Self-Righteous e-mails from people who never listened to the Dog Talk® show they are angry about — social terrorism at work

In order to follow this sordid little tale, you would do best to have listened to DOG TALK® a couple of weeks in a row. On October 15th you could have heard the show in which trainer Allison Denlea and I discussed the topic of buying a puppy. Then on October 22nd you would have heard a diatribe from me on the air expressing my dismay at the ugly reaction I had received in the intervening week from a select few people. They had reacted with vigorous indignation to the one line description of that show about purchasing a puppy. As you will see when you follow this very long email trail below, not one of these people took the time or had the respect for me to actually listen to the interview itself before taking me to task for a partial sentence description of the topic. First of all, more than 5,000 people receive those email announcements every week so these are very few written responses — yet for every person who writes there are always many thinking the same thoughts, so it was worth my time to set the record straight (there are tens of thousands of people who download the show from iTunes and do not receive the written reminder and description). But more importantly, somewhere these folks lost sight of the fact that DOG TALK® is a radio show — yup, you actually have to listen to it with your ears to partake of it! Imagine that… a one-line description of the show is nothing more than that, for interviews which last 15-20 minutes.

If you’re wondering why I’ve taken the time to go into this in ongoing detail, it’s simple: if any of us permits anti-social, ugly behavior to go unchecked then those indulging in the practice of cyber-bullying or social terrorism are empowered to continue what I call “social terrorism.” It is each of our responsibility to keep society civil — and to call people on their actions when they think they have the right to brow-beat someone who is not only above reproach based on her consistent words and actions (yes, me, the target of all this!) but do so without even taking the time to know what they are going on about. As you will see, some of these people know very well who I am and what I stand for because they have benefited from my public support of their efforts.

From Ted DuPuis
Founder, President, and Pilot, Cloud Nine Rescue Flights

I sure hope your first topic is a typo, as I can’t imagine encouraging people to go out and encourage the continuation of the overpopulation epidemic and encourage puppy mills.

[Note: I have spent time on the air supporting all rescue missions, flights, transports and other caravans, had two different interviews about this organization and one was actually with Ted himself.  Note that he tells me I am encouraging puppy mills -- when anyone who follows me work knows how much investigative work I have personally done on volume breeding and millers -- and also note I go on in the interview at length with Allison about how to recognize and avoid puppy mill breeders.]

From Melissa, NYC practicing attorney-at-law

Although I do not know the content of the show for Sat — but the trainer, Allison Denlea, with “10 reasons to buy a puppy vs adopt is an outrage”.  Do you know how long it has taken animal advocates to educate people about the incredible animals there are for adoption from shelters, rescue groups, breed rescue, etc.  I looked at her website and although it seems “OK” — I and most animal advocates are against buying puppies from stores hence supporting the inhumane torturous treatment at puppy mills which also means leaving another perfectly wonderful dog in the shelter with a chance of being killed or in a rescue group which are usually overcrowded; rescue groups must adopt the animals they rescue or else they cannot continue to bring additional dogs in that need a place to go other than the local shelter.

I strongly urge you/her to reconsider her topic.  It will do much more harm than good as so many people think exactly that… dogs would be completely against such a message on your radio show.

[Note: This woman describes herself as a lawyer -- but did not even properly read the show description to know that the show was already aired and ready for listening -- which she also did not take the time to do. Nor did she even read the show description properly and added her own "10 reasons to buy a puppy" which appeared nowhere in the announcement. Then she goes into her personal lecture without any regard for who she is lecturing to -- even if you are not a lawyer it's easy to find out that I actually "wrote the book" about puppy buying and avoiding bad breeders.]

From Diana, Weimaraner rescue volunteer

Please remove me from your email list. I support an animal rescue group.

[Note: She seems disinterested  that I now have my 4th & 5th adopted rescued Weimaraners and contribute to Weimaraner rescue in various ways.]

From Karen Powers
Founder/president, Green Mountain Pug Rescue

Yucko!!!!

10 reasons to get a puppy instead of adopt- UMM ZERO!!!!!

[Note: She has a short memory since only a few months ago I helped drive a transport of a Pug to her very organization -- and then had her as a highly praised guest on DOG TALK® -- when she said she has a houseful of her own Pugs, whose photos are up on my website gallery. Clearly she has a preference for only one breed to help or own -- but if no one should be allowed to breed or buy Pug puppies, then in a very few years there will not be any more Pugs anymore.]

From Anonymous:

Oh, my God! Is this a joke?

From D.

There are NO reasons to buy a puppy.  This disgusts me!!!!  There are puppies available for adoption through rescues.  I drove 8 puppies today from a kill shelter to reputable rescues. Please drop me from this mailing list and never contact me again.  I will also send this all my rescue friends and ask that none of them patronize your blog and website.

[Note: All these years of hearing the show for free, getting loads of great free information and advice on my website -- certainly she's never bought The Dog Bible or written to acknowledge all the information and value she's gotten from my efforts to support all dog lovers in every area of interest -- and she is now threatening me with what, exactly? Setting out to hurt my reputation? Her sense of her own power is impressive. As for puppies being available it is a widely known fact that there are rarely any puppies in shelters in the Northeast and in any case, some people desire a certain breed (just like certain rescuers are breed snobs, too)].

From Michael

Reasons to adopt a dog instead of buying a puppy:

1. So the dog doesn’t get killed. Understand? Don’t send me any more e-mails you arrogant a-hole.

[Note: I don't really need to comment on this delightful gentleman. He speaks for himself.  And all those like him.]

From Shannon

Tracie, I think it is HORRIBLE that you are promoting a show about reasons to buy a puppy instead of adopting.  There are MILLIONS of amazing purebred and mix puppies that are killed in shelters across the country every year.  Adult dogs too.  Get your facts straight before you promote such nonsense!  I hope no one listens to you or your show.

Shannon — Dog rescuer and a person who has seen thousands of wonderful, innocent animals being put to death for NO REASON — no reason at all other than severe overcrowding at run down shelters.

[Note: Another person believing there are millions of purebred puppies just waiting to be scooped up by those who had a English bull dog puppy in mind, for example. Or a Yorkie, one of the most popular breeds in the country.  Hardly reliable information.]

So I took a deep breath — and responded with this letter to these people:

Dear Friends,

I am sorry and surprised that a few of you were outraged and upset that I might have a conversation on DOG TALK® about the reasons someone might have to, or want to buy a puppy.

First of all, none of you has even listened to the show — that announcement you receive has a link right to the podcast and you can listen right there, which you may not have been aware of. So maybe before denouncing a show (and in the case of two people, demanding to be removed from the list that tells people each week what the show is about and allows them to listen or download it for free) might it not be a good idea to listen before you form an opinion?

Secondly, reading the actual words in the announcement is also helpful – i.e. it does not say “10 reasons” to buy a puppy, nor does it say anything about buying from a pet store. Read what it says — but better yet, listen to the show.

Is it possible you have no idea who I am or what I stand for?

Do you really believe that no one should have the right to buy a dog from a reputable responsible breeder after educating themselves?

Why did no one object when for nearly a year I had a weekly breeder of unusual breeds of dogs talking about the breed, how they got into the breeding and/or showing of the dog — all to make very clear the mindset and attitudes and expectations of a really responsible and dependable breeder. These breeders usually have only one litter a year, maybe two, and only when they have buyers on a waiting list — the point was to hear the passion and commitment to their dogs’ welfare and wellness of these responsible breeders. I was doing those interviews to educate people about the difference between the origins of puppies at any pet store and those from good breeders — always discussing breed rescue and considering that option first.

Is it possible to have to be so “politically correct” that there can be no dialogue at all about options for those who want to buy a puppy — and how to do that responsibly and thoughtfully?

It’s a free country — and there are many different people in it with different issues and priorities. Does that make them “bad” and those who rescue the only ones doing the “right thing?”  Should we really stand in judgment of other people who also choose to share their lives with dogs and love and nurture them just as you do?

Without open public conversations, the topic of puppy buying will be driven underground. Education is everything — it is what my work is dedicated to on every single topic relating to dogs and cats. There has to be room and respect for differing points of view as long as no people or animals are harmed.

Anyone who has read my books — or ever listened to DOG TALK or CAT CHAT, or read my hundreds of blogs on my website, or read my guest blog on the Humane Society of the United State (for which I am an “ambassador” and a very generous contributor), or knows how many Weimaraners and other dogs (Yogi Bear the Rottweiler, Jazzy my Collie mix) and cats I have adopted, or is aware of how many interviews I give as a media spokesperson educating the public about the genesis of every single puppy in every single pet store.  In fact, I made the anti-pet-store-puppy-mill speech with my guest Monica Holloway, the author of “Cowboy and Wills” on the very October 15th show you are so quick to denounce.  If you listened to me or read me, you would never jump to the conclusion that you have to lecture me on how terrible puppy purchasing is from stores or the internet.

Do you know that the most effective, largest and passionate humane organization — HSUS — defends peoples’ rights to buy puppies if they so choose?

I just made a contribution to the Missouri proposition Yes on 8 to improve lives for the poor dogs in the 3,000 volume breeding operations there.

Would I personally buy a puppy? Never. Does that mean that I would criticize or belittle someone who does? Never. But I do ask every single caller to my radio shows and who write to me “Where did you get your dog?” so I can make a gentle teachable moment of every dog who may have joined a family via a pet store. So how do you permit yourself to jump to negative assumptions about me for raising the topic of when and how to buy a puppy?

Good grief, folks.

Furthermore, wouldn’t it be a good idea to give the benefit of the doubt to me — as someone who has devoted the beginning of every DOG TALK® show for more than a year to highlighting an adoptable cat and dog from Bide-a-wee — which I invited to be the official shelter partner of DOG TALK® and my previous show on WOR in NYC?  And now the Southampton Shelter will assume that role when DOG TALK® goes live again in a few weeks — the shelter where 2 of my own dogs came from.

I financially support many rescues across the country every year — never forgetting Friends of Pets in So. California where my first Weimaraners came from — and donating books for raffles and time at events and giving many of them airtime on the show.

Why can that not co-exist with the reality that buying puppies will also happen and the more people know about how to do that, the better things will be for everyone?

Please think before you point a finger at someone who is firmly on the side of doing the best we can for all people and pets at all times — okay?

I got only one reply back — I got no response acknowledging that perhaps their knee-jerk reactions had been misplaced — or admitting that perhaps it might have been a good idea to actually listen to the show itself before landing their criticisms and judgments, nor any appreciation that I had taken the time to respond in great depth to their notes of dissatisfaction. And then I discovered there was actually one response to my letter from “D.” — a rambling diatribe that for me seemed to sum up the irrational, mean-spirited, uninformed and holier-than-thou judgmentalism that can cause such unpleasantness among people in the community of those who each believe they care for and love dogs — without regard for how they treat other human beings. Such a damn shame. Here she is, in all her self-righteous glory:

You upset me once with your first email.  Your Sorry email is absolutely infuriating.

Had I known that you [were] doing interviews with breeders of “unusual breeds” I would have asked you to delete my name at that time. I have driven far too many miles and seen too many dogs die because they were not young cute puppies or the “right kind.” Anyone that buys a dog is either uninformed or callous about the issues of unwanted dogs in this country. You know thousands and thousands of dogs are being killed each year because they don’t have a home.  Instead of trying to create a “market” for unusual breeds and puppies under the disguise of informing the public, why don’t you do a real service to all the dogs and people in the country and tell them not to buy any dog until all the shelters are empty?

In my opinion, NO. People should not be allowed to buy dogs.  What is “a really responsible and dependable breeder?”  In my mind, there are none as long as I am still driving miles and miles each week and dogs are dying. Sorry but I don’t count you as one of the people “who is firmly on the side of doing the best we can for all people and pets at all times.”

Your comment “how to do that responsibly and thoughtfully” and “co-exist with the reality” regarding buying puppies is absurd. Would you make the same assertion about slavery, racism and the evils of our society? I think not.

Think about it Tracie.

So I ask you — if you’ve made it to the bottom of this frighteningly long blog! — how does all this make you feel?

–Tracie Hotchner

It was a really emotional night on CAT CHAT® — a breed rescuer got a surprise $1,000 donation of food (i.e., Dinner Party and treats) from HALO — which I had no idea about! On an impulse I had asked Mary to call into the show. She runs a German Wire-haired Pointer rescue in Olathe Kansas (www.GWPRescue.com) and we had become pen pals.  I wanted her to explain what breed rescuers do and what happens to breeding dogs in puppy mills — she had written me about the emaciated, past-starvation dogs that have come in from puppy mills and abuse situations and how she needs to restore their health with good nutrition. I had gotten in touch with the Vice President, Marketing Communications of HALO Purely for Pets (one of my website sponsors and the company that makes the kibble my dogs eat) and asked if there was any discount for rescues and shelters to get HALO. Lo and behold there is!! (all you have to do is call 800-426-4256 and they will give a 35% discount to shelters and rescues). So I invited him on the show so he and Mary could meet on the air. She and I were both amazed because after the three of us had been talking for a little while David from Halo suddenly said that HALO was going to donate $1,000 worth of Liv-a-Little freeze-dried salmon treats and Dinner Party to Mary’s rescue!  She wrote in afterward:

Tracie and David,

Oh my goodness I am still shaking!

I cannot find words to express my appreciation and what a tremendous gift you have given our organization. I told my group I was speechless, (which was hard for them to believe) I was so touched I could hardly speak. Tracie, it was such an honor to be on your show.  David is right that you were the passionate force caring for the animals that put us together! Such a true Blessing! And we are forever grateful to both of you!

Our dogs come from extreme circumstances, and as I said seven out of ten come into our care in horrific condition. We will be looking at the same type of situation with the puppy mill dogs we are expecting from South Dakota as we did with the puppy mill babies in Missouri three months ago. We are so excited to have this opportunity to give our puppies/dogs a good diet, and build up their suppressed immune systems.

I will get the food ordered tomorrow… we certainly cannot tell you how this will help us in the coming days. There are no words to express what we are going into. When we went to the puppy mill bust in Missouri in May, I hyperventilated at the sight and smell which made me physically ill. The mothers and babies were locked in a complete darkness in a grain silo where they kept them. Some were so thin their systems could not ingest or digest food. But having the HALO donation will be one less stress for us to deal with, and we will distribute the food between foster homes.

This means so much…

Thank you, Thank you!!!!

You are too kind — I am only a bridge connecting people — and privileged to be one. My gift is having been there to witness The Moment of connection.  Mary you and your group are the ones doing the real heavy lifting — we are just cheering from the sidelines. Day in and day out you climb into the trenches and take in dogs who have been taken to the brink of ruin and you reincarnate them, in a literal and spiritual sense.

How thrilling for me to be associated with a company that shares my admiration of your dedication and my desire to support you in any way possible. You have earned it, believe me, and it’s an honor to help you.