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Dear Joe Biden, Why Didn't You Adopt?
Why didn't our vice-president-elect adopt his new puppy?
By Beth J. Bates
I was incredibly disappointed and baffled by the news that our new Vice President-elect, Joe Biden, purchased his new German Shepherd puppy from a breeder rather than adopt.
This was especially disturbing considering all of the press that President-elect Obama has been receiving regarding the choice of his new puppy. Did Senator Biden think that he was going to sneak off and buy a dog unnoticed?
Had President-elect Obama not garnered the media's eye about his new pup, Mr. Biden could chalk it up to not knowing any better. But unfortuately, the press was all over this like fleas on a dog.By Beth J. Bates
I was incredibly disappointed and baffled by the news that our new Vice President-elect, Joe Biden, purchased his new German Shepherd puppy from a breeder rather than adopt.
This was especially disturbing considering all of the press that President-elect Obama has been receiving regarding the choice of his new puppy. Did Senator Biden think that he was going to sneak off and buy a dog unnoticed?
Mr. Biden wanted a purebred German Shepherd. Well, there are several all breed dog rescue organizations in the area as well as three German Shepherd breed-specific groups.
- Virginia German Shepherd Rescue (Sterling, VA) - I've personally done a lot of work with this organization and they are great people.
- Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue (Laurel, MD)
- German Shepherd Rescue of SE Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
- Save a Shepherd Rescue Alliance (Hatfield, PA)
The breeder will deliver the dog to the Vice Presidential home once its been trained. Dog training is not about training the dog; it's about traning the owner. It's also about bonding and creating trust between the dog and its new family. Sorry, Mr. Biden, FAIL.
I will be honest. I am not against responsible breeders as long as the buyer is making an educated decision and has thoroughly checked out the breeder. The truth is - if someone is hell bent on buying a dog, they are going to buy a dog. So I'd rather see them make an educated decision buying from a responsible breeder than buy a puppy mill dog from a pet store. BUT, I always advocate adoption as I think there are no dog requirements that can't be found in a rescue dog.
Shortly after the news broke that Mr. Biden had purchased the puppy, the kennel, Wolf Den kennel, owned by Linda Brown, was cited for multiple violations including incomplete vaccincation and rabies records and broken wire and piping in outdoor kennels. The inspection was conducted by the Department of Agriculture. Responsible breeding? I don't think so.
All of these things make me think that Senator Biden did not make an educated choice or simply didn't care. One thing I do hope is that Senator Obama thinks through his decision and adopts the next First Dog.
WE: Women's Entertainment and the logo are service marks of WE: Women's Entertainment LLC
Copyright 2009 WE: Women's Entertainment LLC. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2009 WE: Women's Entertainment LLC. All rights reserved.
Should we really be surprised that Biden didn't adopt a dog??? Look at his history... his taxes showed he only gave just over $3K to charity last year. I live in Delaware and trust me, I haven't seen him do much for our state except to change the Delaware Bar. It used to be you only had 3 chances to pass. This after his son hadn't passed the Bar. I find this especially funny because during the election you rarely heard about Biden being from Delaware; only when the media mentioned his house it seemed. This is funny because he has always been considered, and proud of being, a Delawarian. Now that he wants popularity, it's all about Scranton.
So, basically, the truth is we're just seeing more of Joe's true colors.
Please sign this petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/bubn2009/petition.html
Personally I don't think breeders should be allowed anymore. Given the vast amount of animals in shelters I can't believe people are still allowed to over populate then abandon helpless animals.
I live in Dallas, Pa and adopted my dog from the Montrose Animal Shelter in Montrose, PA.
This story is about Jada.
I can't begin to say enough about Jada because she has been the light of my life since I adopted her from the Montrose Animal Shelter in Montrose, PA.
It was her fourth birthday January 14, 2008 and she out of all the other dogs grabbed my heart string.
It was probably her independence and preoccupation with the new surroundings but she sniffed my hand than went back to sticking her nose into the newspapers in her cubicle. So I paid the fees necessary to take her home with me.
When we returned to our home Jada got out of the car and looked around the place in a glance then tried to get back in the car. I guess she realized she wasn't brought to her home but to a new place.
Jada was very scared and sad for awhile and every move she made was in fear of getting hit because if we verbally scolded her for having an accident on the carpet she would yelp and get down as though to protect herself.
After sometime she grew to trust us and her new surroundings. The accidents although have not ceased completely have almost dissipated and she now knows to go outside. No longer do I have to take her on a leash outside to go potty because she knows her new bounderies and obeys them faithfully.
In the papers written by the previous owners at the shelter when I got her it stated she would run away if given the opportunity and also she was
left alone a lot.
So also her seperation anxiety has subsided somewhat but this I know is okay because me and her are together almost all the time anyways.
My ex-husband babysits her on occasion and they get along just fine. Jada knows him as Pappy Burt. I really do not like leaving Jada at all but sometimes I have to.
I fear for my baby girl so much because see Jada has siezures and sometimes the siezures last for almost four minutes.
I am afraid she may fall off the couch when going into one and it scares me. I love her so much. I need Jada as much as she needs me because I was injured in the Army while in training to go to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 so I was sent home.
I don't get out much because of the pain in my legs now from the herniated discs and one of which broke into pieces and had to be removed.
My Jada keeps me company and sticks close to me also.
I cannot say Jada is a particular breed but can say she has Dachsund in her and I was told Chihuahua but I believe Beagle. To me she could never
have been bred better.
If people walked through the shelters and saw the lonliness in these animals eyes they would have to wonder what kind of people continue to breed animals. I really don't have much tolerance for money grubbin breeders nor the people who buy into it!
I was really disappointed when I heard this too and now it looks like the Obamas might buy one too..I agree that breeders shouldn't be allowed anymore.
Me and my fiance were very upset when we read this.
Not only did he purchase his dog instead of adopting it, but he didn't take the time to interview the breeders and do research on them?!
Just because someone is a "breeder" doesn't mean they are treating their animals properly or legally. Has Biden even heard of puppy mills? I wouldn't be suprised if he hadn't.
As much as I want all the animals in shelters and on the streets to find homes, I'm not judging people who for their own reasons are finding a home for an animal from a breeder. Perhaps it's very important to them to have a more predictable temperament. Animals from breeders sometimes have special problems as a result of breeding, including vet bills for things like those tiny noses on some breeds of dogs and some cats. So if you take one of these animals in, you're helping that animal; you're rescuing it from breeders having gone too far. Breeders have done a lot of good as well. I mean, it's just true that good breeders can and do produce animals that have temperaments that are higher on the evolutionary scale. What we need is to start with the animals on the street - citizens in each neighborhood need to find the feral animals and get them spade and neutered. Think of the changes that would produce.
If I'm going to spend the next twelve years of my life with a dog, I want to know exactly what I'm getting myself into. I want to know the personality of the dog and its background. Many dogs are damaged goods from shelters and are walking time bombs. For example, what will the dog do, if a child tried to ride on its back or if President Johnson tired to lift them up by the ears? I don't want or need a lawsuit. While, it is noble and commendable to adopt, I want a dog that I raised myself, one that has enormous strength and tremendous endurance, because my superior methods of nutrition and is gentle and tolerant, because of my superior methods of social conditioning.