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For immediate publication:
April 7, 2021
Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382
Norfolk, Va. – After the dog’s owners gave it to PETA, the shelter staff gently shaved off months of thick matted fur – and Winnie’s true personality began to shine. Previously shy and fearful, she now enjoys every moment – spending time with her adoptive guardians, playing with Honey (her new canine companion), and dozing on the sofa, safely and comfortably around the house.
“When those lumps of tangled fur disappeared and she experienced joy and a life beyond the cruel confines of a pen, Winnie broke into a solemn dance,” said Colleen O’Brien, vice president of PETA. “Lack of grooming is an overlooked aspect of neglect, and grooming is so much more than beauty treatment for dogs – it is essential to their physical and mental wellbeing.”
PETA urges everyone to let their dogs live indoors. Dogs that are cooped up or chained outside – as in the documentation about PETA’s work Breaking the Chain – are often inadequately confronted with food, water and shelter, as well as basic services such as basic care. Frosted fur can hide parasites and wounds, pull on dogs’ skin and restrict their movement, while rain can tighten the mats and exacerbate skin problems.
The Animal Rights Group also notes that grooming should always be done for the benefit of dog health. Decorating dogs for purely aesthetic purposes, as seen on shows like Pooch Perfect, exposes them to the discomfort and stress of standing still for hours while strangers cut, pull, spray, and paste their fur. The use of dyes can also cause dangerous allergic reactions.
PETA – whose motto is in part: “We must not abuse animals in any way” – contradicts speciesism, a human supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group up Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
