Oprah goes to the dogs

By M&C Smallscreen Apr 4, 2008, 15:25 GMT

Oprah EPA/PAUL BUCK

Oprah Winfrey will dedicate an upcoming show to her beloved cocker spaniel.

Sophie, who died last month of kidney failure, "gave me 13 years of unconditional love," Winfrey says in the show slated to air Friday, the Associated press reports. "She was a true love of my life."

In honor of her deceased Sophie, The Oprah Winfrey Show will focus on abuses at puppy mills, the wire service reported.

Oprah's special correspondent Lisa Ling carried out the investigation and calls the puppy mills "horrific" and "haunting," while Winfrey says the show is "for anybody anywhere who loves a dog, has ever loved a dog, or just cares about their basic right to humane treatment."

None of Winfrey's dogs came from a puppy mill. But the host vowed to visit and animal shelter – not a breeder – the next time she adopts a pet.

"I would never, ever adopt another pet now without going to a shelter to do it," she told the AP. "I am a changed woman after seeing this show."

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah is featured in National Geographic's "Dogtown" and has spearheaded the drive to educate people on the truths of puppy mills.

They credit the Main Line Animal Rescue in Pennsylvania - known for not only their work in rescuing animals, but also their fantastic, edgy billboards.

They pictured a Beagle in a dishwasher to show USDA cage sizes, they placed a billboard to welcome families to “Scenic Lancaster County—home to hundreds of puppy mills”

And they plunked a billboard right near Oprah’s studio, plainly asking her to tape a show about puppy mills.

An excerpt from Main Line Animal Rescue’s e-mail announcing the show:

“Well, the cat is out of the bag, or should I say the dog is out of the hutch! Main Line Animal Rescue is going to be on Oprah this Friday, April 4. The show will address euthanasia in our nation's shelters, and the inhumane treatment facing dogs in Pennsylvania's puppy mills. In preparation for the latter, MLAR went undercover with Special Investigator Lisa Ling and members of Oprah's production staff. We filmed the day to day horrors of actual puppy mills and you can watch as we rescue a number of the dogs we currently have at our shelter.”

Let’s help the Oprah show have the biggest impact possible!
Actions to take before the show - Get as many potential puppy buyers as possible to tune in to Oprah’s show—target people who may not know about puppy mills, and/or may be shopping for a puppy.

Take advantage of free classifieds by placing as many ads as possible. Post notices on Craigslist.com, local news boards, freecycle,—anywhere that people might go to look for a pet to buy. Below is a sample ad (be sure to put in the correct time):

Are you in the market for a puppy? Watch the Oprah Winfrey show on
Friday, April 4th! (insert correct time here). Friday’s episode is all about buying puppies and dogs!

Actions to take after the show
1.) Post more information in the SAME free online publications. Give people more information on how they can help, how they can avoid puppy mills, and how they can get involved with Best Friends’ campaign. Below is a sample ad:

Did you see Oprah Winfrey’s April 4th show about puppy mills?
Go to www.network.bestfriends.org/truth to learn how to make sure your dog doesn’t come from a puppy mill

2.) Post the above comment on Oprah’s web community here: http://www.oprah.com/community/thread/44908