16Th & 44Th Presidents
A Three-Legged Dog Named Baby
For many of us watching President elect Obama’s acceptance speech the most touching moment was when he told his daughters in front of the world that they would be getting the puppy! This was big news in a world hungry for good news and it set off all sorts of speculation. He stated that he and one of his daughters had allergies so that had to be taken under consideration. People then sent in all sorts of suggestions from all over the world about what kind of dog would be best for them.
This promise has a story behind it; it did not come out of a vacuum. Behind the promise is a story of greed, cruelty and a world of misunderstanding.
When he was a new Senator he was approached by Jana Kohl regarding the inhumane treatment of dogs in puppy mills. Jana, a lifelong champion of social justice had herself become aware of this awful industry after she adopted a very special dog named Baby. You see, Baby is a survivor of one of these puppy mills. Just like a tattooed Holocaust survivor, Baby bares the #94 tattooed on her ear. Baby had her vocal cords cut to silence her cries to be let out of her cage. She had one leg amputated due to osteoporosis a common condition of breeding dogs!
Billions of dollars are spent each year on animal shelters where sadly the majority of dogs and cats are euthanized at a time that we don’t have billions to spend. If people would adopt these homeless cats and dogs instead of buying them from breeders it would solve two problems.
1. Without a market, the puppy mills would disappear.
2. Shelter animals would get permanent homes and thus save tax payers money!
Then-Senator Obama, other congressmen, celebrities, athletes and clergymen joined with her in an effort to address this awful puppy mill atrocity. As a result, the 110Th Congress introduced HR 6949/S.3519 called the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act which was co-sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats. It would mandate dogs be let out of their cages for 60 minutes a day!
Jana wrote a book called A Rare Breed of Love: The True Story of Baby and the Mission She inspired to Help Dogs Everywhere. Jana and Baby have traveled all over the country speaking and has been on several TV shows to tell their story. See her video below:
The newly elected Senator Obama met and held Baby and heard her story. There have been many First Dogs in the White House but this time it’s a little different. This First Dog has the potential to inspire millions of people to rescue millions in need and by so doing stop a shameful practice that hold others in captivity.
I have wanted another dog for quite a while now and intended to rescue. This story firms up that intention, I’ll let you know just like the First Family when we adopt!
Your Best Friend Is Waiting for You!
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