Ask Me Help Desk - Puppies as prizes in pageants :(

Puppies as prizes in pageants :(

I'm very upset.

I've started a thread before about the pageant shows on TV for little girls. I don't agree with pageants for children. To me it instils the belief that they're only as special as their looks that being pretty is the most important thing. But that's not the reason for this thread.

I was watching it today, because there was nothing else on and I was shocked when they announced that the winners of that competition would win a puppy! Yes, a puppy! No legitimate breeder would ever sell puppies to someone that would give them away as a prize to a competition.

Yes the kids want the puppy. Of course they do, the puppies are adorable. One of the mothers on the show was interviewed (as they usually do on the show) and all she had to say was "Lord help me if she wins the puppy".

So, these puppies are being given away as prizes to people that aren't ready for a puppy, probably don't want a puppy and aren't necessarily willing to care for a puppy.

Do they have a kennel at home, bowls, food, money for vaccines and vet care? Why would they? They weren't looking to purchase a puppy, it's a prize!

I'm shocked about this. I can't just let this go. I will be looking into contacting the producers of the show and expressing my concern. Hopefully this can get me contact information to the pageant people that make the decisions to do this. I'll see what happens.

Is anyone else upset about this? Am I overreacting? :mad:

Its not over reacting. But Im sure that they had announced it ahead of time to the contestants. The same problem goes on every year at easter and people give rabbits as pets. To me a pet is personal and not something to be given away as a prize.

Just when you think the pageants have reached a new low ,they find a new way to be stupid.

Did you ever see that little girl who is always on with her dog that she throws around ?

These parents should be brought to task for what they do!

I detest everything about it! Now I have another to add to the list of many why I think this is wrong ,just wrong on SO many levels.

Quote:

Originally Posted by califdadof3

Its not over reacting. But Im sure that they had announced it ahead of time to the contestants. The same problem goes on every year at easter and people give rabbits as pets. To me a pet is personal and not something to be given away as a prize.

Sadly that's why so many rabbits end up in the shelter, because they were either gifts, prizes or an impulse buy because "aw, it's soooo cute!"

They're complex pets. They need specialized care. I have yet to meet a pet store employee that knows diddly squat about rabbits. My 7 year old knows more then they do.

A puppy is even more work then a bunny. The cost of caring for a puppy is also a lot higher. The vet bills alone in the first year can be astronomical. It's unfair to give these living breathing animals away as prizes.

Give away a stuffed animal. No care required and if the stuffing gets ripped out you just shove it back in, sew it up and voilà, nobody dies. ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by artlady

Just when you think the pageants have reached a new low ,they find a new way to be stupid.

Did you ever see that little girl who is always on with her dog that she throws around ?

These parents should be brought to task for what they do!

I detest everything about it! Now I have another to add to the list of many why I think this is wrong ,just wrong on SO many levels.

I haven't seen the dog throwing girl. That would just make me that much more angry and trust me, I'm plenty angry already.

I would be willing to wager that the majority of puppies given away as prizes will end up in shelters.

Just another level of concern to add to all the rest.

When will people realize?

Rabbits aren't that hard you just have to watch their diets. And you can take them for a walk on a leash too :)

Plus, these puppies are being given to people who obviously have very busy lives being part of the pageant circuit and all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

I haven't seen the dog throwing girl. That would just make me that much more angry and trust me, I'm plenty angry already.

I would be willing to wager that the majority of puppies given away as prizes will end up in shelters.

Just another level of concern to add to all the rest.

When will people realize?

Hopefully we can stretch the advocates of animals even further to help them to force a new legislation.

I do believe they are overworked trying to fight this horrible ignorance and I do think we will get better and make the penalties more severe.

When we hit people in their pocketbook,that's when they pay attention!

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikosmom

Plus, these puppies are being given to people who obviously have very busy lives being part of the pageant circuit and all.

And they are part of the show.
Thank you Paris Hilton for that *dog as fashion* statement .Ugh!
It's a crazy world when you think that these poor kids are going to do well with the mindset they are being taught. Tsk,Tsk!

Alty, don't go any further with the pageant people. Get their contact info, maybe even misdirect them with Sydney, then forward the contact info to the SPCA. If this doesn't qualify as "cruelty to animals" I need to find out what language I speak.

If you contact the producers of the pageant, ask if they have sponsers and you can contact them too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by califdadof3

Rabbits arent that hard you just have to watch thier diets. And you can take them for a walk on a leash too :)

They aren't hard if you know their diets and their other needs. For instance, did you know that most vets have not one clue how to care for a rabbit. When I was looking for a vet to neuter Cotton one vet told me to give no food and water 24 hours before the operation. This is done with most animals because they can often vomit after surgery and if no one is there, they can choke on their own vomit.

Well, rabbits don't have a gag reflex. They physically cannot vomit. When I told the vet this his response was "hmm, didn't know that". What? You're a vet! :(

Also, did you know that rabbits teeth grow constantly? If they don't have something in their cages, or diet, to grind down their teeth then it needs to be done by a vet.

Do you know the difference between a rabbit and a hare? Most people don't. Heck, most people think that rabbits are rodents. They're not, they're lagomorphs.

Don't get me started. I could talk all day about rabbits. ;)

All of you have given me great suggestions. Trust me, I will get to the bottom of this and I won't stop until I get some answers or at least create awareness that this is going on.

The only ones that will suffer are the puppies. The kids, well, that's another post. Don't even get me started about how I feel about child pageants. :(

Time to make dinner. I'll be back. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

Don't get me started. I could talk all day about rabbits. ;)

They taste good too :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by friend4u178

They taste good too :D

You are definitely staying in a hotel if you ever come to visit me! ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisisit

If you contact the producers of the pageant, ask if they have sponsers and you can contact them too.

Great idea and PITA as well!

Quote:

Originally Posted by friend4u178

They taste good too :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by artlady

Great idea and PITA as well!

Artsy, do you eat wabbits too? Or maybe you meant PETA... :p

My dogs are my family... to me that is like entering a competition to win a brother or sister.

Dogs and puppies are not possessions or prizes, they are living, breathing, feeling creatures.

I have been getting slammed a lot lately because I show dogs and they are nothing more than money makers for us... that couldn't be farther from the truth but it's impossible to make some people see that.
I mean, I pay for the dog, I have to feed it, vet it, pay entry fee for shows, register it with the local council yearly, pay my own membership to the canine council. If I happened to breed it MIGHT recoup some of the costs if the dog has a large litter but when you think about the fact that the dog cost nearly $2000 then you have to pay a $1000 stud fee and you have been feeding and vetting the dog for 2+ years, AND having to pay for the puppies food and vet care...

Bleck, I'm babbling now but it gets me angry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikosmom

Artsy, do you eat wabbits too? Or maybe you meant PETA... :p

Lol. I was thinking the same thing. Pita is a bread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikosmom

Artsy, do you eat wabbits too? Or maybe you meant PETA... :p

Wabbit on Pita, with some grilled onions and peppers. Maybe Baclava for dessert. Yum.

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Stop trying to eat my rabbits!

Could you really eat this?

Attachment 28951

That's my baby Cotton. He weighs around 1 pound soaking wet. Not worth skinning and cooking him for a few bites.

Also, he's litter box trained and tame as can be. He's just a big sucky bunny, loves to cuddle, loves to sit on my lap and watch TV.

Tell me, could you really eat him? Could you? Say it isn't so! :eek:

I could never eat such a cute little bunny rabbit

Yummy... anyone got some gravy ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

Stop trying to eat my rabbits!

Could you really eat this?

Attachment 28951

That's my baby Cotton. He weighs around 1 pound soaking wet. Not worth skinning and cooking him for a few bites.

Also, he's litter box trained and tame as can be. He's just a big sucky bunny, loves to cuddle, loves to sit on my lap and watch TV.

Tell me, could you really eat him? Could you? Say it isn't so! :eek:

Which paw do you squeeze to make it squeak?

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisisit

I could never eat such a cute little bunny rabbit

I made need you to hide him for me, the two mean boys want to make him a side dish! :eek: ;)

Now boys, this thread is about puppies. You guys are bad getting me started on rabbits. Who was it that did that anyway? :rolleyes:

Also, M, everyone knows that gravy isn't good on rabbit. ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

Also, M, everyone knows that gravy isn't good on rabbit. ;)

And you know this because you ate rabbit when... ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

I made need you to hide him for me, the two mean boys want to make him a side dish! :eek: ;)

Now boys, this thread is about puppies. You guys are bad getting me started on rabbits. Who was it that did that anyway? :rolleyes:

Also, M, everyone knows that gravy isn't good on rabbit. ;)

No gravy on rabbit :eek:
You guys crack me up! So Crazy :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

I made need you to hide him for me, the two mean boys want to make him a side dish! :eek: ;)

Now boys, this thread is about puppies. You guys are bad getting me started on rabbits. Who was it that did that anyway? :rolleyes:

Also, M, everyone knows that gravy isn't good on rabbit. ;)

Gravy is good on the potatoes and carrots and onions in the stew.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

I made need you to hide him for me, the two mean boys want to make him a side dish! :eek: ;)

Now boys, this thread is about puppies. You guys are bad getting me started on rabbits. Who was it that did that anyway? :rolleyes:

Also, M, everyone knows that gravy isn't good on rabbit. ;)

I did. I started it. Hehe. Does your bunny binki too ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

Also, M, everyone knows that gravy isn't good on rabbit. ;)

I don't know Alty, my dad used to eat it with gravy sometimes... :rolleyes:

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Quote:

Originally Posted by nikosmom

I dunno Alty, my dad used to eat it with gravy sometimes... :rolleyes:

There pretty good raw as well...

Attachment 28952

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by califdadof3

I did. I started it. hehe. Does your bunny binki too ?

Binky dear. :)

I have what I call my "bunny binky room:

Attachment 28953

They spend a few hours a day hopping around, nibbling on the carpet (which is theirs) and binkying around.

Yes, they. I have four bunnies. The reason they have the bunny binky room is because of my 3 dogs, a lab, border collie and beagle. Two hunters and one herder. ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikosmom

I dunno Alty, my dad used to eat it with gravy sometimes... :rolleyes:

Don't give them ideas NM! :eek:

M, I accidentally had rabbit once. My grandmother told me it was chicken. What's worse, it was a rabbit that they had for a year and I'd play with it every Sunday when we went over for coffee and cake.

My grandpa told me he ran away. He wasn't fast enough. :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by friend4u178

There pretty good raw as well...........................

Attachment 28952

That's just wrong! Especially because I have a black lab! :(

Bad M. Bad boy! No rabbit for you! ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

M, I accidentally had rabbit once. My grandmother told me it was chicken. What's worse, it was a rabbit that they had for a year and I'd play with it every Sunday when we went over for coffee and cake.

So guilt aside... how did it taste?

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikosmom

So guilt aside... how did it taste?

Ha Ha... yeah good question NM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

Bad M. Bad boy! No rabbit for you! ;)

So many things I could say here but alas, it's not the proper thread... ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikosmom

So guilt aside... how did it taste?

Everything tastes like chicken, except me.

Oops :eek::eek: WT

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikosmom

So guilt aside... how did it taste?

Like rotten chicken!

I kept asking my grandma "are you sure this is chicken? It doesn't taste right".

Both sets of grandparents kept rabbits for food. My grandma in Germany used to send me the furs. :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catsmine

Everything tastes like chicken, except me.

Oops :eek::eek: WT

:eek:

WT, WT, abort mission! Abort! Abort! :eek: