Coffee and Provocation

A Tax Cheat Starts a "Pet Sharing" Business
A couple of people sent me links to news stories about "Flexpetz," a business that claims it is in the business of "shared pet ownership." What the hell?? Apparently a naive press corps ate this strange concept up, but I smelled something funny right from the beginning. Well, it turns out my nose was right. Itchmo reports that Simon Brodie, the fellow behind this fur-brained idea, is a repeat problem-child with numerous collapsed businesses behind him, repeated charges of accounting fraud, massive IRS liens, and an outlandish claim that he created a new type of hypo-allergenic cat (which he will sell you for $20,000). Mr. Brodie's latest doggy adventure (dare I say possible scam?) involves seriously stupid people paying $150.00 "at registration to cover a mandatory one-hour introduction session with a trainer," and then $50 a month to spend a time with mutts that have been rescued from the local animal shelter. On top of all that, there is an "annual account maintenance charge of $99.95," and you have to sign up for a full year right at the beginning (i.e. $300 is due at the signing). So, to be clear, in that first year, you are going to be out $850 to give a few walks to some pound puppies. My guess is that your local animal shelter will give you a lot better deal!

HSUS : The Continuing Fraud
Itchmo reports that the continuing fraud known as the Humane Society of the United States is being "called out" by the Center for Consumer Freedom for pocketing money raised under false pretenses. In fact, almost ALL the money raised by HSUS is raised under false pretenses (they do not give a dime to local shelters, spend the majority of their budget on direct mail, and pay their executives huge salaries), but the specifics in this case are that HSUS was promising on its website that financial contributions would be given to helping “care for the dogs seized in the Michael Vick case.” A nice idea, except that HSUS is not taking care of those dogs, and is in fact pressing for their destruction according to The New York Times.

Let us Pray for the Soul of the SCLC
Dogster is reporting that the Southern Christian Leadership Council is honoring Michael Vick this weekend. There is no excuse for this: the dog fighting allegations against Vick are not new, and any invitation extended to him should have been scrubbed back in May. If the SCLC is looking to honor great black Americans, I can come up with a list in very short order, and Michael Vick will certinaly not be on it. How did the SCLC -- a once-great organization -- come to this low point? The mind boggles.

Another Sign of the Apocalypse
I came across this perverse method of "LoJacking" women while writing about Neuticals, and I could not believe that this was a real web site. But apparently it is. Yikes! This has no relation to dogs, but because it is another clear sign of the coming apocalypse, I inlcude it here. Start digging a concrete bunker in the backyard people!

PETA and AIDS
Over at the "My Stupid Dog" blog, I learned that Dan Mathews, vice president of PETA, is gay. That fact alone is hardly interesting or notable, except if you think about how many HIV-infected people in America (gay, straight and otherwise) depend on animal-based research to help keep them alive. Thinking people (gay, straight or otherwise) actually oppose PETA. Check out "Patient Advocates Against PETA" to see why.