Bay Woof salutes the many celebrities who shine their star power on animals in need.
Apple of Our Eye. Singer-songwriter Fiona Apple has a way with words, but her most memorable composition ever may be the letter she penned to fans on behalf of her beloved Pit Bull rescue, Janet. In late November, Apple announced she was cancelling the South American leg of her tour to stay home with Janet, who is nearly 14 years old and dying from Addison’s Disease and a chest tumor. Most media outlets around the country greeted Apple’s decision with understanding. For Bay Woof readers, no further explanation is necessary beyond Apple’s poignant pronouncement that, “Janet has been the most consistent relationship of my adult life, and that is just a fact.”
Ben There, Doing That. A new investigation into online puppy sales highlights how the Internet is being used as a tool for exploiting dogs and consumers. To bring awareness to the magnitude of this issue, actor and writer Ben Stein joined the International Fund for Animal Welfare at a press conference announcing IFAW’s latest investigative report, “How Much is that Doggie on my Browser? The Truth Behind Online Puppy Sales.” The report marks the first publicly available large-scale examination of the connection between Internet puppy sales and suspected puppy mill operations. “Consumers opting to purchase puppies over the Internet are duped into believing they are buying from reputable breeders,” said Stein, an Honorary Member of IFAW’s Board of Directors. “The cute puppy images shown on many seller websites hide the heartbreaking reality of the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in which the dogs are housed.”
Bidding for Betty. Everyone’s favorite sassy senior, Betty White, is well known for her life-long love of animals. Once again, she’s showing off the big heart behind all those wise-cracks. White recently lent her irresistibility to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles, for spcaLA’s once-in-a-lifetime “Win a Date with Betty White Auction.” When bidding closed Dec. 10, White had earned a remarkable $16,009 for the organization. The winning bidder and three lucky friends will join White and spcaLA’s President, Madeline Bernstein, for dinner at one of White’s favorite restaurants. Says Bernstein, “We are blown away by the generosity of spcaLA Friend for Life, Betty White, and the winning bidder. As a local, independent nonprofit serving Southern California since 1877, we rely on the support of our community to provide for thousands of abandoned and abused animals every year.”
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