Jan 07, 2020 — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 7, 2020 The dog appears to be a French bulldog, an intelligent dog known for its stubborn streak. 2 days ago In this July 23, 2020, file image from video, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., speaks on the House floor on Capitol Hill in Washington.
PETA slams Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for getting purebred puppy instead of rescue dog
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is in the doghouse with PETA after posting pictures of her purebred French bulldog puppy.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, was slammed by the animal rights organization PETA on Thursday for not being a good role model.
The New York Democrat could have influenced her millions of social media followers by adopting a rescue mutt from a shelter, PETA argued, but instead the congresswoman took home a purebred French bulldog.
“AOC had a chance to set a compassionate, responsible example in the face of the homeless-animal crisis, but instead, she apparently inadvertently contributed to the problem,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in a letter. “PETA is urging her supporters not to follow her lead in this case and to stick up for the underdog by choosing to give a lovable mutt a new lease on life.”
The freshman “Squad” member had introduced her yet-to-be named Frenchie in an Instagram story earlier in the week. She never confirmed the breed or if she purchased her pet from a breeder.
“He doesn’t have a name yet!” Ocasio-Cortez said in one Instagram story post, asking for suggestions. “We are thinking something Star Trek related or Bronx/Queens/NYC/social good related.”
But compared to followers who fawned over the animal’s cuteness and tweeted Ocasio-Cortez images of their own dog, Newkirk was less than amused.
“French bulldogs are inbred in order to produce “breed-specific traits,” which cause health problems that many people who will be influenced by your purchase won’t be able to afford to address,” her letter continued.
“With the millions of homeless dogs out there, you apparently chose to buy a purebred puppy instead of adopting one from an animal shelter. Right this minute, on Petfinder alone, there are more than 110,000 dogs – including French bulldogs – who need homes. Animal shelters are bursting at the seams with hundreds of thousands more, many of whom will be “put to sleep” for lack of a home.
The letter urges the freshman congresswoman to visit any NYC Animal Care & Control center and adopt a shelter dog to give her new French Bull Dog a companion while she’s away traveling the country or busy working on Capitol Hill. PETA said it was also sending Ocasio-Cortez a copy of the book “Dogs Hate Crates” to explain “why crate training is not humane or effective.”
“We’re asking that you please be a part of the solution to ending the cat- and dog-overpopulation crisis and consider setting the right example for your millions of followers by adopting a mutt and encouraging them to do the same,” Newkirk concludes.
Ocasio-Cortez has documented on her Instagram story how she was crate-training her dog.
“He’s good about his crate when we are right next to it, but he’s such a velcro pup that at night he whimpers if he’s not right next to us. We’re working on it!” she wrote.
“We are working really hard to socialize the pup to new environments, different people, travel, etc.,” she said, adding, “He’s doing great so far!”
She also responded to one Twitter user who asked if she would be bringing the puppy to work on Capitol Hill with her.
“The goal is to train him to be a community pup,” Ocasio-Cortez said, sharing a photo of the dog asleep in her lap. “Ideally we want to work to the point where he can enjoy town halls, be an Amtrak pup, come to the office, etc. But first, naps.”
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Thursday expressed its disappointment in far-left socialist lawmaker Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) over her decision to own a French bulldog.
Ocasio-Cortez this week announced the newest addition to her family on social media.
“So we just did something big!” Ocasio-Cortez said on Instagram as she introduced her new dog.
“Hey boo boo, hi. Welcome to our family,” she said.
She confirmed on Twitter that she hopes to train him to become a “community pup.”
“Ideally we want to work to the point where he can enjoy town halls, be an Amtrak pup, come to the office, etc.,” she explained alongside a picture:
Yes! 🐶 the goal is to train him to be a community pup. Ideally we want to work to the point where he can enjoy town halls, be an Amtrak pup, come to the office, etc.
But first, naps 😴 pic.twitter.com/ec8beJTrmZ
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 7, 2020
She added that she wants his name to be”Star Trek related or Bronx/Queens/NYC/social good related.”
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez Partner
PETA took issue with Ocasio-Cortez’s newest addition, writing a brief complaint on Twitter.
“With millions of dogs, including Frenchies, homeless in shelter cages waiting for homes, @AOC’s choice to publicize getting a purebred puppy is disappointing,” PETA wrote.
“As a person who fights for justice, we doubt she could’ve realized the implications,” it added. “Adoption is the ONLY option.”
The tweet also contained a brief letter, which read:
Dear Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,
You’re a role model for how to live with kindness, so this concerns us.
Did you really choose to get a purebred puppy when there are millions of animals in shelters who desperately need homes?
Please ask your followers to adopt and never buy dogs.
With millions of dogs, including Frenchies, homeless in shelter cages waiting for homes, @AOC’s choice to publicize getting a purebred puppy is disappointing.
As a person who fights for justice, we doubt she could’ve realized the implications.
Riley Roberts Ocasio Cortez
Adoption is the ONLY option. pic.twitter.com/CiptDEaZmu
— PETA (@peta) January 10, 2020
Ocasio Cortez Catholic
The New York lawmaker faced similar critiques from users on Twitter.
“Is it a rescue dog? If not, why?” one asked.
“Did you adopt him? If not please look into the number of unwanted dogs euthanized each day in this country and next time please consider adopting. But thank you for bringing a dog into your home,” another added.
Ocasio Cortez Puppy
“Unusual to be able to adopt a frenchie puppy from shelter or rescue,” another remarked. “Please don’t disappoint me.”
Alexandria Ocasio-cortez Dog
Ocasio-Cortez has not indicated if she purchased the pup or adopted him from a shelter.