PETA Asks Ryan Hanigan to Be a Champ and Spay Winning Dog

Group Calls On Rays Catcher to Take Action in Behalf of Homeless Animals

For Immediate Release:
February 12, 2014

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

This afternoon, PETA sent an urgent letter to Tampa Rays catcher Ryan Hanigan urging him to get his dog spayed. Under the stage name Copperridge What’s Your Dream, Vivian, an Australian shepherd, just won the Best in Breed title at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

“You must know that every year, 6 to 8 million animals end up in shelters, staring out through the bars, wondering where their families have gone, scared, and desperate for homes,” writes PETA Senior Vice President of Communications Lisa Lange. “Would you please do something wonderful by publicly announcing that you will have Vivian spayed, thereby setting a great example for others to follow and also saving the lives of many dogs? Taking this step would make you and Vivian champions for all dogs.”

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

PETA’s letter to Hanigan follows.

February 12, 2014

Dear Mr. Hanigan,

I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 3 million members and supporters to urge you to take a bold stand against the homeless-animal crisis by having Vivian spayed as soon as possible. That would send a truly powerful message to everyone that we can lick this problem and stop having to put wonderful dogs down just because there aren’t enough homes to go around.

You must know that every year, 6 to 8 million animals end up in shelters, staring out through the bars, wondering where their families have gone, scared, and desperate for homes. Roughly half of them are euthanized because no one shows up to give them another chance at life. We say that breeders kill shelter dogs’ chances because every time a Westminster dog show viewer rushes out to a pet store or breeder to purchase a dog just like the one seen prancing around at the show, a dog in a shelter loses the chance of finding a good home. Thousands of other unwanted dogs also live on the streets, where they fall victim to traffic, disease, starvation, abuse from unkind people, and attacks by other animals. Much of this suffering could be prevented if everyone would spay or neuter their animal companions.

Shelters around the country are bursting at the seams with animals who will die for lack of a loving home. Would you please do something wonderful by publicly announcing that you will have Vivian spayed, thereby setting a great example for others to follow and also saving the lives of many dogs? Taking this step would make you and Vivian champions for all dogs.

Sincerely,

Lisa Lange
Senior Vice President of Communications