Each candidate running for President and Vice President has a dramatically different set of animal welfare issues in the state where they reside. Here is the rundown on each. You can decide if it gives you insight into the nature of your favorite candidate.
Governor Sarah Palin: In Alaska, “sled dog races” are hugely popular from late September through early April. But when a dog gets too old to race, many are turned over to shelters and rescue groups. So specialized organizations have cropped up to help. The Alaskan Sled Dog Rescue adopts retired racers into homes where they can live out their lives as family pets. The Second Chance League rescues sled dogs that were too slow for competitions. These pups are given to less competitive teams where they can train or just live peacefully with a sled dog team.
Senator John McCain: If you want to adopt a greyhound dog Arizona is just the place to go. The state is home to three Greyhound Race Tracks. Younger dogs first race at the Apache Junction Park while more experienced greyhounds tear around the track in either Phoenix or Tucson. This translates into a “whole lot” of unemployed greyhounds. The problem is large enough that even the Greyhound Parks have formed Charitable Foundations to help. Three non-profits have come to the rescue: Arizona Adopt A Greyhound, Inc. (AAGI) and Greyhound Pets of America (Tucson Chapter and Arizona Chapter).
Senator Joe Biden: Delaware is a good place to go if you want to adopt a purebred puppy or its mother. The states surrounding Biden’s home are filled with hundreds puppy mills. Dogs at these facilities live in deplorable, inhumane conditions. Some remain in cages their entire life. They are seen by their owners as marketable products rather than loveable family pets. Organizations likeDelaware Puppy Rescue have formed to stop the problem. With the help of Pilots for Paws and Rebuilding Lives, pups are rescued from the mills and flown to Delaware for safety and a chance for a new life.
Senator Barack Obama: Like Delaware, Illinois also borders states that have puppy mills, but this mid-west state is home to the industry as well. This fact has led to the formation of many breed specific rescue groups. So just like Delaware your chances of adopting a purebred pooch are very good in Illinois. Organizations such as, Central Illinois German Shepherd Dog Rescue and Central Illinois Sheltie Rescue focus on rehabilitating dogs from puppy mills and adopting them into good homes.
On a final note, if you ever want to adopt a desert tortoise or a wild burro, pay a visit to Harry Reid’s and my home state- Nevada.
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