Pandemic Pet Scam?

By Amy Fernandez

As previously reported here in The Canine Chronicle, the pandemic created an unprecedented demand for dogs. Every source, from the local pound to top echelon breeders, reported overwhelming numbers of interested buyers. Very good for dogs and even more beneficial to all those delighted owners who found a best friend to help weather the lockdown.

That would seem like a win-win deal. There’s only been one loser in this particular twist of pandemic life. And you would think that it’s the one group that would be celebrating slow business. But no, the AR industry is facing a unique challenge. Yeah, those melodramatic commercials still run non-stop. They still seem to need your money despite the sudden evaporation of their traditional cause célèbre of saving homeless pets.

Not to worry, their PR department is busy drumming up a new spin to keep that cash flowing. Although they are currently hard-pressed for much of a reason–they still want your donations.

Their creative interpretation of facts is now contrasting the record number of dogs placed in new homes last year against media predictions for evictions that MIGHT happen when pandemic rent moratoriums are lifted. In other words, they are conjuring up an imagined disaster to justify their relentless pandering for cash. Mind you; this isn’t the first time. Remember a while back when HSUS raised tons of money to help homeless pets in Haiti? Eventually, someone realized that Haitians rarely keep pets; they are far too poor for that. Yes, many people suffered in that earthquake, but they didn’t have any pets to rescue. HSUS finally pulled the donation page, but they kept the money.

Of course, Wayne Pacelle is no longer heading the operation since his “Me Too” downfall a few years ago, but their new CEO, Kitty Block, said in the Sunday New York Times, “We could be staring down a really bad situation, with people being forced to choose between their home and their pet.” The worst-case scenario is always possible. It keeps our cortisol levels nice and high, right? But the worst rarely happens. Nevertheless, the spokesperson for Best Friends is right there at her side, beating the donation drum.

Rather than stirring up unnecessary panic during these high-stress times, sensible people are inclined to keep calm and carry on. Hopefully, we are past the worst of it so let’s focus on recovering from this horror show. This newfound appreciation for pets ranks among the few positive things to come out of the pandemic. Moreover, from a logical standpoint, going out of business should be the end game for all these big business “animal welfare charities.” Rather than celebrating this fact, they are industriously exploiting a new angle to keep the money train rolling.

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Posted by admin on Jun 16 2021. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.