Pragmatic solution or animal cruelty?
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- June
- 28
Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is finding himself in the doghouse with animal lovers, and possibly the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, after the Boston Globe ran a story featuring a less-than-flattering anecdote about Romney and the family pooch. Apparently, during a family trip from Boston to Ontario for vacation in 1983, Romney strapped the family dog’s carrier, containing Seamus, the Irish setter, to the roof of their station wagon for the 12-hour trip. When one of the Romney’s five children noticed that dog excrement was running down the back of the car, Romney made a pit stop to hose off the car and dog and resumed the trip.
The story was included in the “family” portion of a seven-part package the Globe is running about Romney. According to a line in the article, the reporter included the tale to illustrate Romney’s “emotion-free crisis management” skills, for which he is famous.
The follow-up piece in Time, however, cites a representative from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, who says that lose of bowel control is a sign of extreme stress in dogs.
Here’s the story in the Boston Globe
And here’s the recap of the fallout from Time Magazine
So, what do you think of Romney’s actions? Should the state of Massachusetts look into the incident? Do you think this will have any affect on his run for office?
AP Photo/Matt YorkÂ
This entry was posted
on Thursday, June 28th, 2007 at 1:25 pm by Tracey Princiotta.
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It was in 1983 so I’m not sure what they could do about it now. But that was just cruel, plain and simple. Someone should strap him to a car until he has no choice but to mess himself and see how he likes it.
Holy cow. I hadn’t heard about Romney’s uncaring attitude toward his poor dog. I haven’t decided on a presidential candidate to support, but this story certainly boots Romney off my list of considerations. I’d sooner vote for any of the anti-American communists running for the Democrat nomination than for a Republican who could be this stupid about animal treatment.
I don’t think we can do anything to Romney to punish him, but I certainly think he needs to be educated about his casual cruelty. And if he’s intelligent or politically savvy at all, he should meet with animal advocates, repent and help them reach other people who are ignorant of animal rights.
Thought you might like to check out the video I found at Salon.com…check the link I attached for you…it will make your crack up.