Media Reports (Fox News) and the ASPCA

Fox News did a surprisingly thorough and excellent report yesterday about how the economic crunch is resulting in huge animal drop-offs at shelters around the country.

It profiled an animal control shelter in Chicago where a shelter staffer said they had more than 250 dogs come into the shelter since Valentine's Day, many of them small breed, "high maintenance" dogs that people claimed they could no longer afford to take care of. Many other animals were abandoned in empty homes or apartments after people moved.

Fox anchors, Greg Jarret and a female colleague editorialized that "No one should spend thousands of dollars for a dog when the shelters are filled!"

The report then switched to New York City where the cameras went outside and interviewed a spokesperson for the ASPCA. The woman (I believe identified as an ASPCA vet) stood in a small crowd with a young, friendly German Shepherd mix dog that a young girl, about 8 or 9-years-old petted and played with.

The dog was identified as being up for adoption at the ASPCA and the spokesperson reiterated most of the things said by the people at the Chicago shelter. -- Yes, it was wrong for people to move and leave animals behind in empty apartments where some cats or dogs die due to starvation or neglect. People need to seek alternatives if no longer able to care for pets.

However, when asked if the ASPCA has to "euthanize" animals, the ASPCA representative claimed the ASPCA was a "no kill shelter, but that shelters around the country have to euthanize animals."

One only has to go 18 blocks from the ASPCA to find the New York City Animal Care and Control shelter that has to euthanize roughly 50 cats and dogs a day! Why would the ASPCA fail to mention this?

Why couldn't the ASPCA say the obvious -- or at least try to put in a plug for the AC&C?

The ASPCA claims to want to help shelters "around the country." But, what about the animal control shelter in its own backyard?

One wonders what kind of "team player" the ASPCA really is?

The "A" likes to give the impression that they are the shelter responsible for taking in all those animals left behind in empty apartments or dumped by the public. (This is good for their donations). But, the TRUTH is that almost all of those abandoned pets end up at the AC&C!

The ASPCA representative was certain to plug the ASPCA website and their adoption center. But, not one word about the underfunded and overwhelmed Animal Control shelter in New York City which DOES have to euthanize animals every day of the year with the exception of major holidays.

Shame on the ASPCA for this blatant omission (and failure in my view).

But, kudos to Fox News for the fairly in depth and compassionate reporting.

As a direct result of the Fox Report, the young German Shepherd profiled was reportedly, later adopted by the little girl's family. -- PCA

Written by mandy787 Blog about this entry

This entry has 1 comments: (Add your own)

#1 Comment from jmuhjacat
3/31/08 4:44 PM | Permalink

Yeah, unfortunately, the "Animal Planet effect" is far-reaching and pervasive and certainly presents an unrealistic picture of what is going on in New York and many other locales. But kudos to Fox (I NEVER thought I'd say that!) for the mostly constructive coverage, and the bottom line of a good adoption for the featured dog.

This issue is being picked up and covered more and more. That is a very good thing. Let's keep the momentum going!

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Media Reports (Fox News) and the ASPCA