Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with her new dog.Twitter
Liberal firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is once again being dogged by criticism — this time over a puppy.
The animal rights group PETA blasted AOC for apparently buying a purebred French bulldog instead of adopting a homeless dog from a shelter
“The dog is pretty clearly a Frenchie and a very young puppy who appears to have been purchased from a breeder,” PETA spokeswoman Ashley Byrne told The Post.
The freshman Democrat introduced the pup to her social media followers Tuesday, but has refused to answer questions about the still-unnamed dog’s origins.
But she is taking name suggestions from her followers, “We are thinking something Star Trek related or Bronx/Queens/NYC/social good related,” she said on Instagram.
PETA didn’t think there was anything cute about AOC’s pet pick.
With the millions of homeless dogs out there, you apparently chose to buy a purebred puppy instead of adopting one from an animal shelter,” PETA president Ingrid Newkirk wrote in a letter to AOC Thursday.
“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,” Newkirk wrote.
“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,” Newkirk continued.
“They are particularly at risk because their ‘cute’ features plague them with a lifetime of breathing problems, ear and eye infections, skin irritation, a weak stomach, and other issues,” she wrote.
Newkirk also lectured AOC about proper canine care.
“We’re also sending you a copy of the book Dogs Hate Crates, which explains why crate training is not humane or effective,” Newkirk wrote.
Ocasio-Cortez had posted a video on her Instagram of the bulldog whimpering inside a small black cage.
Reps for the congresswoman did not immediately respond to requests for comment
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2020/01/09/peta-blasts-aoc-for-apparently-choosing-purebred-puppy-over-rescue-dog/amp/
