Readers! Dog Lovers! We Need Your Voices!!!!

October 10th, 2009 by admin2

As many of you know, I am on facebook pretty regularly.  Well, not only am I interested in the social media aspect of finding old friends, keeping in touch with all of my MN and ND relatives, but I also share a tremendous interest in DOG RESCUE and the tremendous efforts and triumphs we experience, as volunteers.

Well, one of my facebook friends and avid animal activists Jennifer Lee Pryor [yes, Richard Pryor's widow and crusader of Pryor's Planet], was recently outraged by some comments made on the Jay Leno show.  I’m going to post Jennifer’s letter and responses below, so that you can see Hollywood’s gross misrepresentation of canine compassion.  Not only will Chris Rock’s publicist not retract any remarks, he is not remorseful.  His information is as follows

Baker Winokur Ryder
Matthew Labov
9100 Wilshire Blvd.
6th Floor West
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
USA
Phone: 310-550-7776
Fax: 310-550-1701

And now, I give you Jennifer’s words along with her cursory response.  Please make your voices heard for dogs and animal cruelty everywhere!!  Those wih influence need to be cognizent of their words and actions.

Brenda

————–

Matthew Labov wrote:

Jennifer-
Thank you for your note.
He told a joke and millions of people laughed. It was just a joke, not meant to inflame you.

Thank you.
ML

**********

My [Jennifer’s] Reply:

Mathew:
I am not stupid, I have a great sense of humor…I married Richard Pryor twice, for hell’s sake… and worked with him on several projects…I KNOW WHAT’S FUNNY!
I knew that this would be the standard answer–doesn’t cut it!

Chris pounded his fists on the chair and asked: “what did Mike Vick do!” He went on to say: ‘Pit bulls aren’t even real dogs”…then of course, he went on to say it’s a ‘white thing…black people don’t like dogs, yadayada…’—and finished his highly unfunny, dated, routine!
Your patronizing comment, ” It was just a joke, not meant to inflame you.—”
is insult to injury! I assure you, many others are shocked and ‘INFLAMED’ as you put it, about this!

If you think this is damage control, you have fallen very short in your job.
One need only Google Chris Rock and Michael Vick to see just who else is disturbed by these comments.


“Millions of people laughing” doesn’t make it OK.
Apparently, it’s a black thing to defend Michael Vick…and bash Pit bulls!
Now, please understand my position: I am Director of a rescue organization established by Richard and myself and named after Richard, I cannot have anyone associated, with the Pryor name, who publicly defends a known animal abuser and feels this way about dogs in general.Therefore,Chris will not be associated with Richard Pryor and any project about Richard.
And if you have checked, to see if I have any ‘power’ to enforce this, I assure you I do.

As stated in my previous email, both my attorney and Bill Condon are aware of how strongly I feel and of my commitment to animal welfare.

And to repeat what I stated earlier, let the chips fall where they may.

You had an opportunity to try to repair this and you have chosen to patronize and minimize.

Original Letter Written to Chris Rock!

Thu at 5:11pm

TO CHRIS ROCK:
We were on the front page of Variety today and the timing is unfortunate for it comes the same day I am forced to write this letter!

Richard and I established Pryor’s Planet, a non-profit, before he passed, for the purpose of rescuing and rehabilitating homeless and abused or neglected dogs, so they can go into loving, forever homes! PRYOR’S PLANET is an all breed rescue: which means, we rescue everything from little white, fluffy dogs to Pitbulls.
We currently have 40 dogs we are caring for while they await their forever homes.

Among these 40 dogs, Pryor’s Planet has 7 Pitbulls (actually American Staffordshire Terriers), all of whom are receiving care and training while they await their forever homes, at great expense I might add! Each one is a sweet and affectionate dog who was mistreated, or dumped or neglected all because of their breed! These are sentient, thinking beings with real feelings.

THIS WAS ON MY FACE BOOK PAGE THIS MORNING:
You ask: “What did Vick do? Pit bulls aren’t real dogs anyway.” If he doesn’t understand at this point then I guess he never will. If you’re taking Vick’s side, it’s unforgivable. This is as bad as if a white guy on a 50’s talk show defended killing a black man. “I mean, it’s not like he’s a real human. What did he do?”

Chris’s, your comments: “What did Michael Vick do? Pitbulls aren’t even real dogs!”
What Michael Vick did was torture, drown, electrocute and murder several dogs all for fun and for profit! He went to prison for FELONY ANIMAL CRUELTY! That’s what he did!

Because of your insensitive and ignorant remarks that you made on The Jay Leno Show,The David Letterman show and various public forums and websites; I have notified my attorney and Bill Condon directly that I don’t you associated with the Richard Pryor Bio Pic—UNLESS and until you find a way to retract and apologize for these comments in some public way.
Clearly this is part of your latest stand-up routine which frankly, would not make Richard laugh!

Richard knew you and I know you Chris, you are not from the streets, nor are you a country bumkin…so to whom are you trying to appeal with these outrageous remarks? These type of comments only foment and encourage abuse and misunderstanding of this breed as well as actual dog fighting. Kind of like Rush Limbaugh does for the crazy right!
Do you want to become the Rush Limbaugh to the rescue community?

I have personally been involved in saving Pits from fight rings in Texas and California and in fact have one in my personal pack who was used as a ‘bait dog’ in a fight ring…a sweet, young puppy who is now a sweet adult dog!
Below is a video link to a dog we rescued from Bakersfield Shelter, abused and starved…he is the sweetest dog!

Eli The Great: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=465y7oWVpyk


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