Biden's Puppy Breeder: "Never, Never, Never Again"

[WriteDown]

Source: NBC Philadelphia

Fifteen minutes of fame turned into four months of bitter remorse for the Chester County woman who sold the Bidens their adorable little German shepherd puppy.

Linda Brown's been investigated, scorned and had her life threatened.

"I thought when Joe Biden bought a puppy from me, what an honor," Brown told the Daily Local News. "Out of millions of breeders in the country, in the world, he picked me."

That was December.

When the story got out, Brown faced backlash from pet lovers who thought the Bidens should have opted for a shelter over a breeder to find their new puppy.

PETA seized the moment as an opportunity to blame the killing of shelter animals on people who buy from breeders. The organization's TV commercial, "Buy One, Get One Killed" ran in Delaware after the Biden puppy story made headlines....

Dog wardens from the state showed up at Brown's Wolf Den kennel, repeatedly, for inspections.

Read more: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Bidens-Puppy-Breeder-Never-never-never-again.html?yhp=1

---

I hate militants.

[Endangered Specie]

1. I think PETA meant, "Buy one, get one killed BY US"

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. If this isn't fucked,

nothing is.

What IS IT with these PETA assholes? How dare they invade this woman's life? She's running a reputable business and doing things properly, so she gets nailed because some people - PETA assholes, for instance - don't approve of what she legitimately does for a living.

That sucks on so many levels, I am just aghast.

I've always loathed PETA and their self-serving, smug, vicious ways. This is the same as their paint-throwing bullshit, which always made me think that if I were wearing a mink coat and I knew PETA people were going to be around, I - the gun-hater - would be toting heat...............

[TorchTheWitch]

27. Unfortunately, she is not a reputable breeder at all

http://abbyk9.blogspot.com/2008/12/breaking-news.html

There's also a thread in GD about this woman. She is not at all a reputable breeder. Even the ACK suspended her for a year and fined her. She breeds FAR too many dogs all at the same time, doesn't even know which dogs are breeding together, and doesn't divulge the pedigrees of any of her bitches or even give their registered names (so you can't look up their pedigrees). There is no info on her kennel at the OFA database meaning her dogs are not OFA screened. Same thing with the CERF database.

Just because she's following the law doesn't in any way make her a good breeder - she is not at all a reputable breeder.

[Ian David]

30. You have to be all kinds of fucked-up before The AKC bothers to notice you.

However, it does sound like she might have cleaned-up her act, since she was found not guilty of wrongdoing after the recent inspections.

[TorchTheWitch]

32. I doubt it

The laws don't signify who is and who is not a reputable breeder. Their only concern is that the kennel is clean and the animals aren't abused or otherwise suffering, but that hardly makes one a good breeder. She is unconcerned about which dogs are mating with which, she hides pedigrees, she breeds far too many pups at a time, she isn't having the dogs screened for health issues, she doesn't care who purchases the dogs... all of these things spell BAD breeder, but it's all perfectly legal.

[Dappleganger]

39. Someone posting their rants on a blog does not equal FACT

If you could find a more reliable source of news that would be helpful. That blogger is only telling their own opinion and using hearsay to back up their claims.

[CountAllVotes]

52. the AKC attends dog auctions

and these auctions are run by the puppy mills. The AKC is there to register puppies and dogs bought at these disgusting auctions.

The AKC could care less about puppy mills because they make a lot of money off of the registration fees, etc. They do nothing when informed of abusive and neglectful behavior on the part of a specific breeder when turned in. Try turning the AKC in and see what happens - a lot of nothing is what happens! :mad:

To learn more about these puppy/dog auctions in the State of Ohio, many which are run by the Amish, visit www.banohiodogauctions.com .

The AKC will not respond when confronted as to their role in these puppy/dog auctions. They are a greedy and arrogant bunch of people involved in this horrid practice and yes, I believe they all belong in jail.

Shame on Biden for buying a puppy from a known puppy miller! I hope it doesn't have a zillion congenital defects being he has in fact adopted a "mill dog" as they are known. :(


:kick:

[flvegan]

3. "Militants?"

[krkaufman]

5. Yes, "militants" .... as in Merriam-Webster ...

militant : aggressively active (as in a cause); combative

PETA is demonstrating themselves to be just as fanatical and ridiculous as the Right Wing organizations we've been ridiculing for decades.

[flvegan]

7. Running a commercial is fanatical and ridiculous?

Funny, from the article: "When the story got out, Brown faced backlash from pet lovers who thought the Bidens should have opted for a shelter over a breeder to find their new puppy."

So it's pet lovers that are militants? I think it's funny that Brown has stated that she and Biden have gotten death threats. Where's the Secret Service in this issue? Could be that maybe she's a liar.

[1monster]

14. PETA has no right to comment on this considering they ADMIT that they KILL almost ALL of the animals

left in their care.

It makes me sick that any so called animal shelter or animal rights group kills pets and/or feral cats and dogs.

We have two groups in our county that takes in animals and fosters them out to animal lovers until they can be adopted into good homes. (I've fostered seven cats and have had up to ten rescued cats of my own at one time. Currently I have eight.) These groups also sponsor Capture, neuter/spay, release programs for feral cat colonies. Several surrounding county animal shelters foster their cats and dogs with these groups while our own county continues its program of capture and kill.

Militants is a fitting word for PETA and their ilk. They create all kinds of havoc supposedly in the name of animal rights but do very little that actually helps said animals.

[flvegan]

16. So limited intake shelters are okay, but open intake ones aren't?

You don't know shit about what you speak. I mean that both in regards to PETA's euthanizing animals as well as your hatred of open intake animal shelters.

[1monster]

54. I don't know where you get the idea that the groups I told you about are "limited" intake.

I have never heard of the two groups I sited turning down animals that are in need of homes.

Quite often, they will ask the people bringing the animals in for adoption to foster them, if possible, until a home is found for them. If they are unable to do so, there are a lot of volunteer fosters who take up to ten cats and six dogs at a time if necessary.

Did you miss the part where I said animal control shelters in surrounding counties ask these two groups to take on their excess animals for adoption?

It takes longer, but the cats and dogs do eventually get adopted. The cats I fostered generally took from three to five weeks to get homes. In most shelters where they use euthanasia, two weeks is the maximum.

These groups came into being for two reasons. The "no-kill" shelter was putting down more than 70% of the animals they took in and the county was/is going after feral cat colonies and killing them.

These two groups also sponsor low cost neuter/spay clinics.

As to my not knowing what I'm talking about: My son had a year long science research project (I helped him with it) regarding this very problem.

I know a damned sight more about the subject than most people do. You jump to conclusions on very little evidence.

[Gman]

36. Could it be that these "pet lovers"

are bonified nutcases as bad as anything the RW has to offer?

[krkaufman]

53. "Sea kittens"

nuff said.

[Critters2]

12. Yeah, those militant pet lovers and shelter volunteers!

They're just evil!

[Botany]

4. Joe Biden picked the man who worked w/ Maryland & Delaware's .....

.... State Police and he picked that kennel to get the dog from. I saw tons
of b.s. from people here @ D.U. that the kennel was a "puppy mill" and if
you get a dog from a breeder than you are a bad person who wants
doggies to die.

I have worked w/ and gotten 3 labs from from a stand up breeder in Ohio ....
..... both her and husband have done tons for animals in their lives and they
are dear friends too.

I agree w/ the O.P. .... I hate militants.

[elleng]

6. Awful.

Wish I could have a pup; I'd go there and get one of hers.

[rwheeler31]

8. This is sad, good breeders and wonderful rescuers have

both taken a hit.

[truthisfreedom]

9. Death threats???

Awright, NOT ONE MORE PENNY TO ANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. Sick bastards.

[Hulk]

10. How sad!

We have plenty of hate to go around in this country. We're #1!

[bluestateguy]

11. PETA is full of whiny spoiled brats

Just a bunch of infantile professional crybabies.

[napi21]

13. As long as she raises her pups humanely, she has nothing to worry about.

I have a Ga. shelter license because I'm a volunteer for a rescue org. They can come inspect my home any time and as ofren as they want, but it's usually only once3 a year. There's no big deal about an inspection unless you're doing something wrong.

[stillcool]

15. or you sell a pup to the VP...

continuous inspections is harassment. Death threats. You ever get those?

[Mz Pip]

17. PETE paints breeders with

a broad brush. Good grief. Of course there are breeders that are unethical but they all aren't. I bought a British Shorthair kitten from a breeder and the place was delightful. Kittens running all over the house, happy and playful, no cages, lots of toys and space and clean as could be.

I've also done rescue and have 3 other cats that are rescues. I think there is enough room in the world for both as long as the animals are treated well.

If PETA honestly believes that harrassing this poor woman is helping their cause they are seriously mistaken.

[cherish44]

18. I've stated before I love animals, I do not eat them or wear them

But PETA has done more damage to animal welfare than it has done good. Death threats? Are you fucking kidding me????

[YOY]

19. Great...theydon't threaten the lives of the cretins running puppy mills...just responsible breeders.

Especially those who just had a high profile adoption...into a loving home.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

29. She's a puppy miller

[YOY]

40. I read "responsible breeder."

I have known "responsible breeders". Where do you see "puppy mill"?

I have no doubt in my mind that PETA would indeed target a respnsible breeder who just had a high profile transaction for the sake of publicity.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

41. Responsible breeders do not put out a couple hundred puppies a year

Responsible breeders get their dogs' eyes, hips, and elbows checked, especially breeders of German Shepherds.

Responsible breeders do not get suspended from the AKC.

Link: http://abbyk9.blogspot.com/2008/12/breaking-news.html

[roody]

20. Too bad Biden passed up a chance to set a great example

and adopt a rescue dog. May Obama do better. How many animals are euthanized in this country per year?

[flvegan]

22. In shelters, between 3 and 4 million.

[WatchWhatISay]

24. Adopting a rescue dog is not for everyone.

Bless the people who do, knowing what they are getting in to. But many animals from rescue have been abused or come from true puppy mills where the parents may have passed on lots of problems due to poor breeding practices(such as inbreeding or breeding every time the female comes in heat) and lack of health testing of the parents. But encouraging everyone to adopt a rescue is a mistake, because many families are not prepared for dealing with the history or health problems of their new pet. A dog that has been emotionally damaged needs a very special owner, and not everyone has the time, patience and knowledge that will be needed to help rehabilitate the puppy. Also, a lot of these dogs won't do well with children, some of them have developed a fear of men, or of other animals.

Don't get me wrong, adopting a rescue is a great and noble thing. But its not for everyone. And statements like "Buy one, kill another" are just ridiculous. The real problem is puppy mills, not responsible breeder. So yes, PETA's threats and ad campaigns are militant and misguided. Their real agenda is that they want to eventually pet an end to pet ownership of any kind, because they don't believe animals should be owned AT ALL. Making naive people feel guilty about buying a pet from a responsible breeder is just the first step.

[roseBudd]

37. My mother just adopted a foster from a rescue, the majority of adult fosters available for adoption

are not potty trained. It is why the majority of them end up being surrendered.

Some of them are food aggressive, fence climbers, etc.

[doodadem]

45. We have four dogs........

Of our 4 dogs, two came from the ASPCA, and are purebred Miniature Dachshunds. One is a crossbred Borzoi and Great Pyranees, from a breeder who raised both breeds. The litter was a mistake, albeit a lovely one, and she's probably the best dog we've ever had. The fourth dog is a purebred, registered Borzoi from a breeder, who only has a few litters a year. She is a total canine criminal--gorgeous, loving, and way too smart for her own good.

Mixed breed shelter dogs can be wonderful. My understanding is that they are screened pretty carefully before being put up for adoption, and ones that are not good pet quality are put down. I agree with that. Now, there are thousands of animals being given up to shelters simply because people have hit hard times and can't afford to properly care for them anymore. I'm all for that too, as opposed to letting them starve, or not getting vet care.

[roseBudd]

48. It's the no kill organizations that have lots of dogs that are not potty trained...

People shopuld be free to purchase pure bred puppies without all the haters saying they are responsible for a dog being euthanized.

It is the irresponsible pet owner who relinquished the dog or failed to neuter that deserves that label.

Of all the dogs my mother had to choose from on Petfinder, the majority were not potty trained, or had other issues. The one she adopted was potty trained, but was a relinquishment by a terminally ill owner not a surrender due to behavior issues.

[roody]

50. It is difficult to be potty trained when you live in a cage.

It is usually very easy to potty train a dog.

[WriteDown]

51. Thank you for saying this.

Some of the comments about housebreaking a dog stun me.

[roseBudd]

58. These dogs were relinquished by owners who never got it together to pottytrain

[roody]

42. The animal shelter is full of loving, nice dogs.

I am going there now to volunteer. I go into their cages, put a leash on them and walk them. Many nice loving dogs will be killed today because there are not enough homes for them. Fortunately at my county's shelter, adoptable dogs are not euthanized.

[DBoon]

21. has anyone asked the dog?

I bet that is one happy German Shepard who loves his new "pack"

Dogs don't care about things like this - that is what makes them better than people

[aquart]

23. Yes, they obey their leader and do as they're told.

Way superior, depending on which form of government you're most comfortable.

[SPedigrees]

25. There is a vast world of difference between animal rights groups

and animal WELFARE groups. The latter are dedicated toward improving the lives of animals and promoting their welfare, as their name indicates.

The animal rights crowd are as crazy as any right wingers out there. These people are crazy, angry, and don't know one end of any animal from the other.

Donate to a well operated animal shelter or rescue organization, not PETA or HSUS or any of their affiliates.

[Demit]

26. Very foolish of PETA to target responsible breeders at all, much less in this vicious manner.

Problem animals are more likely to come from people who don't know enough about animals to care how they are bred—like pet owners who breed their females 'just once so they'll know what it's like' before they're spayed; or backyard breeders who breed their pedigreed females over and over again for the extra cash.

It's these practices that lead both to problem pets and to a general overpopulation of pets, the result of which is too many abandoned animals in shelters. Responsible breeders are the answer, not the problem. PETA should be supporting them, not vilifying them. Very foolish people.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

28. The woman isn't a responsible breeder

She's a puppy miller. I'm not a huge Peta fan, but they can target her all they want.

[Gman]

35. Just because PETA says she's not a responsible breeder

sure as hell doesn't make it the truth. Makes me pretty much think the woman's OK considering PETA's reputation.

[Runcible Spoon]

56. Sigh. Please read up. The info came from other sources beyond PETA

[Dappleganger]

38. You've stated this twice with no proof.

When you accuse someone you need to back it up with FACT.

[Demit]

43. Oh? What's your evidence? Even PETA is careful to only insinuate that.

You should be as careful as they are, about defamation of character. Maybe making unsusbstantiated claims on DU isn't actionable, but people who make them certainly leave themselves open to ridicule.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

44. Here you go:

http://abbyk9.blogspot.com/2008/12/breaking-news.html

[Systematic Chaos]

55. Oh... jeez........

Has this information been put in its own thread already, rather than just this subthread?

Gaaaah, I just don't know what to think anymore. :(

[Deja Q]

31. Militants suck. And not in a good way.

I've a whole heap of 'em on my 'ignore' list too and I feel great pride in wandering into that tangent too. O8)

Inciting awareness is one thing, HOW it's incited is another.

[CBR]

33. I am shocked anyone would support PETA after

they decided to dress up in KKK outfits to protest the dog show. Really? That was completely over the line. There are animal rights groups that I respect and PETA is not one of them. It was insulting.

[Gman]

34. PETA has no class

they're petulant children with screwed up priority.

[Skip Intro]

46. PETA has every right to run that ad, and I'm glad they did.

Breeding when the overpopulation of cats and dogs is so extreme and tragic doesn't strike me as ethical in the least. I agree with PETA 100% on running that ad, seizing the moment to educate and bring attention to a sad and serious problem.

Wish Biden would have rescued a shelter animal instead.

[Carni]

47. Sometimes I hate people eom

[Doctor_J]

49. PETA's only good deed:

Well, maybe not the only one, but their terrorism gives animals a bad name

[AyanEva]

57. PETA always makes me want to eat a burger

Actually, I'm cooking chicken right now. OM NOM NOM

[DemBones DemBones]

59. Me, too, and I'm a vegetarian.

PETA is absurd.