ATHENS, Ga. -- An animal rights organization has asked the University of Georgia to quit using a live bulldog as the school’s athletic mascot.
Instead, PETA suggests, the Bulldogs could use a robot dog or costumed mascot, like Hairy Dawg or inflatable Spike, to represent the university’s football and other sports teams.
PETA, formerly known as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, says using live bulldogs perpetuates dog health problems — like the heart ailment that apparently killed Uga VII last week at the age of 4.
PETA’s Nov. 20 letter to UGA Athletic Director Damon Evans is the second one the group has addressed to UGA officials asking them to stop using live bulldogs.
Last year, when Uga VI died — also of heart problems — PETA wrote athletic officials to ask that the next Uga come from an animal shelter or rescue, and that he be neutered.
Bulldogs are prone to breathing difficulties, hip dysplasia heart disorders and other chronic health problems, noted Desiree Acholla, PETA’s animals in entertainment specialist.
Bulldogs, like other dogs, like to run and play, but the very act of playing can be dangerous for the breed because the dogs struggle to breathe, Acholla said in last week’s letter to Evans.
The Uga line of English bulldogs are family pets for Sonny and Cecilia Seiler of Savannah, who have shared the dogs with the Bulldog Nation since 1956.
The family said last week it would find a substitute Uga for this weekend’s Georgia Tech football game, and for a possible bowl game, then pick a new bulldog to carry on the tradition sometime next year.
Bulldogs are prone to breathing and heart problems because of the mashed-in faces they’ve been bred to have, Acholla said in the letter. They also suffer from high rates of eye problems, skin problems and hip dysplasia because of the way they’ve been bred to look — with jowly faces, big heads, stubby legs and thick bodies.
Because of their peculiar body shape, bulldogs are bred by artificial insemination, and their births are by Caesarian section, she said.
Evans did not return a telephone call seeking comment.
UGA did respond to PETA, however — an e-mail from David Muia, a special assistant to UGA Athletic Director Damon Evans.
“You make good points that deserve our consideration,” wrote Muia, but he promised no specific actions other than sharing the letter with the Seilers and talking it over with Evans and other athletic officials.
Swann Seiler, daughter of Sonny and Cecilia, said the family would have no comment on PETA’s letter.
PETA opposes all dog breeding, which the organization says contributes to pet overpopulation as well as chronic health problems for dogs.
“We just don’t want to see this cycle of congenital health defects and other hereditary problems associated with inbreeding simply to create a brand for the university,” Acholla said. “If Ugas are being created for a specific image, this can only be done through generations of inbreeding.”
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
I'd never let the public know when UGA or the current mascot died. It's too disruptive in many ways when it happens. I'd have many simlar looking dogs ready to replace him without the public ever knowing.
Good ol' PETA has it right, if U believe that animals should be treated humanely and not forced to act like a fool in front of thousands of people. The animal is being forced to attend football games when his attention is on other things. Athletic mascots are made to act like dogs without their consent and to the pleasure of deranged fans. It is a despicable tradition that harms the poor animals, so for those who prayed that Vick be shot, now lets see the UGA people turn themselves in...do it for the children who are watching.
No DAWG is treated as good as the UGA's. PETA should hope that every pet had the care that these animals have. PETA has become a joke! I mean, does anyone really take them seriously anymore with all of their crazy antics? They just want publicity. The SPCA is a much more credible organization.
Whatever, but the pic of UGA snapping at the Auburn player is a classic. I bet the player even made money on that photo since it is a poster in every restaurant in Georgia it seems.
PETA is not an animal wellfare group, it is a group of poitical minded people who want to distroy modern agriculture. The group surrounds itself with Idiot Movie stars who know nothing about animal rights except it makes since to take care of those poor creatures. Give us all a break and don't give them the time of day or the forum by running this story or stories about PETA.
PETA=irrelevant extremists. Now pass the bacon. I need to eat a good breakfast before going hunting.
wtf, peta?
anyone that believes anything peta says should check out this website http://www.petakillsanimals.com/ i believe they murder more animals than any other organization in America Since 1998, PETA has opted to “put down” 21,339 adoptable dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens instead of finding homes for them
That's hilarious! A robot for a mascot? Yeah, we could make it look like R2D2 with a Georgia jersey. No, wait, R2D2 was played by a midget... next we'll be hearing from People for the Ethical Treatment of Midgets, or The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Robots. No matter what, somebody is going to be offended.
Actually, the request came from the current successor to UGA VII. The future UGA VIII does not want to be affiliated with a losing program. He went on to state that he'd rather stay home and lick himself than go watch the Bulldogs lose 8 games next year. On a side note, authorities are checking into reports that UGA VII may have taken his own life.
PETA stands for "People Eating Tasty Animals."
What a bunch of idiots. Go Dawgs!
now the crack pots can talk to dogs see truevoice
What a crock! PETA, you are unbelievable. This has to be one of the more ridiculous things that I have ever run across.
TrueVoice, that joke is about a week old. Too bad your dad didn't finish on your mom's back.
PETA is a group with political motives that uses the excuse of "animal rights" to push their agenda...That's why nobody cares what they say.
I wonder who within PETA came up with this insane suggestion. I bet they won an award for it. I've never seen happier bulldogs that the ones who carry the Uga name.
The head of PETA is against using animals for testing to find cures for diseases but I haven't seen them refuse their treatments for diabetes even though animals were harmed to find the treatments. Oh and for your info. PETA advocates letting lions and tigers and elephants run the streets unrestrained. Talk about fruitcakes.....
Justus4 go play with your pit bulls... You are ridiculous! I have read thecomments on here for over a year, and all you like to do is write crap. Go get a life in another forum.
Justus4, you wrote:
"Athletic mascots are made to act like dogs without their consent and to the pleasure of deranged fans. It is a despicable tradition that harms the poor animals..."
Please tell me what dogs are supposed to do if they are not to act like dogs? Especially without their consent? Have you ever really thought about what you write or say in public?
What a moron.
PETA is a bunch of wacko fanatics, no other way to put it.
The only good thing PETA ever does is sometimes they persuade a bunch of brainless bimbos to get nekkid in a cage in a public place to make us pity the plight of animals. I like to watch!
zzzzzzzzzzzzz.zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.zzzzzzzzzzz... oh was there some kind of article that people gave a flying you know what about? This is not even news worthy! SCREW PETA! GO DAWGS!!!
Dixieman, this is true, but you can't eat them since they are mammals.
Probably taste like chicken....
When was the last time anyone cared what PETA thought?
Justus and Peta must not realize how pampered and well loved these mascots are. dogs like to run and romp and be part of events especially when they are petted and well groomed....Justus probably doesn't like UGA because he's a white dog.........
News flash to PETA. The heart problem and breathing problems would be present regardless of what the dog was doing.
Lead balloon.
Imagine this: You wake up in the hospital, to find Dr. House looking down at you and saying, "You're in luck. That kind of car crash usually kills people, but it happened right outside and we got you in here immediately. Now, I've never done this operation on a living creature, but I've done it a dozen times in the simulator. Just relax..." /// If you're so much into saving every animal from the possibility of suffering, be the first to volunteer for medical experiments today! (PETA)
hey unbelieveable, good luck hunting, hope you bag a big one, and while you are at it, could you bag one for me too