I asked Pamela if I could, so here is her original post...
Time to send CBS News a REAL message!
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On May 21, CBS News's Sunday morning news program, CBS Sunday Morning, aired a piece on "designer dogs" that gave tacit approval to volume breeders and to pet stores that sell puppies. The upbeat puff piece, reported by alleged pet lover Bill Geist, included one brief dissenting comment--from the AKC--but no comments from animal welfare or rescue groups. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of responses protesting this irresponsible story were sent to CBS News. They didn't listen.
This morning, August 6, CBS aired the story again in its original form. And to make matters worse, the CBS Sunday Morning Web site includes links to Puppy Paradise, a high-volume Brooklyn NY pet store that also sells puppies on-line, and to Puppy Haven Kennels, a Wisconsin breeder operation that specializes in hybrid puppies. Network news operations are constantly bemoaning the fact that they have lost, and continue to lose, viewers to cable news and Internet news sources. Is it any wonder? When passionate, caring, informed viewers take the time and trouble to write and let you know that you have made a serious mis-step in your reporting and you respond by simply airing the original piece again, do you expect to increase your viewership?
I have been a devoted watcher of CBS Sunday Morning since it first went on the air with Charles Kurault in 1979. Until recently, it has consistently been one of the best news programs on television. As of today, I have watched my last. A news organization that encourages volume breeding and the purchase of puppies from pet stores, an organization that is unresponsive and unrepentant, doesn't deserve my support. Or yours.
Like all commercial enterprises, television networks these days seem to respond to one thing and one thing only: MONEY. In TV, money comes from ratings. So it's up to us.
Since CBS chose to ignore our concerns, it's time to ignore them. Don't watch ANY CBS news program--the evening news, the morning news shows, your local CBS affiliate, 60 Minutes, 48 Hours. There are an awful lot of us--people who are profoundly concerned about the pet overpopulation problem and the breeding and marketing of puppies as if they were this year's hot fashion trend. If we all turn off ALL CBS news programs, that will have the impact that our letters and e-mails did not. Don't be seduced when Katie Couric takes over the CBS Evening News in the fall. Just click to NBC, ABC, or CNN. Or the radio. Or your local newspaper. And take a minute to send an e-mail and let CBS know why you're finished with them. Go to this URL: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/...ain13562.shtml Scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on Contact Us. A feedback window will open.
Money talks, and apparently that's the only voice CBS News is willing to listen to. So make your voice heard!
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Pamela, with Milo, Poco, and, eternally, the spirit of The Sainted Peaches, Farfel of Blessed Memory, and Beloved Hoopty Hound
Almost Home Dachshund Rescue Society
almosthomerescue.org
DONE !! Submitted my comments - thanks for posting.......
I sent comments the first time around and I sent stronger worded comments this time around. There is nothing on CBS that I can't do without. I'm going to miss "Survivor" but I can find other things to do. I told them I am boycotting CBS - everything - national, affiliates, all; until all their news programs announce they have reversed their stand on puppy wholesaling.
The fact that they ran this again after thousands of protests leads me to believe that CBS is somehow in bed with the puppy mills. I wonder if anyone has investigated CBS' corporate holdings with this in mind.
You raise an interesting point, Rich - that is very suspicious! Hand in the pocket sort of thing would be my guess after reading your post.