By COMMON SCENTS BY CAROLE ORLIN
I recently discovered the perfect example of political correctness obliterating common sense. The city of Los Angeles made an announcement that it was disassociating itself from a July 13 Hooters of Hollywood Charity Bikini Contest. The “Hooters for Neuters” event had designated the six shelters of Los Angeles Animal Services, where nearly 20,000 innocent animals were killed last year, to be the recipient of the $20-a-ticket fundraising event to encourage spay and neuter programs in LA. Unfortunately, one chick too many had her feathers ruffled by the city’s original participation in the Hooters’ event — that would be Laura Chick, the City Controller.
Chick announced that, “We are not that desperate for money that we have to (raise) it in a way that exploits women in skimpy outfits to attract men.”
Are you kidding? I thought that the shelters in LA are so overcrowded and actively seeking additional funding, according to Ed Boks, chief of Animal Services, to spay and neuter the pets of needy residents in order to make Los Angeles a no-kill city that they are desperate for money. The focus of the fundraiser in appealing to men — who often over-identify with their male dogs, especially when it comes to being “neutered” if you know what I mean — to fix their animals seemed to be a perfect fit. However, it seems that this approach to getting the message out to this target demographic clashed with some of our moral watchdogs. The city of Los Angeles appears to have succumbed to pressure from some women’s groups, some city employees, City Councilman Jack Weiss, and of course, Chick, among others.
I can’t say I am a fan of Hooters, although it is probably safe to say my husband and sons don’t share those same feelings. I have never asked them because I guess it’s not that important to me. What does upset me is the fact that thousand and thousands of innocent animals are killed every year. It’s not as if the money was coming from an Al Qaeda terrorist group. It’s coming from a restaurant where women, probably with breast implants, wear tight T-shirts. I would not go to Hooters for wings, or anything else for that matter. But it is a legitimate business and it was trying to do something positive.
I find it hard to believe that Los Angeles is less progressive than Utah, where the concept was created by the organization “No More Homeless Pets in Utah.” A whole host of states have joined the efforts, from Pennsylvania to Illinois to New York where the “Hooters for Neuters” campaigns were held and succeeded in raising money for this very important cause. Recently, in Tulsa, Okla., the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals charged $10 to neuter male dogs and cats in a Hooters parking lot turned into a temporary veterinary clinic. This promotion resulted in 115 animals getting neutered. Hooters supplied free appetizers. Would it have been better to not get these animals neutered so one can make a point about feeling Hooters exploits women? Choose your battles.
What also is ridiculous about this hypocritical flip-flop in LA is the simple fact that this is just a bikini contest — no nudity. You see bikinis on the LA beaches all the time. Do Chick and her followers plan to picket all bikini contests or only the ones at Hooters? What point is she making? What is next? I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be defending Hooters but that’s not my point. I am defending the hundreds of thousands of innocent animals born every year only to suffer and die. There are simply not enough homes for them all.
I don’t know why there is never enough money in the budget to remedy this problem, one that affects us all, whether we realize it or not. I can only say to Chick and the others, don’t go to the bikini contest if it offends your sensibilities. But unless you can match the money you are refusing from these breast terrorists, you are more than remiss in your job of helping the helpless; you are sentencing many of them to an avoidable death. (Carole)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 10, 2006. Read the original PDF.