. Maybe more and more people will stop supporting these aweful places.

I too am glad Oprah will be exposing Puppy Mills, BY Breeders & Pet Stores but at the same time I don't want her in any way to portray us Small Breeders/Show Breeders (We only have 1 litter a year) are Breeding in the wrong way or that we don't care about our Yorkies or the homes they go to.


Even IF she angles it as all breeders are bad, intelligent people will know that there are good breeders out there.

But why should we be portrayed as something we truly are not?


And really...if it gets a homeless dog rescued that would have otherwise been put to sleep, I think its worth it.

I agree that homeless dogs need to be rescued from Shelters but to portray us as not Responsible Breeders isn't the way to go about it at all & NO it's not worth it at all!

No one is going to stop buying from all breeders because Oprah says all breeders are bad. It just isn't going to happen. I personally would be perfectly fine with millions of people deciding not to buy from breeders and instead to rescue dogs that are homeless and would be put to sleep.

I don't like one bit seeing any animal put to sleep due to not having a good home :( But have U ever watched the "Dog Whisper" TV show? A lot of his cases come from Shelters and to try to rehabilitate such dogs isn't as easy as others may think, it takes months even years of work day and night to get these dogs to trust and back on the right path.


But like I said, anyone with half a brain will know that there are good breeders too.

How many people out here have a whole brain and still adopt Yorkies or other small breeds for their size (Teacups)?

It seems like a lot of celebrities support PETA..I don't think they really know what PETA is really about. PETA does *some* good things but I would never get involved with them...they are extremists and I do not believe they are animal lovers at all.

Anyway, maybe someone should send this directly to Oprah so she can read it for herself? Maybe someone should send her information on how bad PETA is and suggest other, more effective ways she can be helpful in stopping puppymills.

I'm hoping I'll get to see the show Friday...hopefully I can at least see it online later that night. I hope that it only helps to educate people to the horros of puppymills and to stop them from buying petstore puppies in the future.

I hope it does educate people the Puppy Mills, Pet Stores and BY Breeders.

And I hope it does encourage people to not buy from breeders and to rescue dogs instead.

This is sad U feel this way I'm not in no way downing those who do adopt from shelters and I truly feel for all animals in shelters. But there are Responsible Breeders who do give their life up to breed dogs and breed responsibly. Why should our love and passion be taken away from us do to people who feel the way U do?

I know I'd give my life for my Yorkies and it is in my Contract that NONE of my Yorkies are to be placed in shelters or rescues of any kind and to never exchange hands without permission from me. This is one way I try to make sure my babies are not neglected & placed in shelters or rescues.


It may save millions of lives and put those breeding for profit out of business.

The breeders that truly are breeding for the right reasons breed on a small scale anyway and won't have any trouble finding wonderful homes for their puppies.

I breed for the right reasons, and I'm on a small scale but where I live it is nearly impossible to place a Yorkie in a good adopted home. I mean I spend hours/days even months just trying to find the best homes for my babies. :)

Thats true. I commend you for being responsible. :D
Ours don't have many pups in a litter.
I know some have 6 and 7.
We are usually 2 - 3 in a litter and then we like to see what we get for show.

Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

MY FairLacy wrote I for one have been very excited that Oprah will be exposing puppymills.
This can only do good in opening the eyes of uneducated Americans to the horrors of puppymills and petstore puppies. So many people just don't know where those petstore dogs come from...some have heard "puppymill" but have no idea just how bad it really is. We have got to find a way to educate the public, and millions of Americans will see this show on Friday. I just can't see it hurting anything...only helping to educate the public about puppymills. Maybe more and more people will stop supporting these aweful places.

Even IF she angles it as all breeders are bad, intelligent people will know that there are good breeders out there. And really...if it gets a homeless dog rescued that would have otherwise been put to sleep, I think its worth it. No one is going to stop buying from all breeders because Oprah says all breeders are bad. It just isn't going to happen. I personally would be perfectly fine with millions of people deciding not to buy from breeders and instead to rescue dogs that are homeless and would be put to sleep. But like I said, anyone with half a brain will know that there are good breeders too.

It seems like a lot of celebrities support PETA..I don't think they really know what PETA is really about. PETA does *some* good things but I would never get involved with them...they are extremists and I do not believe they are animal lovers at all.

Anyway, maybe someone should send this directly to Oprah so she can read it for herself? Maybe someone should send her information on how bad PETA is and suggest other, more effective ways she can be helpful in stopping puppymills.

I'm hoping I'll get to see the show Friday...hopefully I can at least see it online later that night. I hope that it only helps to educate people to the horros of puppymills and to stop them from buying petstore puppies in the future. And I hope it does encourage people to not buy from breeders and to rescue dogs instead. It may save millions of lives and put those breeding for profit out of business. The breeders that truly are breeding for the right reasons breed on a small scale anyway and won't have any trouble finding wonderful homes for their puppies.

I am thrilled that puppy mills will be exposed.
But you are kidding yourself if you think only uneducated people are the ones buying from puppymills and backing PETA etc.
And if she angles this as a bad thing for all breeders I imagine she will hear about it in major ways.
And as for emailing her show, we have and everyone should that likes to have their rights to be a pet owner and have a choice in their dogs care and likes to have a choice of having a purebred dog etc.
Don't be sitting back feeling comfortable and waiting for everyone else to do it.
If all pet owners take that approach on these bills it may be too late by the time you decide to voice your opinion
We will see how Oprah's show comes off. But trust me if you are truly sincere about your right as a pet owner I would start getting involved now, why sit back and wait. Email her show and tell her what you think about puppymills and responsible breeders.
Let your voice be heard now.

Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

Here you go

www.Pet-Laws.com


deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

I posted on Oprahs website about the show being balanced. We need to shut down mills period, end of story. However, I do think there should info too on how to find a responsible breeder should one not want to buy from a shelter, or want a certain kind of purebred. People are freaking out saying the show is not about responsible breeders, others are saying all breeders are terrible, and rescues say you have to save lives from them. In my opinion, petstores are suported my mills and many people don't know where their pups come from , or how the parents of the pups live horrible lives in cages. SO that being the case, let the public know tips on how to find a responsible breeder so they don't buy from USDA breeders or petstores and keep the mills going. I think there also should be a tidbit about responsible dog ownership and spaying and neutering, buying a dog on a whim etc. Many dogs end up in shelter due to accidental litters , and people not having the knowledge about the time and $$ it takes to have a pet. Pee's to much on the carpet and off to the shelter. Like some of the other breeders said, my pups would never end up in a shelter becasue we would always take them back at any age for any reason. It can be all about mills , but it could be very helpful to have info about , before you buy and where to buy, and after you buy. I'll watch, but have lots of kleenex. I don't want my breeding rights, or ownership rights taken away, but these darn mills need to be stopped thats for sure.

I think perhaps everyone should actually see the show before drawing conclusions

**Permission to Cross-Post Granted**


Dear Fancier:


As you probably know, Oprah is airing a show tomorrow (Friday, 4/4) on the topic of “Puppy Mills.” While the show was previously taped, we have been in touch with the producers about our desire for responsible breeders to be represented, and they have allowed us to submit a 2 line statement which they said will be incorporated into the show. They have also stated that there is no specific intention to malign purebred dogs or the AKC.


We will be watching the show along with you and, if warranted, we will respond publicly. However, it is our hope that Oprah’s interest in animal welfare will help open up a dialogue on the issue and that AKC and the dog fancy will continue to be engaged.


Please direct all correspondence on this issue to communications@akc.org


Thank you!


AKC Communications

Fair and balanced is going to be the key here. I have my doubts if this will happen if PEta is involved in even the tiniest way. Oprahs statement about "never, ever" adopting from a breeder and only from a shelter makes me shiver. Where the he11 does she think the shelter animals come from? Pristiene kennels and homes and they just happened to be brought to the shelter to be happiely adopted by John Q public?

I hope the show goes better than I am now thinking it will.

That's great. I think it'll be a good show, a real eye-opener. I expect that she won't come down on all breeders, but am glad that the AKC will be represented in a statement.