Some Thoughts on the Iggy Fiasco

Well, earlier this week Ellen talked to Petfinder co-founder Betsy Saul and Jo Sullivan of the ASPCA. To her credit, Ellen continues to promote adoption (hopefully next time she'll actually read the adoption contract she signs), though this incident may hurt the rescue movement for quite awhile.

In fact, I'm fairly confidant that the managers of every Puppy Mill Dogs 'r' Us are telling all their customers, "Oh no, we would never come back and take that dog away from you" as they swipe the credit cards of unsuspecting families.

(Of course, don't expect said manager to be of much help when that cute puppy turns into a genetic timebomb due to poor breeding.)

I still fear that this Iggy fiasco has hurt the reputations of rescue groups across the country. And to clarify my statement from earlier posts, my main fear about legislators stepping into regulate rescues has to do with the fact that your average local lawmaker probably hasn't spent too much time getting into the nitty-gritty of animal rescue other than sitting on the board of the local Humane Society. Again, I have to reiterate that if legislators hear more news about "those picky rescues" laws could be passed that could hurt the rescue movement.

What if based on flimsy evidence area residents accuse the rescues in your area of "cherry picking the nice dogs and leaving only the pit bulls"? Some legislator might then be able to pass a law that restricts rescues from pulling certain animals from the shelter.

And this is why I think the rescue movement needs to stress positive PR to counter the negative press. Look at the rescues helping find lost pets left behind in the California wildfires. And within the past 48 hours rescue groups were given the go ahead to start placing the dogs rescued from Michael Vick.

It's these actions that may help our community overcome the negative portrayals from the Iggy debacle. Now I know that not every rescue has the means to save Vick's dogs or head out to California but there might be some ways to help your community. Maybe start a fundraising campaign for low-cost spaying and neutering or contacting your local TV station about the abused dog you just took in as a foster?

Look around and I'm sure you'll find plenty of opportunities for highlighting the good that rescue does.