Brownfeminpower tackles the question of "Where are all the bloggers of color?" (both links go to the same post, just different sites)

Elaine Vigneault tackles the issue of dog breeding and feminism. Is it fair to ask one of the A-list feminist bloggers where she got her puppy?

As the mama of a rescue Doxie, I say, yes. If you have asked me 6 months ago before we were settled on a getting a dog, I still would have said yes. More later.

===========LATER========================
Since Rachel has already commented and noted that the lovely Violet was a breeder puppy while curious Elvis was a rescue and stated that she's divided, I'll go from there.

First, I'm not as totally anti-breeder as Elaine is. I know Rachel well enough to trust that she's not getting her puppies from a puppy mill. Then again, I do believe that there are enough dogs and cats in this world that we ought to take a one year break from purchasing dogs & cats. One year, that's all I'd want to see.

Second, the question was more about whether or not it is appropriate to ask a feminist leader where she got her dog from. Again, I say yes. If Gloria Steinem showed up at a meeting in a fur coat, you know she'd get hell from not just PETA. Steinem, Jessica isn't, but she has been dubbed one of the newest faces/leaders of not just the feminist blogosphere, but the movement itself. And as such, is fair game for such questions.

Jessica could respond by simply saying that she's known the breeder for years, knows it has an impeccable record, or simply that she did her homework, weighed the issues, and really wanted a puppy.

And unlike one of Jessica's supporters, asking where a puppy came from isn't the same as asking a woman why she didn't adopt. People are CONSTANTLY asking us where we got Annie. People who know us assume it's a rescue. People on the street just are curious.

One of my first acts of activism was deciding to be a vegan based on worries about how animals are raised and slaughtered. I was in middle school. I was a TERRIBLE vegan. Mostly because I had zero support, especially at home where my mom always tried to force me to eat some type of meat. That's why I eat poultry and fish. But at one point, I was living off of French fries and hot dog buns at school. They say any diet made up of only one food will cause you to lose weight...that's not one of them. During college I still wasn't eating fish, but once you start to dissect them to get to know them better AND you eat a fresh fish caught in Bermuda, well it's like crack...you are hooked.

I've slowly let leather back into my shoe options, mostly because my feet are horrible and I'm pre-diabetic. I know I need to care for my feet. It's really just bits of otherwise canvas sneakers. But it still sucks.

Yes, I'm full of excuses, but I'm willing to tell you them and take the questioning. I'm not a perfect animal rights activist, which is why I tend not to be active with them. I do what I can and learn things along the way.

As for Annie...the hubby really wanted to buy a puppy from a pet store, but I put my foot down. Not just the cost, but the idea of a pet store grossed me out. AND getting an older dog meant that we didn't have to potty train. Score! Would we have gotten a puppy from a good breeder? I'd like to say no, but I can't say for certain. But I do know the cost would have deterred us majorly. Then again, I just found a doxie-pug puppy up for adoption on my doxie list. OMFG, he was the cutest lil thing ever!

Labels: annie, feminism, WOC