A blog by spcaLA president, Madeline Bernstein

Jan 31, 2022

Hairless French Bulldogs! What could go wrong?

It seems that a hairless french bulldogs is now a new designer dog. This is another example of a deranged need to breed and crossbreed weird dogs for unsubstantiated reasons, (allergy) and for the shock value. 

There are already so many medical and behavioral issues that result from poor breeding, inbreeding and crossbreeding inbred and overbred dogs that cause heartbreak and suffering to people and pets alike, that now adding hairless creates new risks and compounds old ones.

A dogs' natural hair coat helps regulate his or her temperature. The hair keeps the dog warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The skin of a hairless dog can become sunburned, can become cracked and infected if too dry and can be easily injured or scratched. 

We have got to stop creating a demand for designer dogs. Until we do the unscrupulous breeders and con artists will make more, and more, and more. How much harm are we willing to inflict on our dogs?



Jan 26, 2022

A Horse, a Princess, and a Fashion Show Runway !


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A princess, riding a horse was featured trotting around a Chanel fashion show runway in Paris.

Is it a lack of imagination? An uncreative marketing team? A cry for attention? Or what??

Let us assume that the horse was treated well, not sedated, accustomed to crowds and not terrified of trotting on a fashion runway, (which may or may not have stairs), in an indoor space with music - should we do this? Is this alright? Because someone can make the horse do this - should they? Should the lack of illegality make it right? 

When all else fails and the muse deserts, the default idea still seems to be an animal act. A sideshow attraction that suggests an uninspired main event with no draw. Was the beautiful princess not enough? Were Chanel fashions not enough?

Our community has evolved passed this. Consumers are saying no to circuses, mammal water parks, real animals in the movies, red painted elephants, pink donkeys and live fish in keychains to name a few. Yet, in 2022 we see a horse trotting around a fashion show runway.

Is this right? I think not. 

The power to exploit members of a vulnerable class must include the courage to not do so, and a refusal to encourage those who do. 

What do you think?