Abused dog in Oklahoma Cruelty case becomes "spokesdog" for national pet food company
February 27, 2007 (Press Release) --
By Nature Pet Foods of Londonderry, NH was on a mission to find the perfect spokes person. “We were looking for someone who is intelligent, attractive, and absolutely charming,” said Gloria von Zech, Consumer Liaison for By Nature. “We wanted to give an unknown a chance - someone who maybe didn’t have it as easy as others. Of course, big brown eyes and quick kisses were also a must!” So, after scouring Petfinder.com for months, von Zech found Bonnie, a two year old Airedale/Great Pyrenees mix at the Oklahoma Animal Welfare Association. “She was everything I was looking for!”
Bonnie definitely is not of the privileged class of dog seen at Westminster Kennel Club yet her story is familiar to anyone who works at a Shelter or volunteers as part of a rescue group. Taken from her former owners as part of a neglect case, she weighed in at a mere 37 pounds and was covered in feces and mud. She had lost her front teeth from gnawing on the wire of the small pen which she shared with several other large dogs including St. Bernards and other Pyrenees mixes. In only one week at the OAWA, she gained ten pounds. Her ideal weight is somewhere around 70.
“There was a lot of logistics involved in getting Bonnie from Oklahoma to New Jersey. First she had to be spayed and completely vetted. That was done by Dr. Melinda Luper of Animal Medical and Surgical Hospital of Tulsa. And she had never been crated - heck! She had never even been indoors! Angie Meadows, the Director of the OAWA, took Bonnie under her wing and conditioned her to the crate. “She loves her “house” now!” von Zech said, smiling.
Bonnie will be in training for the next three months learning all the things a good spokesperson should know - how to walk the red carpet, how to wow a crowd, how to handle the press while always being a lady, and how to graciously accept admiration. “I’ll also be teaching Bonnie to pull a cart. Airedales and Pyrs and both great working breeds. Just because she is a Star doesn’t mean she can’t do a little work now and again!” von Zech said.
By Nature Pet Foods, in addition to paying for Bonnie’s veterinary care, has donated 40,000 pounds of food to the Oklahoma Animal Welfare Association. “That is for all the Stars we had to leave behind.”
The Oklahoma Animal Welfare Association is staffed totally by volunteers and funded by donations. By Nature Pet Foods asks that you send your donation to OAWA at 15825 West Golden Road, Sand Springs, OK 74063.
Bonnie definitely is not of the privileged class of dog seen at Westminster Kennel Club yet her story is familiar to anyone who works at a Shelter or volunteers as part of a rescue group. Taken from her former owners as part of a neglect case, she weighed in at a mere 37 pounds and was covered in feces and mud. She had lost her front teeth from gnawing on the wire of the small pen which she shared with several other large dogs including St. Bernards and other Pyrenees mixes. In only one week at the OAWA, she gained ten pounds. Her ideal weight is somewhere around 70.
“There was a lot of logistics involved in getting Bonnie from Oklahoma to New Jersey. First she had to be spayed and completely vetted. That was done by Dr. Melinda Luper of Animal Medical and Surgical Hospital of Tulsa. And she had never been crated - heck! She had never even been indoors! Angie Meadows, the Director of the OAWA, took Bonnie under her wing and conditioned her to the crate. “She loves her “house” now!” von Zech said, smiling.
Bonnie will be in training for the next three months learning all the things a good spokesperson should know - how to walk the red carpet, how to wow a crowd, how to handle the press while always being a lady, and how to graciously accept admiration. “I’ll also be teaching Bonnie to pull a cart. Airedales and Pyrs and both great working breeds. Just because she is a Star doesn’t mean she can’t do a little work now and again!” von Zech said.
By Nature Pet Foods, in addition to paying for Bonnie’s veterinary care, has donated 40,000 pounds of food to the Oklahoma Animal Welfare Association. “That is for all the Stars we had to leave behind.”
The Oklahoma Animal Welfare Association is staffed totally by volunteers and funded by donations. By Nature Pet Foods asks that you send your donation to OAWA at 15825 West Golden Road, Sand Springs, OK 74063.
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