|
 |
 |
|
Protesters at Westminster dog show criticize Romney's treatment of pet pooch
Animal-rights activists launched a protest questioning Mitt Romney's treatment of his dog outside the Westminster Dog Show Tuesday.
The event — organized by a group called Dogs Against Romney — is meant to highlight a widely circulated story in which Romney strapped his family dog, Seamus, in a kennel to the roof of his car during a 12-hour road trip to Canada despite the Irish setter suffering from diarrhea. The incident happened in 1983.
"The protest is sponsored by Dogs Against Romney — and will seek to focus more public attention on the fact that Romney forced his dog to ride for 12-hours on the roof of his car — and even coldly hosed the dog down with water after he became ill and frightened, soiling himself — before driving for hours more — all while Romney's luggage rode inside the car," the group said in a press release Monday.
The incident has become fodder for Romney's opponents on the campaign trail.
Late last month, David Axelrod, President Obama's chief political consultant, used Twitter to tweak Romney over the incident, tweeting a picture of Obama riding in the presidential limousine with his dog, Bo. He included a veiled swipe at Romney:
"How loving owners transport their dogs," Axelrod wrote.
Newt Gingrich also referenced the incident in a campaign ad last month.
Romney has since defended the decision, saying the dog was comfortable.
"This is a completely air-tight kennel and mounted on the top of our car,” Romney told Fox News. “He climbed up there regularly, enjoyed himself. He was in a kennel at home, a great deal of time as well. We loved the dog. It was where he was comfortable and we had five kids inside the car. My guess is he liked it a lot better in his kennel than he would have liked it inside."
Most Viewed RSS Feed »
