“During his show on Friday, host Greg Kelly and Ronald Reagan biographer Craig Shirley condemned the 12-year-old Champ as “dirty” and “unlike a presidential dog”
And then the sweeping Newsmax retractions to try and stave off a lawsuit for all the lies they tell. One thing you don’t get in more responsible media.
Okay, look - GSDs are fantastic dogs. And frankly, other than a needing a good brushing, I don’t think Champ looks bad. Pretty good, in fact, for a 12-year-old GSD, a breed that has a host of sensitivity issues - skin, coat, digestion, etc.
And I’ve got a real soft spot for older dogs. Some years ago, we adopted a shep/rottie mix that was “10 or so”. Shelter charged us $10 adoption fee. That old boy’s skin and coat issues make Champ look like a show dog. Great dog. Had 3 great years with him before he passed.
Newsmax would have been totally discredited if this story was about a 12 year old cat with grooming issues.
Older cats aren’t as flexible & can’t as easily bend or turn to groom themselves. Veterinary techs at times have to shave knots from their fur.
Couple of ladies in my circle of acquaintance have Maine Coon cats—a larger breed with an on average longer life span. Even these cats lose the feline flexibility and, with also somewhat longer fur, get a little messy.
News employers should grant more time off to reporters if news is this slow.