New Leash On Life Fears Fate of Rescued Animals Nationwide

PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 17, 2007 – LOS ANGELES, CA – New Leash On Life Animal Rescue is dismayed on how the recent incident with Ellen Degeneres and the rescued dog Iggy has been handled.  We commend Ellen for her advocacy of proper pet care and her love for animals has inspired many to follow suit.  It is our feeling that her situation was dealt with unprofessionally and could have been very easily solved by following a very simple procedure to insure Iggy’s safety while remaining in the home she so lovingly placed him in.

“We are animal lovers as well as people lovers”, said Bobby Dorafshar, founder of New Leash On Life.  Dorafshar has been working with animals all his life and began opening rescues and shelters 20 years ago.  He also has a very large celebrity and high-end client list. After hurricane Katrina, Dorafshar was one of the first individuals from Los Angeles to arrive there and as a result he brought over 200 rescued dogs back to Los Angeles and has been placing them in loving homes.  Under his leadership New Leash On Life is one of Los Angeles’s largest, strongest rescue organizations, which prides itself on providing a multitude of benefits for animals and people.  In fact, New Leash On Life just received a commendation from Los Angeles Animal Services.

In the past when an adopter has re-homed an animal and informed us about it after the fact New Leash On Life has chosen to work with the new adopter and start the adoption again with the proper paperwork and home check to insure the safety of the animal.  This is easily done with kindness to the previous owner, the new owners, and the animal.  After all, our goal is to place each animal into a safe and loving home environment.

“We fear that because of the actions of one rescue millions of animal’s lives across the country are now in jeopardy,” said Dorafshar.  The general public may hear Ellen’s story and be afraid to rescue an animal from a rescue group for fear of a similar situation happening.  Unfortunately this could lead to more animals expiring in the shelters. Adding a new cat or dog to a family should be an exciting and loving experience.  

New Leash On Life will be holding it’s 3rd annual Nuts for Mutts 5k Walk on October 21, 2007 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, CA.  Pets of all kinds and their walkers will celebrate the human/animal bond in health, recovery, and love to focus attention on the effects pets have on their owners specifically diagnosed with breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, autism or any other life challenges. “The walk serves as an additional opportunity to educate the public and give insight into an amazing relationship and the powerful and extraordinary capabilities and contributions these dogs have to share,” said Dorafshar.  Funds raised from the Nuts for Mutts 5k Walk will help support New Leash On Life's Lend a Paw program.  The program places rescued animals in one-on-one and group therapeutic settings for people with disabilities. Immediately following the walk participants will be appreciated with a beach-themed festival complete with food, music, and pet-friendly vendors.

New Leash On Life was founded in Los Angeles in 1997 and has been responsible for spaying and neutering thousands of pets, rescuing and placing over 3,000 dogs, providing educational seminars at local shelters, setting shelter rescue priorities on “hard to place” animals requiring medical or special care, founding the P.E.T.’s program (Pet Educational Trainers), and co-founding Partners for Life which saved hundreds at the East Valley Animal Shelter.  For additional information or celebrity spokesperson contact please call Sabrina A. Taylor 310.770.5254 or visit: http://www.nutsformutts.org.